Worm sensation!

Mechanosensation plays a pivotal role in many aspects of pain pathology, yet the mammalian molecular transduction apparatus responsible for this sensory modality remains unknown. In January's edition of Nature Neuroscience, O'Hagan, Chalfie and Goodman [1] have provided direct electrophysiological evidence that somatic mechanotransduction in C. elegans is mediated by a complex of proteins previously identified in genetic screens for impaired touch sensation. Are the homologues of these proteins important for pain sensation in mammals? Perhaps surprisingly, the balance of evidence suggests that other proteins are better candidate noxious mechanosensors in mammals.