Spontaneous gating of olfactory cyclic-nucleotide-gated channels

In vertebrates, cilia on the olfactory receptor neurons have a high density of cyclic-nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels. During transduction of odorous stimuli, cyclic AMP is formed, cAMP gates the CNG channels and this initiates the neuronal depolarization. Here it is shown that the ciliary CNG channels also open spontaneously. In the absence of odorants and second messengers, olfactory cilia have a small basal conductance to cations. Part of this conductance is similar to the cAMP-activated conductance in its sensitivity to channel inhibitors and divalent cations. The basal conductance may help to stabilize the neuronal membrane potential while limiting the sensitivity of odorant detection.