Cyclic Nucleotide Gated Channel Alpha 4 (CNGa4)

CNGA4 is a modulatory subunit of vertebrate cyclic nucleotide-gated membrane channels that transduce odorant signals. Expression of olfactory marker mRNA and protein (OMP), which is associated with mature olfactory receptor neurons, was also normal. When expressed individually with Cnga2, the Cnga4 and Cngb1b subunits were present as single copies, and when expressed alone, they did not self-assemble.

Electroolfactograms recorded from mutant animals suggested that odor perception was not affected by Cnga4 deletion, but mutant animals showed a defect in odor adaptation. Odorant channels in excised membrane patches from Cnga4-null mice exhibited decreased affinity for cAMP and slower Ca(2+)-calmodulin-mediated channel desensitization.