A proton-gated cation channel involved in acid-sensing

Acid-sensing is associated with both nociception1 and taste transduction2. Stimulation of sensory neurons by acid is of particular interest, because acidosis accompanies many painful inflammatory and ischaemic conditions. The pain caused by acids is thought to be mediated by H+-gated cation channels present in sensory neurons3–5. We have now cloned a H+-gated channel (ASIC, for acid-sensing ionic channel) that belongs to the amilor-ide-sensitive...