Figure 1

Schematic diagram of the proposed mechanotransduction complex in C. elegans body touch receptors. At its centre is an ion channel composed of MEC-4, 6 and 10, which interacts with the intracellular protein MEC-2. MEC-7 and 12 are microtubule proteins required for normal mechanosensation (they may be important for localisation or gating of the complex). MEC-1, 5 and 9 are extracellular proteins whose functions await further characterisation. (Figure adapted from Ref. 4.)