gcy-8 encodes a receptor-type guanylyl cyclase that, along with gcy-18 and gcy-23, constitutes a subfamily of guanylyl cyclase genes in C. elegans; gcy-8 functions redundantly with gcy-18 and gcy-23, and upstream of tax-4, to regulate thermotaxis via the AFD thermosensory neurons, although of the three guanylyl cyclases required, genetic analyses suggest that GCY-18 is the primary guanylyl cyclase required; GCY-8 is expressed exclusively in the AFD thermosensory neurons where it localizes to sensory endings; GCY-8 expression in the AFD neurons requires activity of the TAX-2/4 cyclic nucleotide gated channel and the CMK-1 Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I, while maintenance of GCY-8 expression requires the OTD/OTX homeodomain protein TTX-1.
Enables guanylate cyclase activity. Involved in microvillus organization and response to temperature stimulus. Located in microvillus membrane and neuron projection terminus. Expressed in AFDL and AFDR.
Map position created from combination of previous interpolated map position (based on known location of sequence) and allele information. Therefore this is not a genetic map position based on recombination frequencies or genetic experiments. This was done on advice of the CGC.