Chemoreception is mediated in Caenorhabditis elegans by members of the seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor class (7TM GPCRs) of proteins which are of the serpentine type [1]. Str is a member of the Str superfamily of chemoreceptors. Almost a quarter (22.5%) of str and srj family genes and pseudogenes in C. elegans appear to have been newly formed by gene duplications since the species split [2]. Chemoperception is one of the central senses of soil nematodes like C. elegans which are otherwise 'blind' and 'deaf' [3].

1: Divergent seven transmembrane receptors are candidate chemosensory receptors in C. elegans. Troemel ER, Chou JH, Dwyer ND, Colbert HA, Bargmann CI; Cell 1995;83:207-218. PMID:7585938

2: Updating the str and srj (stl) families of chemoreceptors in Caenorhabditis nematodes reveals frequent gene movement within and between chromosomes. Robertson HM; Chem Senses. 2001;26:151-159. PMID:11238245

3: The putative chemoreceptor families of C. elegans. Robertson HM, Thomas JH; WormBook. 2006; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:18050473