scholarly journals Functions of Presynaptic Voltage-gated Calcium Channels

Function ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette C Dolphin
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Excitable Cells ◽  
Single Action ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Vesicular Release

Abstract Voltage-gated calcium channels are the principal conduits for depolarization-mediated Ca2+ entry into excitable cells. In this review, the biophysical properties of the relevant members of this family of channels, those that are present in presynaptic terminals, will be discussed in relation to their function in mediating neurotransmitter release. Voltage-gated calcium channels have properties that ensure they are specialized for particular roles, for example, differences in their activation voltage threshold, their various kinetic properties, and their voltage-dependence of inactivation. All these attributes play into the ability of the various voltage-gated calcium channels to participate in different patterns of presynaptic vesicular release. These include synaptic transmission resulting from single action potentials, and longer-term changes mediated by bursts or trains of action potentials, as well as release resulting from graded changes in membrane potential in specialized sensory synapses.

scholarly journals The structural biology of voltage-gated calcium channel function and regulation

2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 887-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Van Petegem ◽  
D.L. Minor
Keyword(s):  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Molecular Switches ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Dependent Inactivation ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Soluble Calcium ◽  
Molecular Framework

Voltage-gated calcium channels (CaVs) are large (∼0.5 MDa), multisubunit, macromolecular machines that control calcium entry into cells in response to membrane potential changes. These molecular switches play pivotal roles in cardiac action potentials, neurotransmitter release, muscle contraction, calcium-dependent gene transcription and synaptic transmission. CaVs possess self-regulatory mechanisms that permit them to change their behaviour in response to activity, including voltage-dependent inactivation, calcium-dependent inactivation and calcium-dependent facilitation. These processes arise from the concerted action of different channel domains with CaV β-subunits and the soluble calcium sensor calmodulin. Until recently, nothing was known about the CaV structure at high resolution. Recent crystallographic work has revealed the first glimpses at the CaV molecular framework and set a new direction towards a detailed mechanistic understanding of CaV function.

Inhibition of Dendritic Calcium Influx by Activation of G-Protein–Coupled Receptors in the Hippocampus

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 3484-3488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanmian Chen ◽  
Nevin A. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Pyramidal Neuron ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Calcium Influx ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Chen, Huanmian and Nevin A. Lambert. Inhibition of dendritic calcium influx by activation of G-protein–coupled receptors in the hippocampus. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 3484–3488, 1997. Gi proteins inhibit voltage-gated calcium channels and activate inwardly rectifying K+ channels in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. The effect of activation of G-protein–coupled receptors on action potential-evoked calcium influx was examined in pyramidal neuron dendrites with optical and extracellular voltage recording. We tested the hypotheses that 1) activation of these receptors would inhibit calcium channels in dendrites; 2) hyperpolarization resulting from K+ channel activation would deinactivate low-threshold, T-type calcium channels on dendrites, increasing calcium influx mediated by these channels; and 3) activation of these receptors would inhibit propagation of action potentials into dendrites, and thus indirectly decrease calcium influx. Activation of adenosine receptors, which couple to Gi proteins, inhibited calcium influx in cell bodies and proximal dendrites without inhibiting action-potential propagation into the proximal dendrites. Inhibition of dendritic calcium influx was not changed in the presence of 50 μM nickel, which preferentially blocks T-type channels, suggesting influx through these channels is not increased by activation of G-proteins. Adenosine inhibited propagation of action potentials into the distal branches of pyramidal neuron dendrites, leading to a three- to fourfold greater inhibition of calcium influx in the distal dendrites than in the soma or proximal dendrites. These results suggest that voltage-gated calcium channels are inhibited in pyramidal neuron dendrites, as they are in cell bodies and terminals and thatG-protein–mediated inhibition of action-potential propagation can contribute substantially to inhibition of dendritic calcium influx.

scholarly journals Proteolytic maturation of α2δ controls the probability of synaptic vesicular release

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Ferron ◽  
Ivan Kadurin ◽  
Annette C Dolphin
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Synaptic Release ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Vesicular Release ◽  
Active Zones ◽  
Asynchronous Release

Auxiliary α2δ subunits are important proteins for trafficking of voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV) at the active zones of synapses. We have previously shown that the post-translational proteolytic cleavage of α2δ is essential for their modulatory effects on the trafficking of N-type (CaV2.2) calcium channels (Kadurin et al., 2016). We extend these results here by showing that the probability of presynaptic vesicular release is reduced when an uncleaved α2δ is expressed in rat neurons and that this inhibitory effect is reversed when cleavage of α2δ is restored. We also show that asynchronous release is influenced by the maturation of α2δ−1, highlighting the role of CaV channels in this component of vesicular release. We present additional evidence that CaV2.2 co-immunoprecipitates preferentially with cleaved wild-type α2δ. Our data indicate that the proteolytic maturation increases the association of α2δ−1 with CaV channel complex and is essential for its function on synaptic release.

scholarly journals GABAB Receptors Couple to Potassium and Calcium Channels on Identified Lateral Perforant Pathway Projection Neurons

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 1073-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueyong Wang ◽  
Nevin A. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Dorsal Hippocampus ◽  
Gabab Receptors ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels ◽  
Perforant Pathway ◽  
Inward Currents

Activation of presynaptic GABAB receptors inhibits neurotransmitter release at most cortical synapses, at least in part because of inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels. One synapse where this is not the case is the lateral perforant pathway synapse onto dentate granule cells in the hippocampus. The current study was conducted to determine whether the neurons that make these synapses express GABAB receptors that can couple to ion channels. Perforant pathway projection neurons were labeled by injecting retrograde tracer into the dorsal hippocampus. The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (10 μM) activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels and inhibited currents mediated by voltage-gated calcium channels in retrogradely labeled neurons in layer II of the lateral entorhinal cortex. These effects were reversed by coapplication of the selective GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 55845A (1 μM). Equivalent effects were produced by 100 μM adenosine, which inhibits neurotransmitter release at lateral perforant pathway synapses. The effects of baclofen and adenosine on inward currents were largely occlusive. These results suggest that the absence of GABAB receptor-mediated presynaptic inhibition at lateral perforant pathway synapses is not simply due to a failure to express these receptors and imply that GABAB receptors can either be selectively localized or regulated at terminal versus somatodendritic domains.

scholarly journals Voltage-gated calcium channels: Their discovery, function and importance as drug targets

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 239821281879480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette C. Dolphin
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Calcium Currents ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Subcellular Localisation ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channels

This review will first describe the importance of Ca2+ entry for function of excitable cells, and the subsequent discovery of voltage-activated calcium conductances in these cells. This finding was rapidly followed by the identification of multiple subtypes of calcium conductance in different tissues. These were initially termed low- and high-voltage activated currents, but were then further subdivided into L-, N-, PQ-, R- and T-type calcium currents on the basis of differing pharmacology, voltage-dependent and kinetic properties, and single channel conductance. Purification of skeletal muscle calcium channels allowed the molecular identification of the pore-forming and auxiliary α2δ, β and ϒ subunits present in these calcium channel complexes. These advances then led to the cloning of the different subunits, which permitted molecular characterisation, to match the cloned channels with physiological function. Studies with knockout and other mutant mice then allowed further investigation of physiological and pathophysiological roles of calcium channels. In terms of pharmacology, cardiovascular L-type channels are targets for the widely used antihypertensive 1,4-dihydropyridines and other calcium channel blockers, N-type channels are a drug target in pain, and α2δ-1 is the therapeutic target of the gabapentinoid drugs, used in neuropathic pain. Recent structural advances have allowed a deeper understanding of Ca2+ permeation through the channel pore and the structure of both the pore-forming and auxiliary subunits. Voltage-gated calcium channels are subject to multiple pathways of modulation by G-protein and second messenger regulation. Furthermore, their trafficking pathways, subcellular localisation and functional specificity are the subjects of active investigation.

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