The Ca2+ channel β2 subunit is selectively targeted to the axon terminals of supraoptic neurons |
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Authors: | David Daoyi Wang Vimal Bansal Thomas E Fisher |
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Institution: | Department of Physiology; College of Medicine; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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Abstract: | The assembly of high voltage-activated Ca2+ channels with different β subunits influences channel properties and possibly subcellular targeting. We studied β subunit expression in the somata and axon terminals of the magnocellular neurosecretory cells, which are located in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and neurohypophysis, respectively. Antibodies directed against the 4 CaVβ subunits (CaVβ1-CaVβ4) were used for immunoblots and for immunostaining of slices of these two tissues. We found that all 4 β subunits are expressed in both locations, but that CaVβ2 had the highest relative expression in the neurohypophysis. These data suggest that the CaVβ2 subunit is selectively targeted to axon terminals and may play a role in targeting and/or regulating the properties of Ca2+ channels. |
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Keywords: | CaVβ subunits Ca2+ channels channel targeting magnocellular neurosecretory cells supraoptic neurons |
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