Neurotransmitter Modulation of Neuronal Calcium Channels

There are many different calcium channels expressed in the mammalian nervous system, but N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels appear to dominate the presynaptic terminals of central and peripheral neurons. The neurotransmitter-induced modulation of these channels can result in alteration of synaptic transmission. This review highlights the mechanisms by which neurotransmitters affect the activity of N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels. The inhibition of these channels by voltage-dependent and voltage-independent mechanisms is emphasized because of the wealth of information available on the intracellular mediators and on the effect of these pathways on the single-channel gating.     

A Drosophila In Vivo Screen Identifies Store-Operated Calcium Entry as a Key Regulator of Adiposity

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花粉管钙信号特性及其调控研究进展

花粉管在花柱中生长受多个信号分子的协同调控,钙离子在其中发挥着重要作用.钙是一种重要的第二信使,它将外界的多种生物或非生物信息转化为对细胞内基因表达以及细胞生理反应的调控.钙信号表达方式是胞内自由钙浓度的特异性变化.该文对国内外近年来有关花粉管生长中钙信号特性及其调控的研究进展,如花粉管尖端自由钙离子浓度梯度与胞内钙振荡、花粉管质膜钙转运体的鉴定及其调控特性、花粉管钙信号与微丝和ROP蛋白的关系以及花粉管钙信号与植物自交不亲和性反应的关系等进行综述,为深入开展相关研究提供参考.     

FK-506结合蛋白对钙释放通道的调控

细胞内自由钙作为一种重要的细胞信使广泛地参与细胞生理功能调控.胞内钙库(内质网系和肌浆网系)对调节细胞内自由钙水平起着重要的作用.钙库膜上的钙释放通道(ryanodine受体和三磷酸肌醇受体)受许多因素调控,其中之一就是新近研究得相当多的FK506结合蛋白.免疫抑制剂FK506能特异地结合钙库上一种分子质量为12 ku左右的蛋白,这种FK506结合蛋白与钙释放通道形成一种紧密连接的复合体,在正常生理情况下对钙释放通道起着十分重要的调控作用.     

Modulation of Intracellular Calcium Levels by Calcium Lactate Affects Colon Cancer Cell Motility through Calcium-Dependent Calpain

Cancer cell motility is a key phenomenon regulating invasion and metastasis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a major role in cellular adhesion and metastasis of various cancers. The relationship between dietary supplementation of calcium and colon cancer has been extensively investigated. However, the effect of calcium (Ca²⁺) supplementation on calpain-FAK-motility is not clearly understood. We sought to identify the mechanism of FAK cleavage through Ca²⁺ bound lactate (CaLa), its downstream signaling and role in the motility of human colon cancer cells. We found that treating HCT116 and HT-29 cells with CaLa immediately increased the intracellular Ca²⁺ (iCa²⁺) levels for a prolonged period of time. Ca²⁺ influx induced cleavage of FAK into an N-terminal FAK (FERM domain) in a dose-dependent manner. Phosphorylated FAK (p-FAK) was also cleaved in to its p-N-terminal FAK. CaLa increased colon cancer cells motility. Calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor, reversed the effects of CaLa on FAK and pFAK cleavage in both cancer cell lines. The cleaved FAK translocates into the nucleus and modulates p53 stability through MDM2-associated ubiquitination. CaLa-induced Ca²⁺ influx increased the motility of colon cancer cells was mediated by calpain activity through FAK and pFAK protein destabilization. In conclusion, these results suggest that careful consideration may be given in deciding dietary Ca²⁺ supplementation to patient undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer.     

Calcium Induced Modulation of Peripheral-Type Benzodiazepine Receptors in Rat Kidney Membranes

Abstract

The effects of Ca²⁺ ions on ³H-RO 5–4864 binding to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor were examined. Preincubation of rat kidney membranes with Ca²⁺ at 37°C produced a dose-dependent inhibition of ³H-RO 5–4864 binding. No inhibition was observed in membranes preincubated at 0°C.

The effect of Ca²⁺ was competitive in nature and was fully reversed by the addition of EGTA. At 1 mM, the maximal effect was achieved with CaCl₂, whereas CoCl₂ and CdCl₂ had lesser effects. No other divalent cation salts examined decreased ³H-RO 5–4864 binding to rat kidney membranes. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the affinity of ³H-RO 5–4864 binding to rat kidney membranes is regulated by Ca²⁺ and suggest the presence of cation recognition binding sites coupled to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor.     

Modulation of Calcium Fluxes Across Synaptosomal Plasma Membrane by Local Anesthetics

We have studied the effects of local anesthetics (dibucaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, and procaine) on calcium fluxes through the plasma membrane of synaptosomes. All these local anesthetics inhibit the ATP-dependent calcium uptake by inverted plasma membrane vesicles at concentrations close to those that promote an effective blockade of the action potential. The values obtained for the K0.5 of inhibition of calcium uptake are the following: 23 microM (dibucaine), 0.44 mM (lidocaine), 1.5 mM (procaine), and 0.8 mM (tetracaine). There is a good correlation between these K0.5 values and the concentrations of the local anesthetics that inhibit the Ca2(+)-dependent Mg2(+)-ATPase of these membranes. In addition, except for procaine, these local anesthetics stimulate severalfold the Ca2+ outflow via the Na+/Ca2+ exchange in these membranes. This effect, however, is observed at concentrations slightly higher than those that effectively inhibit the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake, e.g., 80-700 microM dibucaine, 2-10 mM lidocaine, and 1-3 mM tetracaine. The results suggest that the Ca2+ buffering of neuronal cytosol is altered by these anesthetics at pharmacological concentrations.     

Calcium Modulation of Activation and Desensitization of Nicotinic Receptors from Mouse Brain

Abstract: The effects of extracellular calcium on functional properties of nicotinic receptors from mouse thalamus were investigated. Previous studies have reported that calcium modulates the function of several neuronal nicotinic receptors. A ⁸⁶Rb⁺ ion efflux assay was developed to measure nicotinic receptor function from brain tissue, and data indicate that α₄β₂ receptors may mediate this response. Using the ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux assay, calcium effects on receptor activation, desensitization induced by high, activating and low, subactivating concentrations of agonist, and recovery from desensitization were examined. Effects of calcium on the kinetics of ligand binding were also investigated. Calcium modulated receptor activation by increasing the maximal response to nicotine in a concentration-dependent manner, without affecting the EC₅₀ of nicotine. Barium, but not magnesium, mimicked the effects of calcium on receptor activation. The increase in receptor activation could not be explained by changes in the ratio of activatable to desensitized receptors as assessed by the kinetics of ligand binding. Desensitization following activation was unaffected by calcium. Calcium, barium, and magnesium, however, increased the potency of nicotine for desensitization induced by exposure to low, subactivating concentrations of nicotine. Recovery from desensitization was not modulated by calcium. These data suggest that calcium modulates various functional aspects of nicotinic receptors from mouse brain and may do so via different mechanisms.     

Redox Mechanism of S-Nitrosothiol Modulation of Neuronal CaV3.2 T-Type Calcium Channels

T-type calcium channels in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) have a central function in tuning neuronal excitability and are implicated in sensory processing including pain. Previous studies have implicated redox agents in control of T-channel activity; however, the mechanisms involved are not completely understood. Here, we recorded T-type calcium currents from acutely dissociated DRG neurons from young rats and investigated the mechanisms of Ca_V3.2 T-type channel modulation by S-nitrosothiols (SNOs). We found that extracellular application of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine rapidly reduced T-type current amplitudes. GSNO did not affect voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation and macroscopic current kinetics of T-type channels. The effects of GSNO were abolished by pretreatment of the cells with N-ethylmaleimide, an irreversible alkylating agent, but not by pretreatment with 1H-(1,2,4) oxadiazolo (4,3-a) quinoxalin-1-one, a specific soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, suggesting a potential effect of GSNO on putative extracellular thiol residues on T-type channels. Expression of wild-type Ca_V3.2 channels or a quadruple Cys-Ala mutant in human embryonic kidney cells revealed that Cys residues in repeats I and II on the extracellular face of the channel were required for channel inhibition by GSNO. We propose that SNO-related molecules in vivo may lead to alterations of T-type channel-dependent neuronal excitability in sensory neurons and in the central nervous system in both physiological and pathological conditions such as neuronal ischemia/hypoxia.     

Modulation of Calcitonin Binding by Calcium: Differential Effects of Divalent Cations

Abstract

Binding of salmon calcitonin to bovine hypothalamic membranes is enhanced about 25% by calcium with a half-maximal effect at 15 mM calcium. In contrast, membranes prepared from a cell line expressing a recombinant human calcitonin receptor show no effect of calcium under similar conditions. The hypothalamic calcitonin receptor solubilized with CHAPS detergent retains an apparent Kd of 0.3 nM for salmon calcitonin; however, binding of calcitonin to the detergent-solubilized receptor complex can be inhibited by divalent cations in order of potency Mn>Ca Sr Mg NaCl with Mn and Ca having apparent Ki's of 5 mM and 20 mM respectively. Dixon and Scatchard plots of Mn and Ca inhibition of binding to the soluble receptor complex suggest a noncompetitive mechanism of inhibition. Calcium also inhibits calcitonin binding to a detergent-solubilized recombinant human calcitonin receptor. Inhibition of calcitonin binding is observed using two independent methods for determining soluble receptor-hormone complex and inhibition is reversed by EDTA.     

Modulation of Calcium Channels by Taurine Acting Via a Metabotropic-like Glycine Receptor

Taurine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the central nervous system, where it displays several functions. However, its molecular targets remain unknown. It is well known that taurine can activate GABA-A and strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors, which increases a chloride conductance. In this study, we describe that acute application of taurine induces a dose-dependent inhibition of voltage-dependent calcium channels in chromaffin cells from bovine adrenal medullae. This taurine effect was not explained by the activation of either GABA-A, GABA-B or strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors. Interestingly, glycine mimicked the modulatory action exerted by taurine on calcium channels, although the acute application of glycine did not elicit any ionic current in these cells. Additionally, the modulation of calcium channels exerted by both taurine and glycine was prevented by the intracellular dialysis of GDP-β-S. Thus, the modulation of voltage-dependent calcium channels by taurine seems to be mediated by a metabotropic-like glycinergic receptor coupled to G-protein activation in a membrane delimited pathway.     

Modulation of Neuronal Voltage-Activated Calcium and Sodium Channels by Polyamines and pH

The endogenous polyamines spermine, spermidine and putrescine are present at high concentrations inside neurons and can be released into the extracellular space where they have been shown to modulate ion channels. Here, we have examined polyamine modulation of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels (VACCs) and voltage-activated Na+ channels (VANCs) in rat superior cervical ganglion neurons using whole-cell voltage-clamp at physiological divalent concentrations. Polyamines inhibited VACCs in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50s for spermine, spermidine, and putrescine of 4.7 ± 0.7, 11.2 ± 1.4, and 90 ± 36 mM, respectively. Polyamines caused inhibition by shifting the VACC half-activation voltage (V0.5) to depolarized potentials and by reducing total VACC permeability. The shift was described by Gouy-Chapman-Stern theory with a surface charge density of 0.120 ± 0.005 e- nm-2 and a surface potential of -19 mV. Attenuation of spermidine and spermine inhibition of VACC at decreased pH was explained by H+ titration of surface charge. Polyamine-mediated effects also decreased at elevated pH due to the inhibitors having lower valence and being less effective at screening surface charge. Polyamines affected VANC currents indirectly by reducing TTX inhibition of VANCs at high pH. This may reflect surface charge induced decreases in the local TTX concentration or polyamine-TTX interactions. In conclusion, polyamines inhibit neuronal VACCs via complex interactions with extracellular H+ and Ca. Many of the observed effects can be explained by a model incorporating polyamine binding, H+ binding and surface charge screening.