Kinetic analysis of ASIC1a delineates conformational signaling from proton-sensing domains to the channel gate.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal Na channels that are activated by a drop in pH. Their established physiological and pathological roles, involving fear behaviors, learning, pain sensation, and neurodegeneration after stroke, make them promising targets for future drugs. Currently, the ASIC activation mechanism is not understood.

Structural and Functional Analysis of Gly212 Mutants Reveals the Importance of Intersubunit Interactions in ASIC1a Channel Function.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) act as pH sensors in neurons. ASICs contribute to pain sensation, learning, fear behavior and to neuronal death after ischemic stroke. Extracellular acidification induces a transient activation and subsequent desensitization of these Na-selective channels.

Accelerated Current Decay Kinetics of a Rare Human Acid-Sensing ion Channel 1a Variant That Is Used in Many Studies as Wild Type.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal Na-permeable ion channels that are activated by extracellular acidification and are involved in fear sensing, learning, neurodegeneration after ischemia, and in pain sensation. We have recently found that the human ASIC1a (hASIC1a) wild type (WT) clone which has been used by many laboratories in recombinant expression studies contains a point mutation that occurs with a very low frequency in humans. Here, we compared the function and expression of ASIC1a WT and of this rare variant, in which the highly conserved residue Gly212 is substituted by Asp.

A molecular view of the function and pharmacology of acid-sensing ion channels.

The pH in the different tissues and organs of our body is kept within tight limits. Local pH changes occur, however, temporarily under physiological conditions, as for example in synapses during neuronal activity. In pathological situations, such as in ischemia, inflammation, and tumor growth, long-lasting acidification develops.

Conformational dynamics and role of the acidic pocket in ASIC pH-dependent gating.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-activated Na channels expressed in the nervous system, where they are involved in learning, fear behaviors, neurodegeneration, and pain sensation. In this work, we study the role in pH sensing of two regions of the ectodomain enriched in acidic residues: the acidic pocket, which faces the outside of the protein and is the binding site of several animal toxins, and the palm, a central channel domain. Using voltage clamp fluorometry, we find that the acidic pocket undergoes conformational changes during both activation and desensitization.

Extracellular Subunit Interactions Control Transitions between Functional States of Acid-sensing Ion Channel 1a.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal, voltage-independent Na(+) channels that are transiently activated by extracellular acidification. They are involved in pain sensation, the expression of fear, and in neurodegeneration after ischemic stroke. Our study investigates the role of extracellular subunit interactions in ASIC1a function.

A novel Ca²⁺-mediated cross-talk between endoplasmic reticulum and acidic organelles: implications for NAADP-dependent Ca²⁺ signalling.

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) serves as the ideal trigger of spatio-temporally complex intracellular Ca(2+) signals. However, the identity of the intracellular Ca(2+) store(s) recruited by NAADP, which may include either the endolysosomal (EL) or the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) pools, is still elusive. Here, we show that the Ca(2+) response to NAADP was suppressed by interfering with either EL or ER Ca(2+) sequestration.