Low-voltage-activated calcium channels, also known as T-type calcium channels, are widely expressed in various types of neurons. In contrast to high-voltage-activated calcium channels which can be activated by a strong depolarization of membrane potential, T-type channels can be activated by a weak depolarization near the resting membrane potential once deinactivated by hyperpolarization, and therefore can regulate the excitability and electroresponsiveness of neurons under physiological conditions near resting states. Recently, the molecular diversity and functional multiplicity of T-type channels have been demonstrated through molecular genetic studies coupled with physiological and behavioral analysis. Understanding the functional consequences of modulation of each subtype of these channels in vivo could point to the right direction for developing therapeutic tools for relevant diseases.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2007.12.003 | DOI Listing |
Theranostics
January 2025
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, 710032.
Record-breaking heatwaves caused by greenhouse effects lead to multiple hyperthermia disorders, the most serious of which is exertional heat stroke (EHS) with the mortality reaching 60 %. Repeat exercise with heat exposure, termed heat acclimation (HA), protects against EHS by fine-tuning feedback control of body temperature (Tb), the mechanism of which is opaque. This study aimed to explore the molecular and neural circuit mechanisms of the HA training against EHS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMalar J
January 2025
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Background: Emodepside is an anthelmintic used in veterinary medicine that is currently under investigation in human clinical trials for the treatment of soil-transmitted helminths and possibly Onchocerca volvulus. Emodepside targets the calcium-activated voltage-gated potassium slowpoke 1 (SLO-1) channels of presynaptic nerves of pharynx and body wall muscle cells of nematodes leading to paralysis, reduced locomotion and egg laying, starvation, and death. Emodepside also has activity against Drosophila melanogaster SLO-1 channels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNature
January 2025
Cell and Developmental Biology Department, John Innes Centre Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
Nutrient acquisition is crucial for sustaining life. Plants develop beneficial intracellular partnerships with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria to surmount the scarcity of soil nutrients and tap into atmospheric dinitrogen, respectively. Initiation of these root endosymbioses requires symbiont-induced oscillations in nuclear calcium (Ca) concentrations in root cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBr J Pharmacol
January 2025
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Background And Purpose: The antiepileptic drug ethosuximide (ETX) suppresses epileptiform activity in a mouse model of GNB1 syndrome, caused by mutations in Gβ protein, likely through the inhibition of G-protein gated K (GIRK) channels. Here, we investigated the mechanism of ETX inhibition (block) of different GIRKs.
Experimental Approach: We studied ETX inhibition of GIRK channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes with or without their physiological activator, the G protein subunit dimer Gβγ.
Physiol Rev
January 2025
Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Davis CA, 95616, USA.
Biology uses many signaling mechanisms. Among them, calcium and membrane potential are two prominent mediators for cellular signaling. TRPM4 and TRPM5, two calcium-activated monovalent cation-conducting ion channels, offer a direct linkage between these two signals.
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