title: Modulation of neuronal T-type calcium channel currents by photoactivation of intracellular guanosine 5'-O(3-thio) triphosphate.
abstract: Low voltage-activated T-type Ca2+ channel currents were recorded from cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons using the whole-cell clamp technique with Ba2+ as the charge carrier. The T-type Ca2+ channel current was identified by its low threshold of activation (Vc -50 to -20 mV from VH - 90 mV), its kinetics of inactivation and its sensitivity to NiCl2 (100 microM). It was also sensitive to 1-octanol (1 microM). omega-Conotoxin (1 microM) markedly reduced the high threshold voltage-activated Ca2+ channel currents but did not inhibit the T-type Ca2+ channel current. Photorelease of intracellular guanosine 5'-O(3-thio) triphosphate from a photolabile "caged" precursor had dose-dependent effects on the T-type Ca2+ channel current. At a concentration of 6 microM, guanosine 5'-O(3-thio) triphosphate enhanced the current, but further photorelease of guanosine 5'-O(3-thio) triphosphate (up to 20 microM) inhibited the current. Only the inhibitory response was sensitive to pertussis toxin. These data suggest that more than one G-protein is involved in T-type Ca2+ channel current modulation. Inclusion of guanosine 5'-O(2-thio) diphosphate (1 mM) in the patch solution prevented guanosine 5'-O(3-thio) triphosphate from potentiating the current, and greatly attenuated the inhibitory effects observed when larger amounts of guanosine 5'-O(3-thio) triphosphate were photoreleased. Photorelease of guanosine 5'-O(2-thio) diphosphate had no effect on T-type current but did significantly increase the high voltage-activated current. A low concentration of (-)-baclofen (2 microM), potentiated T-type current, while 100 microM(-)-baclofen inhibited T-type current.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, U.K.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wootton
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dolphin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D001418:Baclofen