title: Omega-conotoxin binding and effects on calcium channel function in human neuroblastoma and rat pheochromocytoma cell lines.
abstract: Binding of omega-conotoxin, a peptide toxin specific for some subtypes of voltage-operated calcium channels (VOCCs), was investigated in IMR32 neuroblastoma and PC12 pheochromocytoma cell lines. In both cell types, binding was specific, saturable and of high affinity. Association was rapid and dissociation almost non-existent. Dihydropyridines and verapamil failed to affect toxin binding, while high concentrations of CaCl2 completely antagonized it. Depolarization with high K+ induced a [Ca2+]i rise (revealed by the fura-2 fluorimetric technique) that consisted of an initial (0.5-1 min) peak followed by a prolonged (several minutes) plateau phase. omega-Conotoxin blocked mainly the first phase, while the dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocker, nitrendipine, primarily affected the plateau. This result suggests that in the two cell lines investigated, omega-conotoxin acts mainly on a subgroup of VOCCs that is resistant to dihydropyridines.
authors: Dept of Medical Pharmacology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Sher
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Pandiella
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Clementi
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008978:Mollusk Venoms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020960:omega-Conotoxins
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D007473:Ion Channels; D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D020960:omega-Conotoxins; C053423:Conus magus toxin; D009568:Nitrendipine; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium