title: Generation of calcium action potentials in crustacean muscle fibers following exposure to sulfhydryl reagents.
abstract: The ventroabdominal flexor muscles of the crustacean Atya lanipes, which are normally completely inexcitable, generate trains of overshooting calcium action potentials after exposure to the sulfhydryl reagents known as alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The chemically induced action potentials are abolished by protein reagents specific for guanidino and amino groups. Attempts to induce excitability by the use of agents that block potassium conductance were without success. It is proposed that calcium channels are made functional by the covalent modification of a calcium protochannel, via the interaction between the introduced carbonyl group and existing arginine residues.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuazaga
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: del Castillo
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003445:Crustacea; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium