title: Alpha-subunit of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid and inhibitory synaptic responses of rat neurons in vitro.
abstract: 1. Here we report that in acutely isolated rat spinal dorsal horn neurons, the gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor can be regulated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII). Intracellularly applied, the alpha-subunit of CaM-KII enhanced GABAA-receptor-activated current recorded with the use of the whole cell patch-clamp technique. This effect was associated with reduced desensitization of GABA responses. 2. GABA-induced currents are also potentiated by calyculin A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. 3. Conventional intracellular recordings were made from hippocampal CA1 neurons in slices to determine the effect of intracellular application of CaM-KII on inhibitory synaptic potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of the stratum oriens/alveus. The inhibitory synaptic potential was enhanced by CaM-KII; this mechanism may contribute to long-term enhancement of inhibitory synaptic transmission and may also play a role in other forms of plasticity in the mammalian brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolaj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Randić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000494:pharmacology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases