title: G-Protein types involved in calcium channel inhibition at a presynaptic nerve terminal.
abstract: The inhibition of presynaptic calcium channels via G-protein-dependent second messenger pathways is a key mechanism of transmitter release modulation. We used the calyx-type nerve terminal of the chick ciliary ganglion to examine which G-proteins are involved in the voltage-sensitive inhibition of presynaptic N-type calcium channels. Adenosine caused a prominent inhibition of the calcium current that was totally blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX), consistent with an exclusive involvement of G(o)/G(i) in the G-protein pathway. Immunocytochemistry was used to localize these G-protein types to the nerve terminal and its transmitter release face. We used two approaches to test for modulation by other G-protein types. First, we treated the terminals with ligands for a variety of G-protein-linked neurotransmitter receptor types that have been associated with different G-protein families. Although small inhibitory effects were observed, these could all be eliminated by PTX, indicating that in this terminal the G(i) family is the sole transmitter-induced G-protein inhibitory pathway. Second, we examined the kinetics of calcium channel inhibition by uncaging the nonselective and irreversible G-protein activator GTPgammaS, bypassing the receptors. A large fraction of the rapid GTPgammaS-induced inhibition persisted, consistent with a G(o)/G(i)-independent pathway. Immunocytochemistry identified G(q), G(11), G(12), and G(13) as potential PTX-insensitive second messengers at this terminal. Thus, our results suggest that whereas neurotransmitter-mediated calcium channel inhibition is mainly, and possibly exclusively, via G(o)/G(i), other rapid PTX-insensitive G-protein pathways exist that may involve novel, and perhaps transmitter-independent, activating mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Synaptic Mechanisms Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Mirotznik
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000494:pharmacology; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D000241:Adenosine