title: Direct and remote modulation of L-channels in chromaffin cells: distinct actions on alpha1C and alpha1D subunits?
abstract: Understanding precisely the functioning of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and their modulation by signaling molecules will help clarifying the Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms controlling exocytosis in chromaffin cells. In recent years, we have learned more about the various pathways through which Ca2+ channels can be up- or down-modulated by hormones and neurotransmitters and how these changes may condition chromaffin cell activity and catecolamine release. Recently, the attention has been focused on the modulation of L-channels (CaV 1), which represent the major Ca2+ current component in rat and human chromaffin cells. L-channels are effectively inhibited by the released content of secretory granules or by applying mixtures of exogenous ATP, opioids, and adrenaline through the activation of receptor-coupled G proteins. This unusual inhibition persists in a wide range of potentials and results from a direct (membrane-delimited) interaction of G protein subunits with the L-channels co-localized in membrane microareas. Inhibition of L-channels can be reversed when the cAMP/PKA pathway is activated by membrane permeable cAMP analog or when cells are exposed to isoprenaline (remote action), suggesting the existence of parallel and opposite effects on L-channel gating by distinctly activated membrane autoreceptors. Here, the authors review the molecular components underlying these two opposing signaling pathways and present new evidence supporting the presence of two L-channel types in rat chromaffin cells (alpha1C and alpha1D), which open new interesting issues concerning Ca(2+)-channel modulation. In light of recent findings on the regulation of exocytosis by Ca(2+)-channel modulation, the authors explore the possible role of L-channels in the autocontrol of catecholamine release.
authors.affiliation: INFM Research Unit and Department of Neuroscience, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baldelli
authors.forename: Jesus Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hernández-Guijo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carabelli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novara
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cesetti
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andrés-Mateos
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montiel
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carbone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; C419385:L-type calcium channel alpha(1C); D021122:Protein Subunits; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; C093712:Cacna1d protein, rat; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins