title: Ca2+- and voltage-dependent inactivation of the expressed L-type Ca(v)1.2 calcium channel.
abstract: Ca2+-dependent regulation of the ion current through the alpha1Cbeta2aalpha2delta-1 (L-type) calcium channel transiently expressed in HEK 293 cells was investigated using whole cell patch clamp method. Ca2+ or Na+ ions were used as a charge carrier. Intracellular Ca2+ was either buffered by 10 mM EGTA or 200 microM Ca2+ was added into non-buffered intracellular solution. Free intracellular Ca2+ inactivated permanently about 80% of the L-type calcium current. The L-type calcium channel inactivated during a depolarizing pulse with two time constants, tau(fast) and tau(slow). Free intracellular calcium accelerated both time constants. Effect on the tau(slow) was more pronounced. About 80% of the channel inactivation during brief depolarizing pulse could be attributed to a Ca2+-dependent mechanism and 20% to a voltage-dependent mechanism. When Na+ ions were used as a charge carrier, the L-type current still inactivated with two time constants that were 10 times slower and were virtually voltage-independent. Ca2+ ions stabilized the inactivated state of the channel in a concentration-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlárska 5, 833 04 Bratislava, Slovakia. lubica.lacinova@savba.sk
authors.forename: L'
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lacinová
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D002614:Chelating Agents; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D002118:Calcium