C31 enhances voltage-gated calcium channel currents in undifferentiated PC12 cells.
C31, consisting of 31 amino acid residues, is generated from the carboxyl terminal fragments (CTFs) of amyloid precursor protein (APP). It has been shown that C31 causes apoptosis in neurons and is present in brains of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. Using whole-cell patch clamp techniques, we investigated effects of C31 on voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) currents and the protective effects of beta-estradiol on PC12 cells. The results demonstrated that C31 induced a significant increase of the VGCC currents in PC12 cells, which was blocked by beta-estradiol. These results suggest that modulation of intracellular calcium levels by VGCC may in part be involved in C31 induced neuronal death associated with AD.
Ma
Ze-Gang
ZG
Department of Physiology, Medical College of Qingdao University; Neuroscience Center of Shandong Province, Dengzhou Road 38#, Qingdao 266021, China.
Wang
Jun
J
Jiang
Hong
H
Xie
Jun-Xia
JX
Chen
Lei
L
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001464:Barium; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats
C066649:C31 protein, mouse; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D015220:Calcium Channels; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D001464:Barium; D004958:Estradiol