title: The InsP3 receptor: its role in neuronal physiology and neurodegeneration.
abstract: The InsP3 receptor is a ligand-gated channel that releases Ca2+ from intracellular stores in a variety of cell types, including neurons. Genetic studies from vertebrate and invertebrate model systems suggest that coordinated rhythmic motor functions are most susceptible to changes in Ca2+ release from the InsP3 receptor. In many cases, the InsP3 receptor interacts with other signaling mechanisms that control levels of cytosolic Ca2+, suggesting that the maintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis in normal cells could be controlled by the activity of the InsP3R. In support of this idea, recent studies show that altered InsP3 receptor activity can be partially responsible for Ca2+ dyshomeostasis seen in many neurodegenerative conditions. These observations open new avenues for carrying out genetic and drug screens that target InsP3R function in neurodegenerative conditions.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. santanu@ncbs.res.in
authors.forename: Santanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Gaiti
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; C506926:ITPR1 protein, human; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D002118:Calcium