Making the T-type even tinier: corticotropin-releasing factor-mediated inhibition of low-voltage-activated calcium channel activity.
T-type calcium channels are important for a variety of physiological processes such as brain and heart function. Proper regulation of these channels by second messengers is fundamental; however, our knowledge of the molecular pathways that regulate T-type calcium channels is limited in comparison with other voltage-dependent calcium channels. In this issue of Molecular Pharmacology, Tao et al. (p. 1596) demonstrate that Cav3.2 is regulated by activation of the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 in a Gbetagamma-dependent manner.
Varela
Diego L
DL
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 4N1, Canada.
Hermosilla
Tamara
T
Zamponi
Gerald W
GW
D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone