miXED messages in ion channel modulation.
Ion channels are modulated by multiple molecular mechanisms. In this issue of Neuron, Pietrzykowski et al. expand the mechanistic repertoire by demonstrating that ethanol-induced microRNA can modulate the pattern of mRNA splice variants from which BK potassium channels are constructed. Because BK channels are important targets of ethanol, this finding has implications for mechanisms of ethanol sensitivity and tolerance.
Levitan
Irwin B
IB
Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. levitani@mail.med.upenn.edu
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000502:physiology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology
D007473:Ion Channels; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger