Na+ channels get anchored...with a little help.
Neurons have high densities of voltage-gated Na(+) channels that are restricted to axon initial segments and nodes of Ranvier, where they are responsible for initiating and propagating action potentials. New findings (Bréchet, A., M.-P. Fache, A. Brachet, G. Ferracci, A. Baude, M. Irondelle, S. Pereira, C. Leterrier, and B. Dargent. 2008. J. Cell Biol. 183:1101-1114) reveal that phosphorylation of several key serine residues by the protein kinase CK2 regulates Na(+) channel interactions with ankyrin G. The presence of CK2 at the axon initial segment and nodes of Ranvier provides a mechanism to regulate the specific accumulation and retention of Na(+) channels within these important domains.
Rasband
Matthew N
MN
Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. rasband@bcm.edu
D000818:Animals; D017487:Ankyrins / Q000378:metabolism; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D047390:Casein Kinase II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011901:Ranvier's Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D017487:Ankyrins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D015222:Sodium Channels; D047390:Casein Kinase II