New sites of action for GIRK and SK channels.
It was recently discovered that two different types of voltage-insensitive K+ channels, G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) and small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels, are located on dendritic branches, spines and shafts in the postsynaptic densities of excitatory synapses in many central neurons. Together with increases in our knowledge of how these channels are regulated through stable protein-protein interactions in multi-protein complexes, this has added another layer of complexity to our understanding of synaptic transmission and plasticity.
Luján
Rafael
R
Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina & Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Biosanitario, C/ Almansa 14, 02006 Albacete, Spain. Rafael.Lujan@uclm.es
Maylie
James
J
Adelman
John P
JP
D000818:Animals; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels