title: G protein regulation of neuronal calcium channels: back to the future.
abstract: Neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels have evolved as one of the most important players for calcium entry into presynaptic endings responsible for the release of neurotransmitters. In turn, and to fine-tune synaptic activity and neuronal communication, numerous neurotransmitters exert a potent negative feedback over the calcium signal provided by G protein-coupled receptors. This regulation pathway of physiologic importance is also extensively exploited for therapeutic purposes, for instance in the treatment of neuropathic pain by morphine and other μ-opioid receptor agonists. However, despite more than three decades of intensive research, important questions remain unsolved regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of direct G protein inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels. In this study, we revisit this particular regulation and explore new considerations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Proft
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic weiss@uochb.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins