Constitutively active L-type Ca2+ channels.

ABSTRACT: Ca(2+) influx through L-type Ca(2+) channels (LTCCs) influences numerous physiological processes ranging from contraction in muscle and memory in neurons to gene expression in many cell types. However, the spatiotemporal organization of functional LTCCs has been nearly impossible to investigate because of methodological limitations. Here, we examined LTCC function with high temporal and spatial resolution using evanescent field fluorescence microscopy. Surprisingly, we found that LTCCs operated in functionally organized clusters, not necessarily as individual proteins. Furthermore, LTCC function in these clusters does not appear to be controlled by simple stochastic gating but instead by a PKC-dependent switch mechanism. This work suggests that resting intracellular free calcium concentrat

SUBMITTER: Navedo MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1180225 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature