Increased coupled gating of L-type Ca2+ channels during hypertension and Timothy syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

L-Type (Cav1.2) Ca(2+) channels are critical regulators of muscle and neural function. Although Cav1.2 channel activity varies regionally, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this heterogeneity.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that Cav1.2 channels can gate coordinately.

Methods and results

We used optical and electrophysiological approaches to record Cav1.2 channel activity in cardiac, smooth muscle, and tsA-201 cells expressing Cav1.2 channels. Consistent with our hypothesis, we found that small clusters of Cav1.2 channels can open and close in tandem. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer and electrophysiological studies suggest that this coupling of Cav1.2 channels involves transient interactions between neighboring channels via their C term

SUBMITTER: Navedo MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2834417 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature