Correlations in ion channel expression emerge from homeostatic tuning rules.

ABSTRACT: Experimental observations reveal that the expression levels of different ion channels vary across neurons of a defined type, even when these neurons exhibit stereotyped electrical properties. However, there are robust correlations between different ion channel expression levels, although the mechanisms that determine these correlations are unknown. Using generic model neurons, we show that correlated conductance expression can emerge from simple homeostatic control mechanisms that couple expression rates of individual conductances to cellular readouts of activity. The correlations depend on the relative rates of expression of different conductances. Thus, variability is consistent with homeostatic regulation and the structure of this variability reveals quantitative relations between regul

SUBMITTER: O'Leary T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3710808 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature