Identification of a vesicular pool of calcium channels in the bag cell neurons of Aplysia californica.

ABSTRACT: To study the molecular mechanism of calcium current modulation in the bag cell neurons of Aplysia californica, we have identified calcium channel subtypes expressed in these cells and analyzed their distribution using channel-specific antibodies. Using PCR to amplify reverse-transcribed RNA from bag cell clusters, we identified two classes of calcium channel alpha1 subunit. One, BCCa-I, belongs to the ABE subfamily of calcium channels, whereas the other, BCCa-II, belongs to the SCD subfamily. Antibodies generated against the bag cell calcium channels recognize membrane proteins of approximately 210 and 280 kDa on immunoblots. Both channels are expressed in the bag cell clusters as well as in other parts of the Aplysia nervous system. BCCa-II also localizes to glia and muscle. The subcellul

SUBMITTER: White BH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6573390 | biostudies-literature | 1997 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature