Frequency Modulation of Synchronized Ca2+Spikes in Cultured Hippocampal Networks through G-Protein-Coupled Receptors

Frequency modulation of synchronized Ca2+ spikes in cultured hippocampal networks through G-protein-coupled receptors.

Synchronized spontaneous Ca2+ spikes in networked neurons represent periodic burst firing of action potentials, which are believed to play a major role in the development and plasticity of neuronal circuitry. How these network activities are shaped and modulated by extrinsic factors during development, however, remains to be studied. Here we report that synchronized Ca2+ spikes among cultured h...

G Protein-coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors and heterotrimeric G proteins can diffuse laterally in the plasma membrane such that one receptor can catalyze the activation (GDP/GTP exchange) of multiple G proteins. In some cases, these processes are fast enough to support molecular signal amplification, where a single receptor maintains the activation of multiple G proteins at steady-state. Amplification in cell...

G-protein-coupled receptors.

G-Protein-coupled receptors mediate many of the hypnotic and analgesic actions of the drugs employed in anesthesia. Notably, opioid agonists represent the most successful and efficacious class of analgesic agents employed over the last century. Also, major clinical advances have been made by the study of alpha(2) adrenoceptor agonists, which possess both hypnotic and analgesic qualities that ar...

Ion Channel Modulation by G-Protein Coupled Receptors

Intracellular signaling, the cellular tool for communication, is a very complex and diverse process. This process relies on elaborate systems of proteins which enable cells to respond to a variety of stimuli in their internal or external environment. Among these membrane proteins is the GPCRs Superfamily. They form the largest and most diverse family of cell surface receptors and proteins. For ...

Modelling G protein-coupled receptors