Dopamine signaling through D1 receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a critical role in the maintenance of higher cognitive functions, such as working memory. At the cellular level, these functions are predicated to involve alterations in neuronal calcium levels. The dendrites of PFC neurons express D1 receptors and N-type calcium channels, yet little information exists regarding their ...

Ca(2+) entry is delicately controlled by inactivation of L-type calcium channel (LTCC) composed of the pore-forming subunit alpha1C and the auxiliary subunits beta1 and alpha2delta. Calmodulin is the key protein that interacts with the COOH-terminal motifs of alpha1C, leading to the fine control of LTCC inactivation. In this study we show evidence that a hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucle...

Verapamil is a potent phenylalkylamine antihypertensive believed to exert its therapeutic effect primarily by blocking high-voltage-activated L-type calcium channels. It was the first clinically used calcium channel blocker and remains in clinical use, although it has been eclipsed by other calcium channel blockers because of its short half-life and interactions with other channels. In addition...

these two channel types (de Maria et al., 2001). Although activation (CDI). In this issue of Neuron, Liang et al. both motifs are also present in the C termini of the N-type present evidence to show that CDI is a much more and R-type calcium channel 1 subunits, CDI has not widely applicable feedback mechanism that limits caltypically been observed with these calcium channel subcium entry in res...

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a cytokine known to be involved in the recruitment of monocytes to sites of injury. MCP-1 activates the chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2), a seven-transmembrane helix G protein-coupled receptor that has been implicated in inflammatory pain responses. Here we show that MCP-1 mediates activation of the CCR2 receptor and inhibits coexpressed N-ty...

Aberrant calcium regulation has been implicated as a causative factor in the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in numerous injury models of optic neuropathy. Since calcium has dual roles in maintaining homeostasis and triggering apoptotic pathways in healthy and injured cells, respectively, investigation of voltage-gated Ca channel (VGCC) regulation as a potential strategy to reduce...

The outcome of patients with myocardial infarction has improved dramatically over the last few decades. Evidence-based therapy comprises rapid recanalization with full restitution of flow by acute percutaneous coronary intervention, local and systemic antithrombotic treatment, the use of statins, b-adrenoceptor blockers, angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors, and aldosterone receptor antagoni...

Whole-cell and cell-attached patch recording have been used to characterize multiple types of voltage-dependent calcium channels in neurons freshly dispersed from rabbit dorsal root ganglia. In whole-cell patch recordings, high-threshold current, strongly resistant to inactivation by depolarized holding potentials (L-type; V1/2 = -27.2 mV), was potently inhibited by nimodipine. Assuming 1:1 bin...

Chromaffin cells express N-type calcium channels identified on the basis of their high sensitivity to block by v-conotoxin GVIA (v-CgTx GVIA). In contrast to neuronal N-type calcium currents that inactivate during long depolarizations and that require negative holding potentials to remove inactivation, many chromaffin cells exhibit N-type calcium channel currents that show little inactivation d...