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Chronic ethanol exposure induces an N‐type calcium channel splice variant with altered channel kinetics
Author(s) -
Newton Philip M.,
Tully Keith,
McMahon Thomas,
Connolly Jackie,
Dadgar Jahan,
Treistman Steven N.,
Messing Robert O.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.12.043
Subject(s) - kinetics , calcium channel , chemistry , splice , biophysics , calcium , voltage dependent calcium channel , ethanol , l type calcium channel , biochemistry , medicine , biology , gene , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Chronic ethanol exposure increases the density of N‐type calcium channels in brain. We report that ethanol increases levels of mRNA for a splice variant of the N channel specific subunit α 1 2.2 that lacks exon 31a. Whole cell recordings demonstrated an increase in N‐type current with a faster activation rate and a shift in activation to more negative potentials after chronic alcohol exposure, consistent with increased abundance of channels containing this variant. These results identify a novel mechanism whereby chronic ethanol exposure can increase neuronal excitability by altering levels of channel splice variants.