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Inhibition of synaptic transmission and G protein modulation by synthetic Ca V 2.2 Ca 2+ channel peptides
Author(s) -
Bucci Giovanna,
Mochida Sumiko,
Stephens Gary J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.204735
Subject(s) - g protein coupled receptor , neurotransmission , chemistry , ion channel , receptor , calcium , calcium channel , g protein , biophysics , calcium signaling , voltage dependent calcium channel , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry
Non‐technical summary Nerve cells (neurones) in the body communicate with each other by releasing chemicals (neurotransmitters) which act on proteins called receptors. An important group of receptors (called G protein coupled receptors, GPCRs) regulate the release of neurotransmitters by an action on the ion channels that let calcium into the cell. Here, we show for the first time that small peptides based on specific regions of calcium ion channels involved in GPCR signalling can themselves inhibit nerve cell communication. We show that these peptides act directly on calcium channels to make them more difficult to open and thus reduce calcium influx into native neurones. These peptides also reduce GPCR‐mediated signalling. This work is important in increasing our knowledge about modulation of the calcium ion channel protein; such knowledge may help in the development of drugs to prevent signalling in pathways such as those involved in pain perception.