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Ca v 2 channels mediate low and high voltage‐activated calcium currents in Drosophila motoneurons
Author(s) -
Ryglewski Stefanie,
Lance Kimberly,
Levine Richard B.,
Duch Carsten
Publication year - 2012
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.2011.222836
Subject(s) - r type calcium channel , calcium , voltage dependent calcium channel , ion channel , gene , calcium channel , biology , neuroscience , voltage gated ion channel , microbiology and biotechnology , function (biology) , biophysics , gene expression , t type calcium channel , chemistry , genetics , receptor , organic chemistry
Key points • Neurons in the brain express a diversity of ion channels to impart specialized functional properties. • At least three distinct voltage gated calcium channel gene families are known, each of which is thought to produce calcium channels with unique properties, which in turn, differently affect neuronal function. • Here we use a genetic model system to determine which genes are responsible for the calcium currents in an identified motoneuron. • Surprisingly, the same ion channel gene encodes two distinct currents with fundamentally different properties, and the data also suggest that the normal function of this calcium channel gene is affected by the expression of another one. • The results provide insights into the relationship between gene expression and ionic currents, and thus, into the regulation of normal neuronal function.