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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Single-Cell Calcium Imaging for Studying the Activation of Calcium Ion Channels
Published on: December 13, 2024
C31 enhances voltage-gated calcium channel currents in undifferentiated PC12 cells
Ze-Gang Ma1, Jun Wang, Hong Jiang
1Department of Physiology, Medical College of Qingdao University; Neuroscience Center of Shandong Province, Dengzhou Road 38#, Qingdao 266021, China.
Abstract:
C31, consisting of 31 amino acid residues, is generated from the carboxyl terminal fragments (CTFs) of amyloid precursor protein (APP). It has been shown that C31 causes apoptosis in neurons and is present in brains of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. Using whole-cell patch clamp techniques, we investigated effects of C31 on voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) currents and the protective effects of beta-estradiol on PC12 cells. The results demonstrated that C31 induced a significant increase of the VGCC currents in PC12 cells, which was blocked by beta-estradiol. These results suggest that modulation of intracellular calcium levels by VGCC may in part be involved in C31 induced neuronal death associated with AD.
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