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Activation and modulation of calcium-activated non-selective cation channels from embryonic chick sensory neurons
S Razani-Boroujerdi1, L D Partridge
1Department of Physiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131.
Abstract:
We have shown that calcium-activated non-selective (CAN) channels from embryonic chick sensory neurons are permeable to both Na+ and K+ and are not blocked by TTX, TEA, or 4-AP. These neuronal CAN channels are activated by sub-micromolar cytoplasmic Ca2+ with negative cooperativity. The effect of Ca2+ is to decrease the closed times of the channel with little effect on the time the channel remains open. Isolated neuronal CAN channels can be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). The effect of phosphorylation is to shorten channel open time and to minimize the effect of Ca2+ on channel closed time.
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