Cyclic AMP-dependent modulation of N- and Q-type Ca2+ channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Xenopus oocytes were used for investigating the cAMP-dependent modulation of N- and Q-type Ca2+ channels. Treatments to increase intracellular cAMP concentration with forskolin (FK) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) markedly potentiated Q-type Ca2+ channel current in oocytes coexpressing alpha 1A and beta subunits, and the enhancement was reversed by protein kinase A inhibitors. Moderate enhancement was observed by FK+IBMX in N-type channel current, of which potentiation was equivalent to that of endogenous Ca2+ channel current being activated by exogenously-expressed beta subunits. No potentiation was observed in the oocyte-native Ca2+ channel current. These results suggest that Q-type Ca2+ channels are more susceptible to the protein kinase A-mediated facilitation than N-type channels. A significant role of Ca2+ channel beta subunits for the cAMP-dependent positive modulation was also suggested.