Ion channels are end-targets (effectors) ina large number of regulatory pathways that are initiated by G-protein-coupled neurotransmitters and hormones. Modulation of ion channels by G proteins can be indirect (via second messengers and protein kinases)or direct, via physical interactions between G-protein subunits and the channel protein. These direct physical interactions are the focus of this review. A direct regulation has been firmly established for several voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and the G-protein-activated K+ channels. In these ion-channel families, the G-protein βγ subunits (Gβγ) are the active regulators, whereas the role of the α subunits (Gα) remains poorly understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that intricate relationships between the receptor, Gα, Gβγ and the ion channel play a major role in determining the specificity and magnitude of the overall regulation.
CITATION STYLE
Dascal, N. (2001). Ion-channel regulation by G proteins. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1043-2760(01)00475-1
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