1. Academic Validation
  2. Molecular mechanisms of subtype-specific inhibition of neuronal T-type calcium channels by ascorbate

Molecular mechanisms of subtype-specific inhibition of neuronal T-type calcium channels by ascorbate

  • J Neurosci. 2007 Nov 14;27(46):12577-83. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2206-07.2007.
Michael T Nelson 1 Pavle M Joksovic Peihan Su Ho-Won Kang Amy Van Deusen Joel P Baumgart Laurence S David Terrance P Snutch Paula Q Barrett Jung-Ha Lee Charles F Zorumski Edward Perez-Reyes Slobodan M Todorovic
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
Abstract

T-type Ca2+ channels (T-channels) are involved in the control of neuronal excitability and their gating can be modulated by a variety of redox agents. Ascorbate is an endogenous redox agent that can function as both an anti- and pro-oxidant. Here, we show that ascorbate selectively inhibits native Ca(v)3.2 T-channels in peripheral and central neurons, as well as recombinant Ca(v)3.2 channels heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, by initiating the metal-catalyzed oxidation of a specific, metal-binding histidine residue in domain 1 of the channel. Our biophysical experiments indicate that ascorbate reduces the availability of Ca(v)3.2 channels over a wide range of membrane potentials, and inhibits Ca(v)3.2-dependent low-threshold-Ca2+ spikes as well as burst-firing in reticular thalamic neurons at physiologically relevant concentrations. This study represents the first mechanistic demonstration of ion channel modulation by ascorbate, and suggests that ascorbate may function as an endogenous modulator of neuronal excitability.

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