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. 1994 Jun;66(6):1833–1843. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(94)80977-4

T-type and N-type calcium channels of Xenopus oocytes: evidence for specific interactions with beta subunits.

A E Lacerda 1, E Perez-Reyes 1, X Wei 1, A Castellano 1, A M Brown 1
PMCID: PMC1275909  PMID: 8075321

Abstract

We used amplifying effects of calcium channel beta subunits to identify endogenous calcium channels in Xenopus oocytes. Expression of rat brain beta 4 increased macroscopic endogenous current magnitude with a small effect on kinetics. In contrast, expression of rat brain/cardiac beta 2 produced a much larger increase in current magnitude and dramatically slowed current decay. Low concentrations of omega-conotoxin GVIA irreversibly blocked currents in both uninjected and beta 2-injected oocytes. Single channel recordings revealed both T- and N-type calcium channels with conductances of 9 and 18 pS, respectively, in uninjected oocytes and in oocytes expressing either beta subunit. Expression of either beta subunit slowed average current decay of T-type single channels. Slowing of T-type current decay by expression of beta 2 was due to reopening of the channels. N-type single channel average current decay showed little change with expression of beta 4, whereas expression of beta 2 slowed average current decay.

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Selected References

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