Newest Articles
Phosphoinositide dependence of TPC3Among the three two-pore channels (TPCs), TPC1 and TPC2 are selectively activated by PI(3,5)P2, while TPC3 has been considered not to respond to any PIP2s. Shimomura and Kubo find that TPC3 responds to both PI(3,5)P2 and PI(3,4)P2, but not to PI(4,5)P2.
Binding sites for CFTR potentiatorsIdentification of the binding sites for small molecules that alleviate gating defects in CFTR would assist rational drug design for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Yeh et al. identify two potential binding sites for prototypical CFTR potentiators at the interface of CFTR’s two transmembrane domains.
P2X receptor ligand recognition and discernmentP2X receptors (P2XRs) are ligand-gated cation channels involved in pain and inflammation. Gasparri et al. show that the backbone carbonyl atoms of amino acid residue Thr184 are involved in ligand discrimination, while those of Lys69 contribute mostly to ligand recognition by rat P2X2Rs.
RYR3 ablation affects EOM functionExtraocular muscles are specialized skeletal muscles expressing a particular set of proteins involved in calcium homeostasis, including RYR3. Eckhardt et al. investigate extraocular muscle function in ryr3−/− mice and show that ablation of RYR3 significantly impacts vision.
Regulating CFTR recruitment to membrane microdomainsLittle is known about how CFTR, the Cl− channel that is mutated in cystic fibrosis, interacts with lipids. Abu-Arish et al. show that agents that stimulate salt and fluid secretion reduce CFTR lateral mobility and promote its clustering into ceramide-rich platforms, thereby increasing its surface expression.
TMEM16A Cl− currents in olfactory epitheliumGlial-like supporting cells of the olfactory epithelium are involved in a variety of processes important to the function of this tissue. Henriques et al. find that supporting cells exhibit an ATP-induced, Ca2+-sensitive Cl− current produced by TMEM16A Cl− channels.
Altered CaV2.1 gating linked to a developmental disorderCa2+ flux into axon terminals via CaV2.1 is the trigger for neurotransmitter release at neuromuscular junctions and many central synapses. Our data raise the possibility that an arginine to proline substitution at residue 1,673 causes a severe neurodevelopmental disorder by making CaV2.1 less sensitive to changes in membrane potential.
Current Issue
June 3, 2019
Volume 151, No. 6
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Reviews & Opinions
- It’s time to look more closely at RYR3
- The mechanism of photon-like dark noise in rod photoreceptors
Pugh highlights recent work ruling out a role for ultraweak photon emission in spontaneous photon-like events in retinal rods.
- It takes two to tango: The dance of the permease
In order to dance the tango, Lac permease must slide smoothly between at least two conformations, one open to the outside of the cell membrane and one open to the inside. This Viewpoint describes recent studies on the structure and mechanism lactose permease utilizes to perform its tango, a dance involving symport of an H+ and a sugar.
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