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Synaptic physiology

A brake from the norm

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 6, page 753 (2005)Cite this article

Calcium influx can be enhanced at presynaptic terminals by the positive coupling of calcium channels and calcium-activated potassium channels. In their report of this finding, Xu and Slaughter describe possible ways in which potassium channel activation can lead, somewhat unexpectedly, to the amplification of synaptic transmission.

Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels are present at presynaptic terminals throughout the nervous system, along with voltage-dependent calcium channels, the opening of which leads to neurotransmitter release. The BK channel is activated by calcium entry into the cell and by membrane depolarization. This hyperpolarizing channel would normally be expected to provide negative feedback to transmitter release, but there is evidence to suggest that this is not always the case.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Xu, J. W. & Slaughter, M. M. Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels facilitate transmitter release in salamander rod synapse. J. Neurosci. 25, 7660–7668 (2005)

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FURTHER READING

  1. Hu, H. et al. Presynaptic Ca2+-activated K+ channels in glutamatergic hippocampal terminals and their role in spike repolarization and regulation of transmitter release. J. Neurosci. 21, 9585–9597 (2001)

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  2. Pattillo, J. M. et al. Contribution of presynaptic calcium-activated potassium currents to transmitter release regulation in cultured Xenopus nerve–muscle synapses. Neuroscience 102, 229–240 (2001)

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Authors
  1. Rebecca Craven
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Craven, R. A brake from the norm. Nat Rev Neurosci 6, 753 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1770

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