N-type voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV2.2) channels, which enable synaptic transmission by triggering neurotransmitter release, are tightly modulated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) via several downstream signaling messengers, such as G, calmodulin, arachidonic acid and PIP2. However, the molecular mechanism by which Gq/11-coupled receptors (GqPCRs) suppress CaV2.2 currents remains unclear. In this research highlight, we review our recent finding that M1 muscarinic receptors inhibit CaV2.2 channels through both G-mediated voltage-dependent (VD) and Gαq/11/PLC-mediated voltage-independent (VI) pathways. Our photometry results also demonstrate that G-mediated VD inhibition of CaV2.2 channels initiates approximately 3 s earlier than VI inhibition, and is strongly potentiated in cells expressing plasma membrane-localized CaV subunits. Our observations demonstrate a novel mechanism for CaV2.2 channel modulation by GqPCRs where the subcellular location of CaV subunits plays a critical role in determining the voltage-dependence of current suppression by M1 receptors. [1] in response to the propagation of electrical stimulations and to the processes it underlies, such as learning and memory [2] and gene transcription [3] . CaV2.2 channels are widely expressed throughout the brain [4] and spinal cord [5] , and knockout mice who lack CaV2.2 channels show cardiovascular impairment [6] , hyperactivity [7] , reduced alcohol consumption [8] , and hyperaggressive behavior [9] . The biophysical and pharmacological properties of CaV2.2 channels are determined by diverse combinations of channel subunits. CaVα1B and CaVα2δ are transmembrane proteins. CaVα1B subunits are responsible for forming the voltage-sensitive pore of the channel and CaVα2δ subunits are responsible for promoting CaVα1 subunit stabilization at the plasma membrane [10] . CaV subunits are intracellular components that play an essential role in regulating the gating properties and receptor modulation of CaV channels. They bind to the I-II linker of the CaVα1 subunit and finely tune the trafficking of α1 channel proteins to the plasma membrane, current density, channel inactivation and channel regulation by phospholipids [11][12][13][14] .
KeywordsG-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) precisely regulate Ca 2+ ion influx through CaV2.2 channels [15,16] . The activation of GPCRs coupled to Gαi/o (Gi/oPCRs) or Gαq/11 (GqPCRs) is known to suppress CaV2.2 current through two distinct pathways. The first operates via G heterodimer dissociation from Gi/oPCR. The G heterodimer then directly binds to the I-II linker of the CaVα1B subunit, which partially overlaps with the binding site of the CaV subunit,
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTReceptors & Clinical Investigation 2015; 2: e515. doi: 10.14800/rci.515; © 2015 by Dongil Keum, et al.Page 2 of 5 and triggers fast current inhibition [17] . Since the G binding to the α1B subunit slows channel activation and shifts the voltage dependence of the channel opening towards a positive charge, a stronger depolarization of the plas...