"The regulation of Ca(V)2.1 (P/Q-type) channels by calmodulin (CaM) showcases the powerful Ca(2+) decoding capabilities of CaM in complex with the family of Ca(V)1-2 Ca(2+) channels. Throughout this family, CaM does not simply exert a binary on/off regulatory effect; rather, Ca(2+) binding to either the C- or N-terminal lobe of CaM alone can selectively trigger a distinct form of channel modulation. ... Ca(2+) binding to the C-terminal lobe induces Ca(2+)-dependent facilitation of opening (CDF), whereas the N-terminal lobe yields Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation of opening (CDI). ... Furthermore, direct single-channel determinations of channel open probability (P(o)) and kinetic simulations demonstrate that CDF represents a genuine enhancement of open probability, without appreciable change of activation kinetics. This enhanced-opening mechanism suggests that the CDF evoked during action-potential trains would produce not only larger, but longer-lasting Ca(2+) responses, an outcome with potential ramifications for short-term synaptic plasticity."
Model Type: Channel/Receptor
Currents: I p,q
Model Concept(s): Facilitation
Simulation Environment: MATLAB
References:
Chaudhuri D, Issa JB, Yue DT. (2007). Elementary mechanisms producing facilitation of Cav2.1 (P/Q-type) channels. The Journal of general physiology. 129 [PubMed]