Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 3306 Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
Mol Neurobiol. 2012 Jun;45(3):415-23. doi: 10.1007/s12035-012-8260-2. Epub 2012 Apr 4.
Pacemaker cells play a fundamental role in generating or regulating many essential biological rhythms. Spontaneous pacemaker activity is dependent on the function of an array of ion channels expressed in these cells. Recent characterization of a Na(+) leak channel (NALCN) has linked to its role in conducting the background Na(+) current that depolarizes resting membrane properties of pacemaker neurons. NALCN, along with Unc79 and Unc80, forms a protein complex that is involved in regulating intrinsic membrane and synaptic activities. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of NALCN channel physiology and its role in regulating cell excitability and pacemaker activity.
起博细胞在产生或调节许多基本生物节律方面起着至关重要的作用。自发起博活动依赖于这些细胞中表达的一系列离子通道的功能。最近对一种钠离子渗漏通道（NALCN）的特征描述将其与传导背景钠离子电流的作用联系起来，背景钠离子电流使起博神经元的静息膜特性去极化。NALCN 与 Unc79 和 Unc80 一起形成一个蛋白复合物，参与调节内在膜和突触活动。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论 NALCN 通道生理学的最新认识及其在调节细胞兴奋性和起博活动中的作用。
