Abstract
TMEM16A/anoctamin1 (ANO1), a calcium (Ca(2+))-activated chloride (Cl(-)) channel, has many functions in various excitable cells and modulates excitability in both Ca(2+)- and voltage-gating modes. However, its gating characteristics and role in primary neural cells remain unclear. Here, we characterized its Ca(2+)- and voltage-dependent components in rod bipolar cells using dissociated and slice preparations of the mouse retina. The I-V curves of Ca(2+)-dependent ANO1 tail current and voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel (VGCC) are similar; as ANO1 is blocked by VGCC inhibitors, ANO1 may be gated by Ca(2+) influx through VGCC. The voltage-dependent component of ANO1 has outward rectifying and sustained characteristics and is clearly isolated by the inhibitory effect of Cl(-) reduction and T16Ainh-A01, a selective ANO1 inhibitor, in high EGTA, a Ca(2+) chelator. The voltage-dependent component disappears due to VGCC inhibition, suggesting that Ca(2+) is the essential trigger for ANO1. In perforated current-clamping method, the application of T16Ainh-A01 and reduction of Cl(-) extended excitation periods in rod bipolar cells, revealing that ANO1 induces repolarization during excitation. Overall, ANO1 opens by VGCC activation during physiological excitation of the rod bipolar cell and has a voltage-dependent component. These two gating-modes concurrently provide the intrinsic characteristics of the membrane potential in rod bipolar cells.