Abstract
In neuronal cells, the influx of Ca2+ ions through voltage-dependent L-type calcium (L) channels couples excitation to multiple cellular functions. In addition to voltage, several neurotransmitters, hormones and cytokines regulate L channel gating via binding to G-protein-coupled receptors. Intracellular molecules that modify G-protein activity - such as regulator of G-protein-signalling (RGS) proteins - are therefore potential candidates for regulating Ca2+ influx through L channels. Here we show that a novel RGS2 splice variant from chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, RGS2L, reduces bradykinin (BK)-mediated inhibition of neuronal L channels and accelerates recovery from inhibition. Chick RGS2 reduces the inhibition mediated by both the pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive (Gi/o-coupled) and the PTX-insensitive (presumably Gq/11-coupled) pathways. However, we demonstrate for the first time in a living cell that the extent of coupling to each pathway varies with RGS2L concentration. A low concentration of recombinant chick RGS2L (10 nM) preferentially reduces the inhibition mediated by the PTX-insensitive pathway, whereas a 100-fold higher concentration attenuates both PTX-sensitive- and PTX-insensitive-mediated components equally. Our data suggest that factors promoting RGS2L gene induction may regulate Ca2+ influx through L channels by recruiting low-affinity interactions with Gi/o that are absent at basal RGS2L levels.