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Comment
. 2013 Feb 20;77(4):601-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2013.02.001.

Broadening roles for FMRP: big news for big potassium (BK) channels

Affiliations
Comment

Broadening roles for FMRP: big news for big potassium (BK) channels

Anis Contractor. Neuron. .

Abstract

FMRP is an RNA-binding protein that negatively regulates translation and which is lost in fragile X syndrome. In this issue of Neuron, Deng et al. (2013) demonstrate a novel translation-independent function for FMRP as a regulator of presynaptic BK channels that modulate the dynamics of neurotransmitter release.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of interaction between BK channels and FMRP. FMRP associates with the β4 regulatory subunit to enhance Ca2+ dependent activation of the channel during high frequency AP trains, increasing membrane repolarization and shortening AP width. Loss of this regulation in Fmr1ko mice broadens the action potential and increases neurotransmitter release.

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References

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