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Papers of the Week


Papers: 27 Jul 2019 - 2 Aug 2019


Animal Studies

PAIN TYPE:
Migraine/Headache


2019 Aug 05


Elife


8

Gain-of-function mutations in the UNC-2/CaV2α channel lead to excitation-dominant synaptic transmission in C. elegans

Authors

Huang Y-C, Pirri JK, Rayes D, Gao S, Mulcahy B, Grant J, Saheki Y, Francis MM, Zhen M, Alkema MJ
Elife. 2019 Aug 05; 8.
PMID: 31364988.

Abstract

Mutations in pre-synaptic voltage gated calcium channels can lead to familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1). While mammalian studies indicate that the migraine brain is hyperexcitable due to enhanced excitation or reduced inhibition, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance are poorly understood. We identified a gain-of-function (gf) mutation in the CaV2 channel α1 subunit, UNC-2, which leads to increased calcium currents. mutants exhibit hyperactivity and seizure-like motor behaviors. Expression of the gene with FHM1 substitutions R192Q and S218L leads to hyperactivity similar to that of mutants. mutants display increased cholinergic- and decreased GABAergic-transmission. Moreover, increased cholinergic transmission in mutants leads to an increase of cholinergic synapses and a TAX-6/calcineurin dependent reduction of GABA synapses. Our studies reveal mechanisms through which CaV2 gain-of-function mutations disrupt excitation-inhibition balance in the nervous system.