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NALCN: A Regulator of Pacemaker Activity

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

TZL is a recipient of a Graduate Studentship of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; ZPF holds a New Investigator Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. This work is supported by a Discovery Operating Grant to ZPF by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (249962-09).

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  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 3306 Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada

    Tom Z. Lu & Zhong-Ping Feng

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  1. Tom Z. Lu
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Correspondence to Zhong-Ping Feng.

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Lu, T.Z., Feng, ZP. NALCN: A Regulator of Pacemaker Activity. Mol Neurobiol 45, 415–423 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-012-8260-2

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