GIRK2 splice variants and neuronal G protein-gated K+ channels: Implications for channel function and behavior

Ezequiel Marron Fernandez De Velasco, Lei Zhang, Baovi N. Vo, Megan Tipps, Shannon Farris, Zhilian Xia, Allison Anderson, Nicholas Carlblom, C. David Weaver, Serena M. Dudek, Kevin Wickman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many neurotransmitters directly inhibit neurons by activating G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels, thereby moderating the influence of excitatory input on neuronal excitability. While most neuronal GIRK channels are formed by GIRK1 and GIRK2 subunits, distinct GIRK2 isoforms generated by alternative splicing have been identified. Here, we compared the trafficking and function of two isoforms (GIRK2a and GIRK2c) expressed individually in hippocampal pyramidal neurons lacking GIRK2. GIRK2a and GIRK2c supported comparable somato-dendritic GIRK currents in Girk2 -/- pyramidal neurons, although GIRK2c achieved a more uniform subcellular distribution in pyramidal neurons and supported inhibitory postsynaptic currents in distal dendrites better than GIRK2a. While over-expression of either isoform in dorsal CA1 pyramidal neurons restored contextual fear learning in a conditional Girk2 -/- mouse line, GIRK2a also enhanced cue fear learning. Collectively, these data indicate that GIRK2 isoform balance within a neuron can impact the processing of afferent inhibitory input and associated behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1639
JournalScientific reports
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2017

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© 2017 The Author(s).

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