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Heartfelt crosstalk: desensitization of the GIRK current

Nature Cell Biology volume 2, pages E165–E167 (2000)Cite this article

Acetylcholine calms the heartbeat by activating Gi-coupled receptors and G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels. It also dampens the GIRK current by reducing PIP2 through Gq-coupled receptors. These two types of receptors seem to be engaged in an intriguingly specific form of crosstalk, which leads to desensitization of the GIRK current.

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Figure 1: Desensitization of the acetylcholine response in the sinoatrial pacemaker cell of the heart.
Figure 2: Diagram showing the crosstalk between the M2 and M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in atrial cells.

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  1. Howard Hughes Medical School and in the Departments of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, 94143-0725, California, USA

    Lily Yeh Jan & Yuh Nung Jan

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  1. Lily Yeh Jan
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  2. Yuh Nung Jan
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Jan, L., Jan, Y. Heartfelt crosstalk: desensitization of the GIRK current. Nat Cell Biol 2, E165–E167 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35023646

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