PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Juliane Proft AU - Norbert Weiss TI - G Protein Regulation of Neuronal Calcium Channels: Back to the Future AID - 10.1124/mol.114.096008 DP - 2015 Jun 01 TA - Molecular Pharmacology PG - 890--906 VI - 87 IP - 6 4099 - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/87/6/890.short 4100 - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/87/6/890.full SO - Mol Pharmacol2015 Jun 01; 87 AB - Neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels have evolved as one of the most important players for calcium entry into presynaptic endings responsible for the release of neurotransmitters. In turn, and to fine-tune synaptic activity and neuronal communication, numerous neurotransmitters exert a potent negative feedback over the calcium signal provided by G protein–coupled receptors. This regulation pathway of physiologic importance is also extensively exploited for therapeutic purposes, for instance in the treatment of neuropathic pain by morphine and other μ-opioid receptor agonists. However, despite more than three decades of intensive research, important questions remain unsolved regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of direct G protein inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels. In this study, we revisit this particular regulation and explore new considerations.