The NALCN cation channel, which controls neuronal excitability, can be activated by a reduction in extracellular calcium ions. Its activation in neurons requires the proteins UNC79 and UNC80, where UNC79 indirectly associates with NALCN through its interaction with UNC80 [].
This entry represents the C-terminal domain of protein UNC80 from eukaryotes, a component of the NALCN sodium channel complex. NALC is a cation voltage-independent channel activated by substance P, neurotensin, acetylcholine and noradrenaline that controls neuronal excitability. UNC80 forms a complex with UNC79 and both are key regulators of the channel and required for the proper expression and axonal localisation of NALCN. UNC80 is required for NALCN control by GPCRs and essential for its sensitivity to extracellular calcium. This protein acts as a scaffold for Src family of tyrosine kinases (SFK) and UNC-79 to mediate interaction with NALCN [, , ].
This entry represents the central region of protein UNC80 from eukaryotes, a component of the NALCN sodium channel complex. NALCN is a cation voltage-independent channel activated by substance P, neurotensin, acetylcholine and noradrenaline that controls neuronal excitability. UNC80 forms a complex with UNC79 and both are key regulators of the channel and required for the proper expression and axonal localisation of NALCN. UNC80 is required for NALCN control by GPCRs and essential for its sensitivity to extracellular calcium. This protein acts as a scaffold for Src family of tyrosine kinases (SFK) and UNC-79 to mediate interaction with NALCN [, , ]. Proteins containing this domain also include some uncharacterised proteins from fungi.