Abstract
Activation of opioid or opioid-receptor-like (ORL1 a.k.a. NOP or orphanin FQ) receptors mediates analgesia through inhibition of N-type calcium channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons (CitationCitation). Unlike the three types of classical μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors, ORL1 mediates an agonist-independent inhibition of N-type calcium channels. This is mediated via the formation of a physical protein complex between the receptor and the channel, which in turn allows the channel to effectively sense a low level of constitutive receptor activity (Citation). Further inhibition of N-type channel activity by activation of other G protein-coupled receptors is thus precluded. ORL1 receptors, however, also undergo agonist-induced internalization into lysosomes, and channels thereby become cointernalized in a complex with ORL1. This then results in removal of N-type channels from the plasma membrane and reduced calcium entry (Citation). Similar signaling complexes between N-type channels and GABAB receptors have been reported (Citation). Moreover, both L-type and P/Q-type channels appear to be able to associate with certain types of G protein-coupled receptors (CitationCitation). Hence, interactions between receptors and voltage-gated calcium channels may be a widely applicable means to optimize receptor channel coupling.