Channel-mediated tonic GABA release from glia

Soojung Lee, Bo Eun Yoon, Ken Berglund, Soo Jin Oh, Hyungju Park, Hee Sup Shin, George J. Augustine, C. Justin Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

412 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Synaptic inhibition is based on both tonic and phasic release of the inhibitory transmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Although phasic GABA release arises from Ca2+-dependent exocytosis from neurons, the mechanism of tonic GABA release is unclear. Here we report that tonic inhibition in the cerebellum is due to GABA being released from glial cells by permeation through the Bestrophin 1 (Best1) anion channel. We demonstrate that GABA directly permeates through Best1 to yield GABA release and that tonic inhibition is eliminated by silencing of Best1. Glial cells express both GABA and Best1, and selective expression of Best1 in glial cells, after preventing general expression of Best1, fully rescues tonic inhibition. Our results identify a molecular mechanism for tonic inhibition and establish a role for interactions between glia and neurons in mediating tonic inhibition.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)790-796
Number of pages7
JournalScience
Volume330
Issue number6005
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010 Nov 5

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Channel-mediated tonic GABA release from glia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this