SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW - CHEMICAL MODULATION OF NEURORECEPTORS AND CHANNELS VIA INTRACELLULAR COMPONENTS

Whereas the roles of G proteins and protein kinases in various neurore ceptors and ion channels have been studied extensively, their roles in the actions of drugs and toxicants on these receptors and channels re main to be elucidated. Almost all drugs and toxicants exert multiple a ctions on multiple target sites, and there is no reason to assume that a chemical modulates a receptor/channel via a single mechanism In fac t, experimental evidence is slowly but steadily being accumulated to i ndicate that certain drugs and toxicants modulate neuroreceptor/channe l functions through interactions with intracellular components such as G proteins and protein kinases, Multiple actions of a toxicant on var ious receptors/channels may be explained on the basis of its interacti on with the G protein/kinase system that is a common denominator of th e target sites. This is a virgin field that promises a quantum leap in the coming years. Each presentation and discussion will focus on expe cted future developments and potential significance in the field of ne urotoxicology. (C) 1998 Society of Toxiocology.