Synonyms
Historical Background
Voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV) are a family of complex proteins that conduct Ca2+ into the cell cytoplasm through a large pore-forming α1 subunit of 190–250 kDa. They are divided into three major families CaV1.x, CaV2.x, and CaV3.x based on sequence homology of the α1 subunit. In turn, each subfamily is comprised of four (CaV1.1–CaV1.4) or three (CaV2.1–2.3; CaV3.1–3.3) members derived from separate genes (Catterall et al. 2005). The α1 subunits are variably associated with β, α2δ, and γ accessory proteins that modulate expression, targeting, voltage dependence, and kinetic characteristics (Fig. 1a) (Catterall et al. 2005; Buraei and Yang 2010). Moreover, splice variants of the α1 subunit can account for tissue-specific behavior. Alternate classification schemes exist. Table 1shows the early nomenclature; L-, P/Q-, N-, R-, and T-type, and its relationship to more modern schemes based on sequence...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Baig SM, Koschak A, Lieb A, Gebhart M, Dafinger C, Nurnberg G, et al. Loss of Ca(v)1.3 (CACNA1D) function in a human channelopathy with bradycardia and congenital deafness. Nat Neurosci. 2011;14(1):77–84.
Buraei Z, Yang J. The β subunit of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Physiol Rev. 2010;90(4):1461–506.
Cannon SC. Voltage-sensor mutations in channelopathies of skeletal muscle. J Physiol. 2010;588(Pt 11):1887–95.
Catterall WA, Perez-Reyes E, Snutch TP, Striessnig J. International union of pharmacology. XLVIII. Nomenclature and structure-function relationships of voltage-gated calcium channels. Pharmacol Rev. 2005;57(4):411–25.
Chen CC, Lamping KG, Nuno DW, Barresi R, Prouty SJ, Lavoie JL, et al. Abnormal coronary function in mice deficient in alpha1H T-type Ca2+ channels. Science. 2003;302(5649):1416–8.
Huc S, Monteil A, Bidaud I, Barbara G, Chemin J, Lory P. Regulation of T-type calcium channels: signaling pathways and functional implications. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009;1793(6):947–52.
Hulme JT, Yarov-Yarovoy V, Lin TW, Scheuer T, Catterall WA. Autoinhibitory control of the CaV1.2 channel by its proteolytically processed distal C-terminal domain. J Physiol. 2006;576(Pt 1):87–102.
Khosravani H, Zamponi GW. Voltage-gated calcium channels and idiopathic generalized epilepsies. Physiol Rev. 2006;86(3):941–66.
Kim C, Jun K, Lee T, Kim SS, McEnery MW, Chin H, et al. Altered nociceptive response in mice deficient in the alpha(1B) subunit of the voltage-dependent calcium channel. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2001;18(2):235–45.
Kochegarov AA. Pharmacological modulators of voltage-gated calcium channels and their therapeutical application. Cell Calcium. 2003;33(3):145–62.
Liang H, DeMaria CD, Erickson MG, Mori MX, Alseikhan BA, Yue DT. Unified mechanisms of Ca2+ regulation across the Ca2+ channel family. Neuron. 2003;39(6):951–60.
Liao P, Soong TW. CaV1.2 channelopathies: from arrhythmias to autism, bipolar disorder, and immunodeficiency. Pflugers Arch. 2010;460(2):353–9.
Minor Jr DL, Findeisen F. Progress in the structural understanding of voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV) function and modulation. Channels (Austin). 2010;4(6):459–74.
Nakagawasai O, Onogi H, Mitazaki S, Sato A, Watanabe K, Saito H, et al. Behavioral and neurochemical characterization of mice deficient in the N-type Ca2+ channel alpha1B subunit. Behav Brain Res. 2010;208(1):224–30.
Perez-Reyes E. Molecular characterization of T-type calcium channels. Cell Calcium. 2006;40(2):89–96.
Pietrobon D. CaV2.1 channelopathies. Pflugers Arch. 2010;460(2):375–93.
Striessnig J, Koschak A. Exploring the function and pharmacotherapeutic potential of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels with gene knockout models. Channels (Austin). 2008;2(4):233–51.
Striessnig J, Bolz HJ, Koschak A. Channelopathies in Cav1.1, Cav1.3, and Cav1.4 voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels. Pflugers Arch. 2010;460(2):361–74.
Weiergraber M, Kamp MA, Radhakrishnan K, Hescheler J, Schneider T. The Ca(v)2.3 voltage-gated calcium channel in epileptogenesis–shedding new light on an enigmatic channel. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2006;30(8):1122–44.
Zamponi GW, Lory P, Perez-Reyes E. Role of voltage-gated calcium channels in epilepsy. Pflugers Arch. 2010;460(2):395–403.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Pallone, T.L., Khurana, S., Cao, C. (2018). Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels: Structure and Function (CACNA). In: Choi, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67199-4_145
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67199-4_145
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-67198-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-67199-4
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences