Dynamic interactions between L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel Cav1.2 subunits and ahnak in osteoblastic cells.

Voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels (VSCCs) mediate Ca(2+) permeability in osteoblasts. Association between VSCC alpha(1)- and beta-subunits targets channel complexes to the plasma membrane and modulates function. In mechanosensitive tissues, a 700-kDa ahnak protein anchors VSCCs to the actin cytoskeleton via the beta(2)-subunit of the L-type Ca(v)1.

High extracellular calcium attenuates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

We studied the effect of extracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](e)) on adipocyte differentiation. Preadipocytes exposed to continuous [Ca(2+)](e) higher than 2.5 mmol/l accumulated little or no cytoplasmic lipid compared to controls in 1.