Ca(v)2.3 containing voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels are expressed in excitable cells and trigger neurotransmitter and peptide-hormone release. Their expression remote from the fast release sites leads to the accumulation of presynaptic Ca(2+) which can both, facilitate and inhibit the influx of Ca(2+) ions through Ca(v)2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Voltage gated calcium channels (VGCCs) regulate cellular activity in response to membrane depolarization by altering calcium homeostasis. Because calcium is the most versatile second messenger, regulation of the amount of VGCCs at the plasma membrane is highly critical for several essential cellular processes. Among the different types of VGCCs, the Ca(v)2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Calcium channels are essential in coupling action potential to signal transduction in cells. There are several types of calcium channels, which can be pharmacologically classified as L-, N-, P/Q-, R- and T-type. But molecular basis of R-type channels is less clearly understood compared the other channel types.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Pharm Biotechnol
February 2010
Screening for protein interaction partners of ion channels helps to elucidate signaling cascades to cellular targets and processes for a better understanding of the origin of diseases. Most important are the cytosolic segments of membrane-bound voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels or from ion channel regulators, which may connect to specific signaling complexes. So far, not much is known about those interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVoltage-gated calcium channels are key components in the etiology and pathogenesis of epilepsies. Former studies mainly focused on P/Q-type Ca(v)2.1 and T-type Ca(v)3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Ca(v)2.3 encoded Ca2+ channel is probably one of the least well-understood voltage-gated calcium channels in terms of physiology, pharmacology and clinical relevance. Here we provide a detailed insight into the functional involvement of Ca(v)2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Recently the Ca(v)2.3 (E/R-type) voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) has turned out to be not only a potential target for different antiepileptic drugs (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple types of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels (T, L, N, P, Q, R type) coexist in excitable cells and participate in synaptic differentiation, secretion, transmitter release, and neuronal plasticity. Ca2+ ions entering cells trigger these events through their interaction with the ion channel itself or through Ca2+ binding to target proteins initiating signalling cascades at cytosolic loops of the ion conducting subunit (Cava1). These loops interact with target proteins in a Ca2+-dependent or independent manner.
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