Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
Published on: September 28, 2016
[Cav channels and Ca2+ antagonists: recent advances in molecular characteristics and pharmacology]
1Department of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Yamagata University School of Medicine.
Abstract:
Voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (Ca(v) channels), a big family of Ca(2+) channels, gating of which is regulated in a voltage-dependent manner, play a crucial role as a molecular mechanism linking the extracellular neuronal and humoral signals to the intracellular Ca(2+) signals, with which various types of cells alter their function. Ca(v) channels, therefore, are important targets of drug development for therapeutic agents of cardiovascular and neuronal diseases. By further combined application of novel molecular biological techniques and electrophysiological (patch-clamp) procedures, specific tissue distribution of individual types of Ca(v) channels has been identified in more detail. It is evident now that Ca(v) channels play an important role in regulation of not only physiological and pathophysiological function of excitable cells, but also other non-excitable cells, responsible for immunological response, gene expression, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, providing further potential for development of novel agents for treatment of diverse cell disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers

