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Voltage-gated calcium channels

William A Catterall1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-7280, USA. wcatt@uw.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|July 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels are crucial for physiological events, with distinct mammalian subfamilies (CaV1, CaV2, CaV3) mediating diverse cellular functions from contraction to synaptic transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Physiology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels convert electrical signals into cellular responses.
  • Mammalian genomes contain ten distinct voltage-gated Ca2+ channel types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present the molecular relationships and physiological functions of mammalian voltage-gated Ca2+ channel proteins.
  • To provide comprehensive information on their molecular, genetic, physiological, and pharmacological properties.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Ca2+ channel molecular biology and physiology.
  • Analysis of genetic, molecular, and functional data for CaV channel subfamilies.

Main Results:

  • The CaV1 subfamily is involved in contraction, secretion, gene expression, and synaptic integration.
  • The CaV2 subfamily mediates fast synaptic transmission.
  • The CaV3 subfamily regulates action potential firing in excitable cells.

Conclusions:

  • Mammalian voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (CaV1, CaV2, CaV3) exhibit specialized roles in diverse physiological processes.
  • Understanding these channels is vital for comprehending cellular signaling and developing targeted therapies.

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