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Emerging Alternative Functions for the Auxiliary Subunits of the Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

Franz Hofmann1, Anouar Belkacemi, Veit Flockerzi

  • 1Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, TU München, Biedersteiner Str. 29, 80802 München, Germany. Franz.Hofmann@mytum.de.

Current Molecular Pharmacology
|May 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Voltage-gated calcium channels (Cav) have core complexes formed by Cavα1 and Cavβ subunits. Auxiliary subunits like β, α2δ, and γ also have emerging, independent functions beyond the core complex.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular physiology

Background:

  • Voltage-gated calcium channels (Cav) are crucial for cellular excitability.
  • Cav channels are complex protein assemblies with diverse subunits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging independent functions of auxiliary Cav subunits.
  • To highlight roles beyond the core Cav channel complex.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific reports.
  • Analysis of studies on Cav subunit interactions and functions.

Main Results:

  • Cavα1 and Cavβ form the primary calcium channel core complex.
  • Auxiliary subunits (β, α2δ, γ) exhibit functions independent of Cavα1.

Conclusions:

  • Auxiliary Cav subunits possess significant, independent roles.
  • Understanding these independent functions is key to Cav channel biology.

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