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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Single-Cell Calcium Imaging for Studying the Activation of Calcium Ion Channels
Published on: December 13, 2024
T-type Calcium Channels in Health and Disease
Dan Wang1, Lotten Ragnarsson1, Richard J Lewis1
1Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane Qld 4072, Australia.
Abstract:
Low Voltage-Activated (LVA) T-type calcium channels are characterized by transient current and Low Threshold Spikes (LTS) that trigger neuronal firing and oscillatory behavior. Combined with their preferential localization in dendrites and their specific "window current", T-type calcium channels are considered to be key players in signal amplification and synaptic integration. Assisted by the emerging pharmacological tools, the structural determinants of channel gating and kinetics, as well as novel physiological and pathological functions of T-type calcium channels, are being uncovered. In this review, we provide an overview of structural determinants in T-type calcium channels, their involvement in disorders and diseases, the development of novel channel modulators, as well as Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies that lead to rational drug design.
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