title: Structure and function of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels.
abstract: The primary structures of the Na+ channel alpha-subunits from several species have now been deduced from cDNA sequences, and complete primary structures of all of the subunits of skeletal muscle L-type Ca2+ channels have been defined. Current research on voltage-gated ion channels is focusing on defining the structural components responsible for specific aspects of channel function. Recent experiments have identified regions of these channels that are important for voltage-dependent activation and inactivation, ion conductance, regulation by protein phosphorylation, and modulation by drugs and neurotoxins using a combination of antibody mapping and site-directed mutagenesis approaches. The results form the outlines of a structural map of ion channel function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Catterall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels