title: Molecular diversity of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.
abstract: Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels regulate Ca2+ entry and thereby contribute to Ca2+ signalling in many cells. Functional studies have uncovered several types of Ca2+ channel, distinguished by pharmacology, electrophysiology and tissue localization. More recently, molecular cloning has revealed an even greater diversity among Ca2+ channels, arising from multiple genes and alternative splicing. L-type, dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels have been the most extensively characterized to date. Recently, Numa's group has reported the cloning and expression of a dihydropyridine-insensitive Ca2+ channel from brain that most closely resembles the P-type channel described by Llinas and colleagues. These results contribute to rapidly growing knowledge about molecular determinants of Ca2+ channel diversity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Beckman Center, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Tsien
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ellinor
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Horne
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels