title: Presynaptic calcium channels: pharmacology and regulation.
abstract: Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are considered as molecular trigger elements for signal transmission at chemical synapses. Due to their central role in this fundamental process, function and pharmacology of presynaptic Ca2+ channels have recently been the subject of extensive exploration employing various experimental techniques. Several lines of evidence indicate that, at nerve terminals in higher vertebrates, the evoked influx of Ca2+ -ions is mainly mediated by Ca2+ channels of the P-type. The stringent regulation of presynaptic Ca2+ channels is supposed to be involved in fine-tuning the efficiency of synaptic transmission. Intrinsic control mechanisms, such as voltage- or Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation, or modulation of channel activity, either by G-proteins directly or via phosphorylation by protein kinases, may be of particular functional importance.
authors.affiliation: University Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Institute of Zoophysiology, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tareilus
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic