Molecular characterization of a novel family of low voltage-activated, T-type, calcium channels.
Low voltage-activated, T-type, calcium channels are thought to be involved in pacemaker activity, low threshold Ca2+ spikes, neuronal oscillations and resonance, and rebound burst firing. Mutations in T-type channel genes may be a contributing factor to neurological and cardiovascular disorders, such as epilepsy, arrhythmia, and hypertension. Due to the lack of selective blockers, little is known about their structure or molecular biology. This review discusses our recent findings on the cloning, chromosomal localization, and functional expression, of two novel channels, alpha1G and alpha1H. The biophysical properties of these cloned channels (distinctive voltage dependence, kinetics, and single channel conductance) demonstrates that these channels are members of the T-type Ca2+ channel family.
Department of Physiology, and Cardiovascular Institute, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA.
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Perez-Reyes
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009865:Oocytes; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D015220:Calcium Channels; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D002118:Calcium