title: Splicing of alpha 1A subunit gene generates phenotypic variants of P- and Q-type calcium channels.
abstract: P-type and Q-type calcium channels mediate neurotransmitter release at many synapses in the mammalian nervous system. The alpha 1A calcium channel has been implicated in the etiologies of conditions such as episodic ataxia, epilepsy and familial migraine, and shares several properties with native P- and Q-type channels. However, the exact relationship between alpha 1A and P- and Q-type channels is unknown. Here we report that alternative splicing of the alpha 1A subunit gene results in channels with distinct kinetic, pharmacological and modulatory properties. Overall, the results indicate that alternative splicing of the alpha 1A gene generates P-type and Q-type channels as well as multiple phenotypic variants.
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D014981:Xenopus; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA