title: [Functional specificity of T-type calcium channels and their roles in neuronal differentiation].
abstract: Calcium plays a central role in cell signaling and T-type calcium channels constitute a unique route for the entry of calcium ions in excitable cells. The genuine electrophysiological properties of T-type calcium channels include activation at low voltages and window currents in the range of cell membrane resting potential. T-type channels therefore generate a specific calcium influx likely to play an important role during early stages of development, in various cellular functions including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, gene transcription and hormone secretion. Such T-channel activities are also associated with several pathological situations. With the recent cloning of three T-type pore channel subunits, alpha 1G, alpha 1H and alpha 1I (also called Cav3.1, Cav3.2 and Cav3.3, respectively), it has become possible to investigate further the role of T-type channels in various cellular functions, including neuronal differentiation. Here we describe recent data obtained in our laboratory demonstrating how T-type channels generated by the alpha 1H subunit contribute to neuronal differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle-CNRS UPR 2580-IGH-141, rue de la Cardonille, F-34094 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chemin
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monteil
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lory
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type