Targeting mechanisms of high voltage-activated Ca2+ channels.
Functional voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel complexes are assembled by three to four subunits: alpha1, beta, alpha2delta subunits (C. Leveque et al., 1994, J. Biol Chem. 269, 6306-6312; M. W. McEnery et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 11095-11099) and at least in muscle cells also y subunits (B. M. Curtis and W. A. Catterall, 1984, Biochemistry 23, 2113-2118). Ca2+ channels mediate the voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx in subcellular compartments, triggering such diverse processes as neurotransmitter release, dendritic action potentials, excitation-contraction, and excitation-transcription coupling. The targeting of biophysically defined Ca2+ channel complexes to the correct subcellular structures is, thus, critical to proper cell and physiological functioning. Despite their importance, surprisingly little is known about the targeting mechanisms by which Ca2+ channel complexes are transported to their site of function. Here we summarize what we know about the targeting of Ca2+ channel complexes through the cell to the plasma membrane and subcellular structures.
Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Room E604, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4975, USA. sxh106@pop.cwru.edu
Stefan
S
Herlitze
Mian
M
Xie
Jing
J
Han
Alexander
A
Hümmer
Katya V
KV
Melnik-Martinez
Rosa L
RL
Moreno
Melanie D
MD
Mark
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D015220:Calcium Channels; D011994:Recombinant Proteins