Nonchannel functions of the calcium channel gamma subunit: insight from research on the stargazer mutant.
Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) are essential regulators of intracellular calcium concentration, which in turn influences a broad spectrum of cellular functions especially in neurons. Identification of several calcium channel mutations as the cause of neurological disorders in human and mouse indicates the importance of the integrity of these channels to neuronal function. Studies of mutant mice, each carrying a disrupted gene of a different VDCC subunit, have revealed many unexpected roles of these molecules and have significantly advanced our knowledge of subunit function in the last few years. This review addresses recent discoveries of the function of the gamma2 subunit, also named stargazin, with special emphasis on roles other than calcium conductance.
Qiao
Xiaoxi
X
Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130, USA. xqiao@lsuhsc.edu
Meng
Hongdi
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C491912:CACNG2 protein, human; C113940:Cacng2 protein, mouse; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid