title: Calcium-activated chloride channels.
abstract: Calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) play important roles in cellular physiology, including epithelial secretion of electrolytes and water, sensory transduction, regulation of neuronal and cardiac excitability, and regulation of vascular tone. This review discusses the physiological roles of these channels, their mechanisms of regulation and activation, and the mechanisms of anion selectivity and conduction. Despite the fact that CaCCs are so broadly expressed in cells and play such important functions, understanding these channels has been limited by the absence of specific blockers and the fact that the molecular identities of CaCCs remains in question. Recent status of the pharmacology and molecular identification of CaCCs is evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. criss.hartzell@emory.edu
authors.forename: Criss
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartzell
authors.forename: Ilva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Putzier
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arreola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D002118:Calcium