[Function of calcium channels--newly identified from the analysis of knockout mice].
In the last 14 years, many types of calcium channels have been cloned and extensively studied using electrophysiological and pharmacological means combined with molecular biological techniques. These structure -function analyses have clarified the biophysical nature and modulation of each type of calcium channels leading to the establishment of these molecular bases. Recently, a wave of gene targeting technology has swept over the researchers in the ion channel field and several types of calcium channel knockout mice have started to be generated. Analyses of these mice have identified several novel physiological functions of the calcium channel. This report will introduce some of these studies.
Matsuda
Y
Y
Department of Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
Tanabe
T
T