title: Effects of Cav3.2 channel mutations linked to idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
abstract: Heron and colleagues (Ann Neurol 2004;55:595-596) identified three missense mutations in the Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel gene (CACNA1H) in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. None of the variants were associated with a specific epilepsy phenotype and were not found in patients with juvenile absence epilepsy or childhood absence epilepsy. Here, we introduced and functionally characterized these three mutations using transiently expressed human Cav3.2 channels. Two of the mutations exhibited functional changes that are consistent with increased channel function. Taken together, these findings along with previous reports, strongly implicate CACNA1H as a susceptibility gene in complex idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Research Group, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
authors.forename: Houman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khosravani
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bladen
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Terrance P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Snutch
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McRory
authors.forename: Gerald W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Zamponi
mesh_terms: D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000235:genetics*; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C479952:CACNA1H protein, human; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D018076:DNA, Complementary