title: Voltage-gated calcium channels and disease.
abstract: Voltage-gated calcium channels are a family of integral membrane calcium-selective proteins found in all excitable and many nonexcitable cells. Calcium influx affects membrane electrical properties by depolarizing cells and generally increasing excitability. Calcium entry further regulates multiple intracellular signaling pathways as well as the biochemical factors that mediate physiological functions such as neurotransmitter release and muscle contraction. Small changes in the biophysical properties or expression of calcium channels can result in pathophysiological changes leading to serious chronic disorders. In humans, mutations in calcium channel genes have been linked to a number of serious neurological, retinal, cardiac, and muscular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Terrance P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Snutch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053447:Channelopathies / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002118:Calcium