title: Structure and function of the β subunit of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels.
abstract: The voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channel β subunit (Ca(v)β) is a cytosolic auxiliary subunit that plays an essential role in regulating the surface expression and gating properties of high-voltage activated (HVA) Ca²⁺ channels. It is also crucial for the modulation of HVA Ca²⁺ channels by G proteins, kinases, Ras-related RGK GTPases, and other proteins. There are indications that Ca(v)β may carry out Ca²⁺ channel-independent functions. Ca(v)β knockouts are either non-viable or result in a severe pathophysiology, and mutations in Ca(v)β have been implicated in disease. In this article, we review the structure and various biological functions of Ca(v)β, as well as recent advances. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Zafir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Buraei
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D021122:Protein Subunits
chemical_list: D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D021122:Protein Subunits; D002118:Calcium