Voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca_V) in GtoPdb v.2021.3

Abstract

Ca²⁺ channels are voltage-gated ion channels present in the membrane of most excitable cells. The nomenclature for Ca²⁺channels was proposed by [127] and approved by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Ca²⁺ channels [70]. Most Ca²⁺ channels form hetero-oligomeric complexes. The α1 subunit is pore-forming and provides the binding site(s) for practically all agonists and antagonists. The 10 cloned α1-subunits can be grouped into three families: (1) the high-voltage activated dihydropyridine-sensitive (L-type, Ca_V1.x) channels; (2) the high- to moderate-voltage activated dihydropyridine-insensitive (Ca_V2.x) channels and (3) the low-voltage-activated (T-type, Ca_V3.x) channels. Each α1 subunit has four homologous repeats (I-IV), each repeat having six transmembrane domains (S1-S6) and a pore-forming region between S5 and S6. Voltage-dependent gating is driven by the membrane spanning S4 segment, which contains highly conserved positive charges that respond to changes in membrane potential. All of the α1-subunit genes give rise to alternatively spliced products. At least for high-voltage activated channels, it is likely that native channels comprise co-assemblies of α1, β and α2-δ subunits. The γ subunits have not been proven to associate with channels other than the α1s skeletal muscle Ca_v1.1 channel. The α2-δ1 and α2-δ2 subunits bind gabapentin and pregabalin.