Elsevier

Cell Calcium

Volume 24, Issues 5–6, November–December 1998, Pages 307-323
Cell Calcium

Invited review
Structure and function of neuronal Ca2+ channels and their role in neurotransmitter release

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0143-4160(98)90055-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Electrophysiological studies of neurons reveal different Ca2+ currents designated L-, N-, P-, Q-, R-, and T-type. High-voltage-activated neuronal Ca2+ channels are complexes of a pore-forming al subunit of about 190–250 kDa, a transmembrane, disulfide-linked complex of α2 and δ subunits, and an intracellular β subunit, similar to the α1, α2δ, and β subunits previously described for skeletal muscle Ca2+ channels. The primary structures of these subunits have all been determined by homology cDNA cloning using the corresponding subunits of skeletal muscle Ca2+ channels as probes. In most neurons, L-type channels contain α1c or α1D subunits, N-type contain α1B, subunits, P- and Q-types contain alternatively spliced forms of α1A subunits, R-type contain α1E subunits, and T-type contain α1G or α11H subunits. Association with different β subunits also influences Ca2+ channel gating substantially, yielding a remarkable diversity of functionally distinct molecular species of Ca2+ channels in neurons.

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