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Voltage‐gated calcium channels and disease
Author(s) -
Cain Stuart M.,
Snutch Terrance P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.158
Subject(s) - calcium , voltage dependent calcium channel , t type calcium channel , p type calcium channel , depolarization , calcium signaling , membrane potential , neurotransmitter , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , calcium in biology , neuroscience , chemistry , intracellular , biophysics , medicine , central nervous system
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.