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Transcriptional regulation of voltage‐gated Ca 2+ channels
Author(s) -
GonzálezRamírez R.,
Felix R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/apha.12883
Subject(s) - transcriptional regulation , biology , gene , gene expression , promoter , transcription (linguistics) , transcription factor , microbiology and biotechnology , regulation of gene expression , protein subunit , tata box , calcium channel , genetics , medicine , calcium , linguistics , philosophy
The transcriptional regulation of voltage‐gated Ca 2+ (Ca V ) channels is an emerging research area that promises to improve our understanding of how many relevant physiological events are shaped in the central nervous system, the skeletal muscle and other tissues. Interestingly, a picture of how transcription of Ca V channel subunit genes is controlled is evolving with the identification of the promoter regions required for tissue‐specific expression and the identification of transcription factors that control their expression. These promoters share several characteristics that include multiple transcriptional start sites, lack of a TATA box and the presence of elements conferring tissue‐selective expression. Likewise, changes in Ca V channel expression occur throughout development, following ischaemia, seizures or chronic drug administration. This review focuses on insights achieved regarding the control of Ca V channel gene expression. To further understand the complexities of expression and to increase the possibilities of detecting Ca V channel alterations causing human disease, a deeper knowledge on the structure of the 5′ upstream regions of the genes encoding these remarkable proteins will be necessary.