Advances in voltage-gated calcium channel structure, function and physiology

摘要

It is well established that calcium ions are important signalling molecules that mediate a wide range of physiological functions, including muscle contraction, enzyme activation, and secretion. Excitable cells contain numerous pathways by which intracellular calcium concentration can be elevated. Voltage-gated calcium channels are the primary mechanism of depolarization evoked calcium entry into heart, muscle and brain cells. The mammalian genome expresses multiple calcium channel subtypes that fulfill specific cellular functions. These calcium channels can either be monomers (as is the case with low voltage- activated T-type calcium channels), or multimeric protein complexes that are formed through the assembly of multiple calcium channels subunits (as for the high voltage-activated calcium channels). This special issue of BBA Biomembranes, focuses on some of the key roles of calcium channels, as well as aspects of calcium channel structure and modulation.