Structure-functional diversity of human L-type Ca2+ channel: perspectives for new pharmacological targets

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2002 Mar;300(3):724-8. doi: 10.1124/jpet.300.3.724.

Abstract

The L-type Ca2+ channels mediate depolarization-induced influx of Ca2+ into a wide variety of cells and thus play a central role in triggering cardiac and smooth muscle contraction. Because of this role, clinically important classes of 1,4-dihydropyridine, phenylalkylamine, and benzothiazepine Ca2+ channel blockers were developed as powerful medicines to treat hypertension and angina pectoris. Molecular cloning studies revealed that the channel is subject to extensive structure-functional variability due to alternative splicing. In this review, we will focus on a potentially important role of genetically driven variability of Ca2+ channels in expression regulation and mutations, Ca2+-induced inactivation, and modulation of sensitivity to Ca2+ channel blockers with the perspective for new pharmacological targets.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / chemistry*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / drug effects
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / genetics
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / metabolism*
  • Dihydropyridines / chemistry
  • Dihydropyridines / pharmacology
  • Genome
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Dihydropyridines