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Modulator

Issue No. 16

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Subunit Interactions and Channelopathies in CaV Channels

Voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels play a major role in the normal functioning and pathophysiology of neurons and other excitable cells. Their role includes supply of Ca2+ for transmitter release, regulation of excitability by activation of Ca2+-dependent currents and activation of other Ca2+-dependent processes, including control of gene expression. Since Ca2+ entry regulates so many cellular processes, the correct trafficking and localization of CaV channels is of great importance for the normal functioning of cells.

Recently, mutations in a number of genes, causing disease in humans and mice, have been implicated in the context of voltage dependent ion channels and termed

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The Molecular Diversity of TRP Channels and Related Proteins

TRP channels are a large family (20 genes) of plasma membrane, non-selective cationic channels that are either specifically or ubiquitously expressed in excitable and non excitable cells. These proteins are divided into three main subfamilies on the basis of sequence homology; TRPC, TRPV and TRPM1 (see Table). Like the KV channel family, the TRP family can also form heteromers consisting of different members of the same subfamily. Their non-selective cationic nature makes them depolarizing agents, while their calcium permeability makes them as transducers leading to [Ca2+]in elevation. However, there are many different gating mechanism and/or modulating agents that activate and inactivate different members of this channel family (for reviews see2,3).

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ERG K+ Channels

The ether-a-go-go gene (EAG) family is a relative novel group of K+– channels, which belong to an increasing number of …

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