Calcium channel
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
A Calcium channel is an ion channel which displays selective permeabiltiy to calcium ions. It is sometimes synonymous as voltage-dependent calcium channel, although there are also ligand-gated calcium channels.
Comparison tables
The following tables explain gating, gene, location and function of different types of calcium channels, both voltage and ligand-gated.
Voltage-gated
| Type | Gated by | Protein | Gene | Location | Function |
| L-type | high voltage | Cav1.1 Cav1.2 Cav1.3 Cav1.4 |
CACNA1S CACNA1C CACNA1D CACNA1F |
Skeletal muscle, bone (osteoblasts), ventricular myocytes**, dendrites and dendritic spines of cortical neurones | SMC and cardiac muscle contraction [1]. Responsible for prolonged action potential in cardiac muscle. |
| P-type/Q-type | high voltage | Cav2.1 | CACNA1A | Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum / Cerebellar granule cells | neurotransmitter release [1] |
| N-type | high voltage | Cav2.2 | CACNA1B | Throughout the brain | neurotransmitter release [1] |
| R-type | intermediate voltage | Cav2.3 | CACNA1E | Cerebellar granule cells, other neurons | ?[1] |
| T-type | low voltage | Cav3.1 Cav3.2 Cav3.3 |
CACNA1G CACNA1H CACNA1I |
neurons, cells that have pacemaker activity, bone (osteocytes) | Regular sinus rhythm[1] |
Ligand-gated
- the receptor-operated calcium channels (in vasoconstriction)
| Type | Gated by | Gene | Location | Function |
| IP3 receptor | IP3 | ER/SR | Releases calcium from ER/SR in response to IP3 by e.g. GPCRs [1] | |
| Ryanodine receptor | dihydropyridine receptors in T-tubules | ER/SR | Calcium-induced calcium release in myocytes [1] | |
| Two-pore channel | ||||
| Cation channels of sperm | ||||
| store-operated channels | indirectly by ER/SR depletion of calcium[1] | plasma membrane |
Pharmacology
Calcium channel blockers are used to treat hypertension.
References
External links
- Calcium+Channels at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)