CaV3.1 | voltage-dependent, T type, alpha 1G subunit calcium channel

Ca_V3.1 give rise to the T-type currents: Low-voltage-activated calcium channels are referred to as 'T' type because their currents are both transient, owing to fast inactivation, and tiny, owing to small conductance. T-type channels are thought to be involved in pacemaker activity, low-threshold calcium spikes, neuronal oscillations and resonance, and rebound burst firing. Ca_V3.1 channels are found in neurons and cardiac tissue. It serves pacemaking functions in both central neurons and cardiac nodal cells and supports calcium signaling in secretory cells and vascular smooth muscle. Its involvement in the modulation of firing patterns of neurons is important for information processing as well as in cell growth processes. The potentiation of Ca_V3.1 T-type Ca²⁺ channels in the inferior olive contributes to the onset of the tremor in a pharmacological model of essential tremor.

Genes:
CACNA1G

Human Protein:
UniProt O43497

Tissue:
brain neurons, cardiac nodal cells, smooth muscle cells

Function/ Application:
Ca²⁺pacemaker function, support calcium signalling in secretory cells and smooth muscle cells

Pathology:
Spinocerebellar ataxia 42, colorectal cancer, central pain syndrome, childhood absence epilepsy, osteogenesis imperfecta type i

Interaction:
β1-4 subunits, α2δ subunits, insulin, CaCNG3, Ras protein-specific guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 2, Ca_V1.2, Calsequestrin 2, TRPC5

Modulator:
Mibefradil, verapamil, zonisame, flunarizide, Bay K 8644, Nitrendipine

Assays:
Patch Clamp: whole cell, room temperature

Particularities:
Ca_V channels often show a rundown phenomenon. Adequate intra- and extrcellular solutions are essential for a good data quality.

Recommended Reviews:
Catterall WA, Perez-Reyes E, Snutch TP, Striessnig J (2005). "International Union of Pharmacology. XLVIII. Nomenclature and structure-function relationships of voltage-gated calcium channels". Pharmacol Rev. 57 (4): 411–25.