Functional diversity in neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels by alternative splicing of Ca(v)alpha1 |
| |
Authors: | Lipscombe Diane Pan Jennifer Qian Gray Annette C |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, 192 Thayer St., 02912 Providence, RI;(2) Incellico, Inc., 2327 Englert Drive, Suite 205, 27713 Durham, NC |
| |
Abstract: | Alternative splicing is a critical mechanism used extensively in the mammalian nervous system to increase the level of diversity that can be achieved by a set of genes. This review focuses on recent studies of voltage-gated calcium (Ca) channel Cavα1 subunit splice isoforms in neurons. Voltage-gated Ca channels couple changes in neuronal activity to rapid changes in intracellular Ca levels that in turn regulate an astounding range of cellular processes. Only ten genes have been identified that encode Cavα1 subunits, an insufficient number to account for the level of functional diversity among voltage-gated Ca channels. The consequences of regulated alternative splicing among the genes that comprise voltage-gated Ca channels permits specialization of channel function, optimizing Ca signaling in different regions of the brain and in different cellular compartments. Although the full extent of alternative splicing is not yet known for any of the major subtypes of voltage-gated Ca channels, it is already clear that it adds a rich layer of structural and functional diversity”. |
| |
Keywords: | Alternative splicing calcium channels human genome isoforms calcium signaling |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|