The alpha2delta subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels form GPI-anchored proteins, a posttranslational modification essential for function.

ABSTRACT: Voltage-gated calcium channels are thought to exist in the plasma membrane as heteromeric proteins, in which the alpha1 subunit is associated with two auxiliary subunits, the intracellular beta subunit and the alpha(2)delta subunit; both of these subunits influence the trafficking and properties of Ca(V)1 and Ca(V)2 channels. The alpha(2)delta subunits have been described as type I transmembrane proteins, because they have an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal hydrophobic and potentially transmembrane region. However, because they have very short C-terminal cytoplasmic domains, we hypothesized that the alpha(2)delta proteins might be associated with the plasma membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor attached to delta rather than a transmembrane domain. Here, we

SUBMITTER: Davies A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2824380 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature