Structural basis for the regulation of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels: interactions between the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain and Ca(2+)-calmodulin.

ABSTRACT: It is well-known that the opening of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels can be regulated by calmodulin (CaM). One of the main regulatory mechanisms is calcium-dependent inactivation (CDI), where binding of apo-CaM to the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of the channel can effectively sense an increase in the local calcium ion concentration. Calcium-bound CaM can bind to the IQ-motif region of the C-terminal region and block the calcium channel, thereby providing a negative feedback mechanism that prevents the rise of cellular calcium concentrations over physiological limits. Recently, an additional Ca(2+)/CaM-binding motif (NSCaTE, N-terminal spatial Ca(2+) transforming element) was identified in the amino terminal cytoplasmic region of Ca(v)1.2 and Ca(v)1.3. This motif exists only in Ca(v

SUBMITTER: Liu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3324987 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature