The evolution of the four subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels: ancient roots, increasing complexity, and multiple losses.

ABSTRACT: The alpha subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca(v)s) are large transmembrane proteins responsible for crucial physiological processes in excitable cells. They are assisted by three auxiliary subunits that can modulate their electrical behavior. Little is known about the evolution and roles of the various subunits of Ca(v)s in nonbilaterian animals and in nonanimal lineages. For this reason, we mapped the phyletic distribution of the four channel subunits and reconstructed their phylogeny. Although alpha subunits have deep evolutionary roots as ancient as the split between plants and opistokonths, beta subunits appeared in the last common ancestor of animals and their close-relatives choanoflagellates, gamma subunits are a bilaterian novelty and alpha2/delta subunits appeared in th

SUBMITTER: Moran Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4202318 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature