Dissecting the functional role of different isoforms of the L-type Ca2+ channel
Emmanuel Bourinet, … , Matteo E. Mangoni, Joël Nargeot
Emmanuel Bourinet, … , Matteo E. Mangoni, Joël Nargeot
Published May 15, 2004
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2004;113(10):1382-1384. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI21815.
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Commentary

Dissecting the functional role of different isoforms of the L-type Ca2+ channel

Abstract

There currently exist a great number of different mouse lines in which the activity of a particular gene of interest has been inactivated or enhanced. However, it is also possible to insert specific mutations in a gene so that the pharmacological sensitivity of the gene product is altered. An example of such an approach shows how the abolition of the sensitivity of an L-type Ca2+ channel isoform to dihydropyridines allows the investigation of the physiological role of these channels in different tissues .

Authors

Emmanuel Bourinet, Matteo E. Mangoni, Joël Nargeot

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Figure 1

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LTCCs are multimeric complexes of subunits formed by an α1 pore-forming ...
LTCCs are multimeric complexes of subunits formed by an α1 pore-forming protein associated to three auxiliary subunits (α2-δ, β, and γ). Four genes encode the pore-forming subunit (Cav1.1_Cav1.4). The primary structure, α1, is represented in the figure showing the four domains composed of six transmembrane segments. Schematic representation of the knock-in mutation in the CaV1.2 gene (Thr1066 to Tyr) realized by Sinnegger-Brauns and coworkers in this issue of the JCI (2) to discriminate in vivo the contributions of CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 to various physiological functions.