Voltage-Dependent R-Type Calcium Channel Subunit Alpha-1e Antibody – Rabbit Polyclonal

Function: Voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) mediate the entry of calcium ions into excitable cells and are also involved in a variety of calcium-dependent processes, including muscle contraction, hormone or neurotransmitter release, gene expression, cell motility, cell division and cell death. The isoform alpha-1E gives rise to R-type calcium currents. R-type calcium channels belong to the 'high-voltage activated' (HVA) group and are blocked by nickel, and partially by omega-agatoxin-IIIA (omega-Aga-IIIA). They are however insensitive to dihydropyridines (DHP), omega-conotoxin-GVIA (omega-CTx-GVIA), and omega-agatoxin-IVA (omega-Aga-IVA). Calcium channels containing alpha-1E subunit could be involved in the modulation of firing patterns of neurons which is important for information processing.

Subunit structure: Interacts with EFHC1. Voltage-dependent calcium channels are multisubunit complexes, consisting of alpha-1, alpha-2, beta and delta subunits in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. The channel activity is directed by the pore-forming and voltage-sensitive alpha-1 subunit. In many cases, this subunit is sufficient to generate voltage-sensitive calcium channel activity. The auxiliary subunits beta and alpha-2/delta linked by a disulfide bridge regulate the channel activity.

Subcellular location: Membrane; Multi-pass membrane protein.

Tissue specificity: Expressed in central nervous system and in insulinoma.

Domain: Each of the four internal repeats contains five hydrophobic transmembrane segments (S1, S2, S3, S5, S6) and one positively charged transmembrane segment (S4). S4 segments probably represent the voltage-sensor and are characterized by a series of positively charged amino acids at every third position.

Sequence similarities: Belongs to the calcium channel alpha-1 subunit (TC 1.A.1.11) family. CACNA1E subfamily. [View classification]Contains 1 EF-hand domain.