 |
Previous Article | Next Article 
The Journal of Neuroscience, March 15, 1999, 19(6):1912-1921
Cloning and Expression of a Novel Member of the Low
Voltage-Activated T-Type Calcium Channel Family
Jung-Ha
Lee1,
Asif N.
Daud1,
Leanne L.
Cribbs1,
Antonio E.
Lacerda2,
Alexei
Pereverzev3,
Udo
Klöckner4,
Toni
Schneider3, and
Edward
Perez-Reyes1
1 Department of Physiology, Loyola University Medical
Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153, 2 Rammelkamp Center for
Research and Education, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
44109, and Departments of 3 Physiology and
4 Vegetative Physiology, University of Cologne, D50931
Cologne, Germany
 |
ABSTRACT |
Low voltage-activated Ca2+ channels play
important roles in pacing neuronal firing and producing network
oscillations, such as those that occur during sleep and epilepsy. Here
we describe the cloning and expression of the third member of the
T-type family, 1I or CavT.3, from rat brain. Northern
analysis indicated that it is predominantly expressed in brain.
Expression of the cloned channel in either Xenopus
oocytes or stably transfected human embryonic kidney-293 cells
revealed novel gating properties. We compared these
electrophysiological properties to those of the cloned T-type channels
1G and 1H and to the high voltage-activated channels formed by
1E 3. The 1I channels opened after small depolarizations of the membrane similar to 1G and 1H but at more
depolarized potentials. The kinetics of activation and inactivation were dramatically slower, which allows the channel to act as a Ca2+ injector. In oocytes, the kinetics were even
slower, suggesting that components of the expression system modulate
its gating properties. Steady-state inactivation occurred at higher
potentials than any of the other T channels, endowing the channel with
a substantial window current. The 1I channel could still be
classified as T-type by virtue of its criss-crossing kinetics, its slow
deactivation (tail current), and its small (11 pS) conductance in 110 mM Ba2+ solutions. Based on its brain
distribution and novel gating properties, we suggest that 1I plays
important roles in determining the electroresponsiveness of neurons,
and hence, may be a novel drug target.
Key words:
molecular cloning; calcium channel; CNS; thalamus; anticonvulsant; epilepsy
 |
INTRODUCTION |
Voltage-gated calcium channels can
be subdivided into two classes based on the voltage required to trigger
channel opening. Low voltage-activated (LVA) Ca2+
channels begin to open after small depolarizations (10 mV) of the
plasma membrane, whereas high voltage-activated (HVA) channels require
much stronger depolarizations (40 mV). Most voltage-gated Na+ channels open somewhere between these two
extremes. Entry of Ca2+ ions causes membrane
depolarization. LVA Ca2+ channels activate at
potentials low enough to gate the activity of other depolarizing
voltage-activated ion channels. This led to the hypothesis that LVA
channels could act as pacemaker currents, controlling the activity of
other voltage-gated ion channels. A clear example of this phenomenon is
the thalamic low-threshold Ca2+ spike that is
crowned with a burst of action potentials mediated by
Na+ channels (Llinas and Jahnsen, 1982 ). Patch-clamp
recordings demonstrated that T-type Ca2+ channels
mediated the low-threshold spike and that they are involved in rebound
burst firing, oscillations, and resonance (for review, see Huguenard,
1996 ).
Molecular cloning of ion channels has revealed a greater diversity than
was expected from electrophysiological studies of endogenous currents.
For HVA Ca2+ channels, there are at least seven
genes encoding 1 subunits, four for , two for , and one for
2 (Bech-Hansen et al., 1998 ; Letts et al., 1998 ; Ophoff et al.,
1998 ; Strom et al., 1998 ). Expression of these 1 subunits led to the
induction of typical HVA currents in terms of their biophysical and
pharmacological properties. Along with these expected properties, some
HVA channels exhibited properties that were once considered specific to
T-type channels. Specifically, fast inactivation, inactivation at
negative membrane potentials, and block by micromolar concentrations of nickel are no longer distinguishing features (Ellinor et al., 1993 ;
Soong et al., 1993 ; Zamponi et al., 1996 ). However, T-type currents can
still be distinguished from HVA currents by the following criteria: low
voltage-activation, criss-crossing pattern of currents, slow
deactivation, and tiny single-channel conductance (Matteson and
Armstrong, 1986 ; Carbone and Lux, 1987 ; Fox et al., 1987 ; Randall and
Tsien, 1997 ).
Recently our lab has published the cloning and expression of two new
1 subunits, 1G and 1H, that display all the characteristic features of T-type currents (Cribbs et al., 1998 ; Perez-Reyes et al.,
1998 ). In this study we report the cloning of a third member of this
T-type channel family, 1I. We compared its electrophysiological properties to those of the cloned T-type channels 1G and 1H and
to the high voltage-activated channels formed by 1E 3.
Based on its brain distribution and novel gating properties, we suggest that 1I plays important roles in determining the
electroresponsiveness of neurons.
 |
MATERIALS AND METHODS |
cDNA library screening. A rat brain gt10 cDNA
library (catalog #RL3005a; Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) was screened
using conventional filter hybridization according to the
manufacturer's protocol. All cDNA probes were released from the vector
by restriction digestion, separated on agarose gels, and purified using
the Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Probes were
labeled using 32P- -dCTP and the RadPrime DNA labeling
system (Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY). Probes were
derived from either Integrated Molecular Analysis of Genomes and their
Expression (IMAGE) Consortium (LLNL) clones (Lennon et
al., 1996 ) (ID numbers 402278 and 50902; obtained from Genome Systems,
St. Louis. MO) or PCR products. PCR primers were designed from either
partial clones (IIS1f, N45) or from the genomic clone 206C7 (GenBank
accession number AL008716; direct submission by J. Burgess,
Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridgeshire, UK). The PCR primer
sequences were as follows: IS1f, TGC ACG TGG TTT GA(AG) TG(TC) GT;
IIS2r, GGC CAG CTT CAG (GAT)AT CAT (CT)TC; IIS1f, ATG GCT ATC CTG GTG
AAC AC; IIIS1r, TGG GCA ATG ATG GT(CT) TG(AG) CA; IIIS1f, TTC CGG GTC
CTG TG(TC) CA(AG) AC; and N45, GAT GAT GGT GGG (AG)TT GAT. The primers
are named according to their approximate location in the protein and their direction (f, forward; r, reverse). The full-length construct was
assembled from five cDNA clones (Fig.
1A) in the vector
pGEM-HEA (a modified version of pGEM-HE; Liman et al., 1992 ; gift from Kenton Swartz, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). This vector contains 5' and 3' untranslated regions from a
Xenopus globin gene. Because of poor growth of bacterial
cultures (INV F'; Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) transformed with this
construct, we recloned the full-length cDNA into pSP73 (Promega,
Madison, WI) along with the 5' globin sequence [vector coordinates,
KpnI (26)/XmaI (89)]. The same full-length cDNA
was also subcloned into pcDNA3 (Invitrogen) for expression in mammalian
cells. The sequence of 1I was determined on both strands of the
plasmid using oligonucleotide primers, Sequenase 2.0 (Amersham,
Arlington Heights, IL), a digitizer, and WDNASIS software (Hitachi, San
Bruno, CA). Regions of compressed sequence were resolved using the
7-deaza-GTP sequencing reaction mix (Amersham).

View larger version (38K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Figure 1.
Primary structure and predicted topology of the
rat 1I (CavT.3). A, Schematic showing the
location of the restriction enzyme sites and clones used for
constructing the full-length cDNA. The cDNA construct was assembled
from the following clones: gt10 clone RF17, NgoM1
( 124)/AvrII (1354); PCR clone number 13, AvrII (1354)/BglII (1893); PCR clone
number 2, BglII (1893)/BamHI (3357); a
synthetic pair of oligonucleotides, BamHI
(3357)/HindIII(3386); PCR clone b,
HindIII(3386)/ApaLI (4327); and gt10
clone ME4, ApaLI (4327)/EcoRI
(polylinker). B, Deduced amino acid sequence of the rat
1I T-type calcium channel. Residues conserved among the rat 1I,
rat 1G, and the human 1H are shown in capitalized bold
letters. Putative membrane-spanning regions are marked
above the sequence. Analysis of the 1I protein
sequence with a modified Prosite database identified the following:
four cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation motifs
(R/K-R/K-x-S/T or R/K-R/K-x-x-S/T) all located in the intracellular
loops (marked above site with the letter
a); 18 protein kinase C motifs (S/T-x-R/K), eight of
which are located intracellularly (marked with c); one
tyrosine phosphorylation motif (R/K-x-x-x-D-x-x-Y) located at the start
of IIS1 (marked with y), and seven N-linked
glycosylation motifs (N-x-S/T), five of which are in extracellular
loops (marked with n). C, Schematic of
the 1I channel showing relationship of loops to the plasma membrane.
Each amino acid residue is represented by a circle. For
diagrammatic purposes, the membrane-spanning regions are modeled as helices.
|
|
Northern analysis. Northern blots of 2 µg of mRNA were
obtained from either Origene (Rockville, MD) or Clontech. The blots were hybridized at 42°C for 16-20 hr in standard solutions (Sambrook et al., 1989 ) containing 50% formamide. Blots were washed up to 65°C
in a final buffer of 0.1× SSC (15 mM NaCl and 1.5 mM Na citrate) and 0.1% SDS, then exposed to x-ray film
(Hyperfilm MP; Amersham) at 80°C between two intensifying screens.
The probe was an NcoI fragment (nucleotides 5142-6197) of
clone ME4, which includes the last 363 bp of the coding region and 692 bp of 3' untranslated region; none of this sequence is found in either
1G or 1H.
Oocyte expression. Capped cRNA was synthesized from plasmid
linearized with EcoRI using T7 RNA polymerase (Ambion,
Austin, TX). The concentration of cRNA was measured
spectrophotometrically. Oocytes were prepared from Xenopus
laevis (Xenopus One, Ann Arbor, MI) using standard techniques
(Leonard and Snutch, 1991 ). Each oocyte was injected with 2-10 ng of
cRNA in a volume of 50 nl. The results were obtained from five batches
of oocytes derived from five frogs.
Electrophysiological analysis of injected oocytes. Oocytes
were voltage-clamped using a two-microelectrode voltage-clamp amplifier (model OC-725B; Warner Instrument, Hampden, CT). The standard bath
solution contained the following (in mM): 10 Ba(OH)2, 90 NaOH, 1 KOH, 0.1 EDTA, and 5 HEPES,
adjusted to pH 7.4 with methanesulfonic acid. Voltage and current
electrodes (1.5-1.8 M tip resistance) were filled with 3 M KCl. Except where noted, data were filtered at 1 kHz
(model 902 filter; Frequency Devices, Haverhill, MA) and digitized at 4 kHz using the pClamp system (Digidata 1200 and pClamp 6.0; Axon
Instruments, Foster City, CA). In some experiments, oocytes were
injected with 50 nl of 25 mM BAPTA (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR). Oocytes were allowed to recuperate for at least 1 hr but
not more than four.
For single-channel recording, the vitelline membrane was removed with
forceps after shrinking in hypertonic media (120 mM K+-aspartate, 25 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl2, 10 M EGTA, and 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4) (Methfessel et al., 1986 ). Oocytes were
then transferred to a depolarizing bath solution containing (in
mM): 120 K+-glutamate, 25 KCl, 1 Ca2+-ATP, 2 EGTA, 10 glucose, and 10 HEPES, pH 7.4 (Lacerda et al., 1994 ). Pipettes were made from 7052 glass tubing, and
the tips were coated with Sylgard 184 (Dow Corning, Midland, MI). The
pipette solution contained (in mM): 115 BaCl2, 1 EGTA, and 10 HEPES, pH 7.4 (Lacerda et al.,
1994 ). Single-channel currents were acquired at 10 kHz and filtered at
2 kHz using an Axopatch 200B, a Digidata 1200 interface, and pClamp 5 software.
Generation of stably transfected human embryonic
kidney-293 cells. Human embryonic kidney-293 (HEK-293)
cells (1 × 106 cells in a 100 mm culture dish)
were transfected with 10 µg of cDNA of either 1I, rat 1G
(Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ), human 1H (Cribbs et al., 1998 ), or human
1E (Schneider et al., 1994 ) plus human 3 (Murakami et
al., 1996 ; a gift from V. Flockerzi). Forty-eight hours after
transfection, the cells were suspended in DMEM medium supplemented with
G418 (1 gm/l, Life Technologies), 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/ml
penicillin, and 100 µg/ml streptomycin. Individual colonies were
isolated with cloning rings. Results were obtained using the following
cell lines: 1G, Nr2+; 1H, number 13; and 1E 3
number 1C5. The results from three distinct 1I-transfected cell
lines (numbers 11, 19, and 25) were identical and have been pooled.
Electrophysiological analysis of HEK-293 transfected cells.
HEK-293 cells were dissociated by digestion with 0.25% trypsin plus 1 mM EDTA (Life Technologies) for 2 min, then diluted 20-fold with DMEM. The cells were triturated, diluted twofold with DMEM, then
plated on coverslips. The cells were incubated at least 4 hr and up to
2 d before electrophysiological studies. The internal pipette
solution contained the following (in mM): 55 CsCl, 75 CsSO4, 10 MgCl2, 0.1 EGTA, and 10 HEPES, pH adjusted to 7.2 with CsOH. The recording solution contained
the following (in mM): 10 BaCl2 solution (or 2 CaCl2), 140 tetraethylammonium (TEA) chloride, 6 CsCl, and 10 HEPES, pH adjusted to 7.4 with TEA-OH. Whole-cell currents
were recorded from ruptured patches using an Axopatch 200A amplifier,
Digidata 1200 analog-to-digital converter, and pClamp 6.0 software
(Axon Instruments). Data were filtered at 1 kHz and digitized at 2 kHz,
except for measurement of tail currents that were digitized at 50 kHz.
Pipettes were made of TW-150-6 capillary tubing, using a model P-97
Flaming-Brown pipette puller (Sutter Instruments, Novato, CA). Under
these solution conditions, the pipette resistance was typically
1.5-2.0 M . Series resistance (correction and prediction) and cell
capacitance were compensated ~80%. The average cell capacitance was
~25 pF. The data were not corrected for any residual leak currents.
All experiments were performed at room temperature.
Data analysis. Peak currents, integrals, and exponential
fits to the electrophysiological data were determined using Clampfit software (Axon Instruments). Conductance was calculated using the
Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation (Hille, 1992 ) and the solver function
of Excel (Microsoft). Capacitative transients were removed from
single-channel records by subtracting null sweeps taken from the same
experiment and were then analyzed using Transit (VanDongen, 1996 ).
Single-channel amplitudes were measured by averaging the values
obtained from both Gaussian fits to all-points histograms of traces
with openings and amplitude histograms of all idealized openings. Fits
and graphing of the data were with Prism (GraphPad, San Diego, CA).
 |
RESULTS |
Cloning of T-type Ca2+ channels began with the
identification of an EST clone [IMAGE Consortium (Lennon et
al., 1996 ) clone ID number 44039] as being derived from a novel
channel (Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ). Homology analysis of the full
sequence of this clone (GenBank accession number AF02922) identified a
Caenorhabditis elegans homolog (GenBank accession number
1017809). The amino acid sequence corresponding to the sixth
membrane-spanning region of repeat IV (IVS6) was used to search the EST
database using the BLAST algorithm (Altschul et al., 1990 ), leading to
the identification of IMAGE Consortium clones number 50902 (GenBank
accession number H19230) and number 402278 (GenBank accession number
W76774). Subsequent cloning of the full-length cDNAs for 1G and
1H and mapping of their chromosomal location allowed us to identify
these clones as being derived from two genes, CACNA1G and
CACNA1H (Cribbs et al., 1998 ; Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ).
A rat brain cDNA library was screened at low stringency with H19230
( 1G), leading to the isolation of fifty positive plaques. Many of
these plaques were not detected in the secondary screening. To test if
these lost plaques were derived from 1H, they were rescreened with
W76774. Two recombinants were detected with this probe and
plaque-purified (clones ME4 and ME5). Sequencing of their cDNA inserts
demonstrated that they were similar to each other but clearly different
from either 1G or 1H, hence, we called it 1I or
CavT.3. This conclusion was supported by having a
representative member of each gene cloned from the rat brain library
(UN7, 1G; ME3, 1H; and ME4, 1I). A subsequent search of the
HTGS division of the GenBank with the full-length 1G sequence (AF027984) allowed us to recognize the human genomic sequence of 1I
(and refer to the gene as CACNA1I) on cosmid 20CC7
derived from chromosome 22. This sequence was used to design three sets of PCR primers to clone the cDNA encoding repeats I-III.
The PCR product containing repeat I was used to isolate the 5' end from
the rat brain gt10 cDNA library. Four clones were isolated, but only
RF17 extended into the presumptive 5' untranslated region. Although
clone RF17 contains 278 base pairs at the 5' end that are enriched with
the nucleotides G and C (80% compared with 58% for the coding
region), it does not contain an in-frame stop codon. Additional support
for our assignment of the start codon comes from the sequence of human
cosmid clone 1104E15 (direct submission by J. Sulton, Wellcome Trust
Genome Campus). This clone contains a presumptive exon encoding 79 amino acids that are 83% identical to the rat sequence, spanning from
the amino terminus sequence to IS1. An in-frame stop codon occurs 171 bp before the start codon we predicted from the rat sequence.
The full-length rat 1I cDNA is composed of 6503 bp (GenBank
accession number AF086827). The open reading frame covers 5505 bp,
encoding a protein with a predicted molecular weight of 205,198 (Fig.
1B). The 1I protein is 59.3% identical to human 1H and 56.9% identical to rat 1G. In contrast, it is only
13-19% identical to the HVA 1 subunits. Most of the residues
conserved in all three T channel proteins (Fig. 1B)
and in HVA 1 subunits are found in the putative membrane-spanning
regions. These membrane-spanning regions also share considerable
structural homology to voltage-gated K+ and
Na+ channels (Jan and Jan, 1990 ), suggesting that
the overall topology (Fig. 1C) of these channels is similar
(Durell et al., 1998 ). The intracellular loops connecting each repeat
and the C terminus are poorly conserved. The T channel 1 proteins
contain stretches of histidine and arginine residues, as noted
previously for high voltage-activated 1 subunits (Perez-Reyes and
Schneider, 1994 ). In 1G and 1H, this motif occurs in the I-II
linker, whereas in 1I it occurs in the II-III linker. In contrast to
HVA 1 subunits, the three LVA channels contain a large (107 residues) extracellular loop located between IS5 and the P loop. All
other extracellular loops are predicted to be smaller (<35). Although
the amino acid sequence is not highly conserved (45%), there are six
conserved cysteine residues. Because disulfide bonds are formed in
extracellular domains of proteins, this loop may play a role in
localizing channels to the cell surface. The C terminus is composed of
only 143 amino acids, which is similar in length to human 1H (185),
but shorter than either rat 1G (430) or HVA channels such as human
1C (773) or 1E (590). It also contains nine sequential copies of
the repeat, TGCCCC, leading to runs of prolines and cysteines. This
repetitive element is not found in the human genomic sequence. Analysis
of the 1I protein sequence with a modified Prosite database
identified the following: four cAMP-dependent protein kinase
phosphorylation motifs located in the intracellular loops (Fig.
1B), eight protein kinase C motifs located
intracellularly, one tyrosine phosphorylation motif located at the
start of IIS1, and five N-linked glycosylation motifs on extracellular
loops. Motifs for binding subunits of either G-proteins (Q-x-x-E-R;
Chen et al., 1995 ) or HVA calcium channels
(Q-Q-x-E-x-x-L-x-G-Y-x-x-W-I-x-x-x-E; DeWaard et al., 1996 ) were not identified.
The distribution of 1I mRNA in various rat tissues was determined by
Northern blot analysis (Fig. 2). The
predominant species detected had a mobility corresponding to 10.5 kb
and was only found in brain. Similar results were obtained with two
other blots. Minor bands were also observed at 2 and 8 kb. The
intensity of the 2 kb band varied between experiments and showed a
wider tissue distribution.

View larger version (101K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Figure 2.
Distribution of 1I mRNA by Northern blot
analysis. A rat multiple-tissue blot was probed with
32P-labeled 1I (nucleotides 5142-6197) and exposed for
5 d. Size markers are indicated on the right in
kilobases. The faint 8 kb bands in kidney and liver were only observed
in one experiment and may be caused by contamination of the probe with
sequence encoding repeat IV leading to cross-hybridization with 1H
(Cribbs et al., 1998 ). Alternatively, these bands may represent
cross-hybridization with a distinct mRNA.
|
|
Functional expression of 1I currents was first studied in
Xenopus oocytes injected with cRNA. Quite surprisingly, the
currents activated very slowly, particularly at threshold voltages
where the time-to-peak was >150 msec (Fig.
3A,B).
Robust expression (>1 µA) was obtained in most batches of oocytes.
Oocytes expressing >2 µA were excluded from the analysis, which
reduced the average peak current to 718 ± 146 nA. Kinetics were
not affected by BAPTA injection into the oocytes before recording
(n = 5), so the data were pooled. This result indicated
that there was minimal activation of the
Ca2+-activated Cl current. To investigate the
possibility of a mutation, the full-length cDNA construct was
sequenced. No striking differences were observed in the sequence of
1I as compared with either the human genomic sequences containing
CACNA1I, (GenBank accession numbers AL022319, AL008716), rat
1G (GenBank accession number AF027984), or human 1H (GenBank
accession number AF051946).

View larger version (35K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Figure 3.
Comparison of the 1I currents to cloned 1G,
1H, and 1E 3 channel currents. Currents were evoked
by step depolarizations to varying test potentials from a holding
potential of 90 mV. Currents were measured in stably transfected
HEK-293 cells using the ruptured patch-clamp method with 10 mM Ba2+ as the charge carrier. Also
shown are results from Xenopus oocytes expressing 1I.
A, 1I currents expressed in HEK-293 cells and
Xenopus oocytes were compared with 1G and 1H
currents expressed in HEK-293 cells. Currents from the peak of the
current-voltage relationship have been scaled and superimposed. Data
were taken from the same cells shown in panels
B-F. B, Representative
current traces recorded from oocytes injected with 1I-cRNA. Currents
were evoked during test pulses that incremented 7 mV with each episode.
C-F, Representative currents from
HEK-293 cells stably transfected with either 1I
(C), 1G (D), 1H
(E), or 1E 3
(F). Currents were elicited by depolarizing 10 mV
steps from 90 mV.
|
|
When 1I was expressed by stable transfection into HEK-293 cells, the
currents were twofold faster (80 msec time-to-peak at threshold; Fig.
3A,C) than observed in oocytes, but
their kinetics were much slower than observed previously for either
1G (Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ) or 1H (Cribbs et al., 1998 ). To
compare the gating properties of cloned voltage-gated
Ca2+ channels, we prepared stably transfected
HEK-293 cells of 1I, 1G, 1H, and 1E plus 3.
Robust expression (>1 nA; Fig.
4A) was obtained with
all cloned channels. Representative current traces obtained during
pulses of varying test potentials are shown in Figure
3C-F. The peak currents were averaged and
plotted versus test potential (Fig. 4A). To
illustrate the position of these current-voltage curves, the data
from each cell were normalized to the largest peak current observed,
then averaged (Fig. 4B). These results indicated that
1I, 1G, and 1H channels were all activated at low
voltages. In contrast, 1E 3 channels required stronger
depolarizations (30 mV) to open. To quantitate these differences,
conductance was calculated using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation
and fit with the Boltzmann equation (see Fig. 6C). The values of half-maximal activation (V0.5) and slope
(k) are presented in Table 1.
These results show that each cloned T-type channel activated at
slightly different potentials, with 1H being the most negative
followed closely by 1G, whereas 1I activated at 7 mV higher test
potentials. In contrast, 1E 3 currents activated 15 mV
more positive than 1I. These results were obtained using 10 mM Ba2+ as the charge carrier. Because
of the effects on surface charge screening by such high concentrations
of divalent cation (Wilson et al., 1983 ), we also measured currents
under more physiological conditions (2 mM
Ca2+; Table 1). The currents through 1I, 1G,
and 1H channels also had an apparent reversal potential that was
~15 mV more negative than 1E 3 (Fig.
4B). Integrated currents from representative cells,
each of which had ~1 nA of peak current, were also plotted as a
function of the test potential (Fig. 4C). These results
showed that 1I caused the biggest influx of Ba2+
among the cloned channels.

View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Figure 4.
Comparison of the current-voltage
(I-V) relationships of 1I to
those of 1G, 1H, and 1E 3. Symbols representing each cloned
channel are the same in Figures 4-6: 1G ( ), 1H ( ), 1I
( ), and 1E 3 ( ). A, Average peak
currents elicited during test pulses to the indicated potentials. Data
represent the mean ± SEM from the following number of cells:
1G (n = 8), 1H (n = 6),
1I (n = 10), and 1E 3
(n = 10). B, The data in
A were normalized to the peak current observed for each
cell then averaged. Also shown is the average data obtained with
oocytes injected with 1I ( ; n = 12).
C, Integral of the current measured during each test
pulse is plotted as a function of test potential. Representative cells
were chosen that each expressed 1 nA current at the peak of the
I-V.
|
|
To measure both activation and inactivation time courses, the pulse was
lengthened to 350 msec, and the resulting data were fit with two
exponentials (Fig.
5A,B).
As observed for both native (Huguenard, 1996 ) and cloned T-type
channels (Cribbs et al., 1998 ; Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ), activation
and inactivation kinetics were slow near threshold voltages and
accelerated with increasing depolarizations, producing a classical
criss-crossing pattern (Randall and Tsien, 1997 ). This pattern was
clearly distinct from HVA channels such as 1E 3 (Fig.
3F) whose activation and inactivation time constants
were relatively voltage-independent (Fig.
5A,B). The current kinetics of
1G and 1H were voltage-dependent and were nearly identical to
each other. Similar results were obtained previously with 1G
expressed in oocytes (Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ) and 1H in
transiently transfected HEK-293 cells (Cribbs et al., 1998 ). In
contrast, 1I kinetics were threefold slower in HEK-293 cells and
sixfold slower in oocytes.

View larger version (31K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Figure 5.
Comparison of the kinetic properties of 1I with
those of 1G, 1H, 1I, and 1E 3.
A, B, Currents elicited during the
I-V protocol were fit with two exponentials. Average
activation (A) and inactivation
(B) tau values are plotted as a function of test
potential. All currents were recorded from HEK-293 cells, except for
the data represented by , which are from oocytes injected with
1I. Data represent the mean ± SEM from the following number of
cells: 1G ( , n = 8), 1H ( ,
n = 6), 1I ( , n = 10),
1I in oocytes ( , n = 15), and
1E 3 ( , n = 14).
C, D, Representative tail currents from
cells expressing either 1I (C) or
1E 3 (D). Currents were evoked
by test pulses to either 20 ( 1I) or 0 ( 1E 3) mV, followed by repolarization to 100
mV. Vertical scale bar represents 1 (C) or 5 nA (D).
E, Data obtained in C and
D were fit with a single exponential. Average
deactivation time constants of 1I (n = 4) and
1E 3 (n = 4) tail currents were
plotted as a function of repolarization potential.
|
|
A second defining feature of T-type Ca2+ currents is
that they deactivate relatively slowly, producing slowly decaying tail currents after a depolarizing pulse. Representative tail currents for
1I and 1E 3 are shown in Figure 5, C and
D, respectively. The data were fit with a single exponential
to determine the time constant for deactivation (Fig. 5E).
These results indicated that 1I channels closed at least sixfold
slower than 1E 3 channels (at 100 mV, 1I , 1.25 ± 0.08 msec; 1E 3, 0.19 ± 0.03 msec; n = 4 for
both). Fast deactivating tail currents have also been reported
previously for both 1E 2 1a and R-type
currents (Williams et al., 1994 ; Randall and Tsien, 1997 ).
Inactivation was also studied by applying 5-sec-long prepulses that
were terminated by a brief (5 msec) repolarization to close any open
channels, then followed by a test pulse to 30 mV to measure channel
availability. Representative current traces recorded during prepulses
to 50 and 55 mV are shown in Figure 6A. Average data were
fit with the Boltzmann equation (Fig. 6B, Table 1).
These results showed that each cloned T-type channel inactivated at
slightly different potentials, with 1H inactivating at the lowest
potentials, followed by 1G, whereas 1I required potentials that
were 15 mV higher. Comparison of 1I channels in HEK-293 cells to
those expressed in oocytes indicated that the voltage dependence of
activation was nearly identical (Fig. 4B) but that
inactivation occurred at 7 mV higher potentials in oocytes
(V50 = 57.7 ± 0.8; n = 7). In
contrast, the voltage dependence of 1G was nearly identical in
HEK-293 cells, as reported previously for oocytes (Perez-Reyes et al.,
1998 ). The traces in Figure 6A were chosen to
illustrate that there are voltages at which channels were activated
during the prepulse, but they were not completely inactivated, as
evidenced by currents evoked during the test pulse. This activity is
referred to as a window current and is typically illustrated by the
overlap in the steady-state inactivation and activation curves. The
resulting window regions for 1I, 1G, 1H, and
1E 3 are shown in panels D-I of
Figure 6. Of the three T-type channels, 1I had the largest window
region. In contrast, 1E 3 currents did not display a
significant window region because inactivation occurred at very
negative potentials. The window region is also shown for 1I currents
measured with 2 mM Ca2+ (Fig.
6I). At the peak of the window ( 64 mV),
~0.6% of the 1I channels may open (percentage of channels
available to gate times the number of channels that gate at that
potential).

View larger version (32K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Figure 6.
Comparison of steady-state inactivation,
activation, and window currents of 1I to those of 1G, 1H, and
1E 3. A, The voltage protocol used to
measure inactivation is shown above representative
traces obtained during prepulses to 50 and 55 mV. The protocol also
included a short 5 msec repolarization to 90 mV at the end of the
prepulse. The time between episodes was 15 sec. B,
Average percent inactivation was plotted as a function of prepulse
voltage. The average data were fit with the Boltzmann equation
(smooth curves). Data represent the mean ± SEM
from the following number of observations: 1G ( ,
n = 6), 1H ( , n = 8),
1I ( , n = 7), and 1E 3 ( ,
n = 12). C, Conductance was
calculated using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. The data were
averaged, then fit with the Boltzmann equation (smooth
curves). Data represent the mean ± SEM from the following
number of observations: 1G (n = 8), 1H
(n = 6), 1I (n = 8), and
1E 3 (n = 14).
D-I, Activation and inactivation curves shown in
B and C were overlapped and expanded to
show window currents. Data for 1I (D), 1G
(E), 1H (F),
1E 3 (G), and 1I expressed in
oocytes (H) were recorded in 10 mM Ba2+ solutions. Also shown are data
obtained using 2 mM Ca2+ as the charge
carrier from HEK-293 cells stably transfected with 1I
(I). Smooth curves
represent Boltzmann fits to the all the activation data points and to
inactivation data points that were >50%.
|
|
T-type channels are also defined by their tiny single-channel
conductance in saturating concentrations of Ba2+
(Fox et al., 1987 ; Huguenard, 1996 ). To measure these small currents, we used a tail current protocol that increases the probability of
channel opening at negative potentials where the driving force is
larger, and hence the currents are larger. Representative sweeps were
chosen to illustrate that channel openings occur in bursts and to show
the presence of a subconductance state (Fig.
7A). The third trace in Figure
7A shows a channel closing from the full to a subconductance
state, whereas traces 4 and 6 show openings to the subconductance
state. The data were idealized with the Transit algorithm (VanDongen,
1996 ), and the amplitude of the idealized openings were plotted in
Figure 7B. This plot showed that channels opened to two
distinct amplitudes. Gaussian fits to these histograms were used to
determine the amplitude of the openings, then plotted as a function of
repolarization potential. The data were then fit by linear regression
to determine the slope conductance. The conductance of the small
openings was 3.9 ± 0.5 pS, whereas the larger openings had a
conductance of 11.0 ± 0.5 pS. The current at 0 mV for the full
conductance state was 0.15 pA.

View larger version (26K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Figure 7.
Single-channel currents of 1I measured from
Xenopus oocytes using the cell-attached patch-clamp
method. A, Representative traces from a single patch
displaying full and subconductance openings of 1I. The voltage
protocol contained a prepulse to +20 mV followed by a test pulse to
30 mV. B, Channel openings and closings were idealized
using Transit to determine the amplitude of channel openings. Data are
taken from the same patch shown in A. C,
Single-channel conductance of 1I currents. The amplitudes of single
channels were obtained from Gaussian fits to amplitude histograms of
idealized openings. The amplitudes were plotted against test potential.
Slope conductances were calculated by linear regression through all the
data points. Data were obtained from five patches on four oocytes.
Filled symbols represent full conductance states,
whereas open symbols represent subconductance states
measured from the same patch.
|
|
 |
DISCUSSION |
The present study describes the cloning and expression of a novel
member of the T-type Ca2+ channel family. Discovery
of this family of genes was made possible by the development of
normalized cDNA libraries (Soares et al., 1994 ), systematic
sequencing of clones from these libraries, and free access to their DNA
sequences (Lennon et al., 1996 ). We cloned the first cDNA fragment of
1I by low-stringency screening of a rat brain cDNA library with two
IMAGE Consortium clones that encoded either 1G or 1H. The cloning
project was greatly facilitated by efforts to sequence the human
genome, in particular the work performed by the Wellcome Trust Genome
Campus, which led to partial sequencing of the human 1I gene,
CACNA1I, and its localization on human chromosome
22q12.3-13.2.
Sequence homology can be used to subdivide the family of voltage-gated
Ca2+ channel 1 subunits into three subfamilies:
(1) T-type (G, H, I); (2) L-type (S, C, D, F); and (3) non-L-type HVA
(A, B, E). Electrophysiological characterization of these cloned
channels has revealed considerable functional differences between the
members of each subfamily. For example, 1S encodes a slow
Ca2+ channel (Perez-Reyes et al., 1989 ), whose main
physiological role is as a voltage sensor, coupling depolarization to
skeletal muscle contraction (Stern et al., 1997 ). Similarly 1E has
unique characteristics of inactivation gating and permeation that set it apart from 1A and 1B (Soong et al., 1993 ; Bourinet et al., 1996 ). In the T-type subfamily, it is 1I that stands apart. It encodes a slowly activating and inactivating Ca2+
channel that gates in voltage ranges similar to, but higher than the
other two cloned T channels. It can be classified as a T-type channel
by virtue of its slowly deactivating tail currents and tiny
single-channel conductance in 115 mM BaCl2.
The deduced amino acid sequence of 1I is ~58% identical to either
1G or 1H, but only ~15% identical to the HVA 1 subunits. The regions of least conservation between the T-type channels are their
intracellular loops. The III-IV linker is an exception because it is
75% identical among the three T channel proteins. Perhaps this high
degree of sequence identity is caused by conservation of function as
observed in voltage-gated Na+ channels where the
III-IV linker plays a role in fast inactivation (Catterall, 1995 ). A
role of the intracellular linkers in inactivation was postulated before
the structure of T channels was even deduced (Miller and Hu, 1995 ).
Three major conclusions from our expression studies with 1I are:
one, it encodes a T-type Ca2+ channel with a unique
voltage dependence; two, it encodes a slow channel; and three, its
activity is dependent on the expression system. Expression in both
heterologous expression systems demonstrated that 1I encoded low
voltage-activated currents. The threshold voltage for channel
activation was 60 mV (in 10 mM Ba2+),
which was similar to what we have observed for 1G and 1H (Cribbs
et al., 1998 ; Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ). Expression in Xenopus oocytes led to 1I currents that were as slow as
those observed for the L-type channels of skeletal muscle (Garcia et al., 1992 ). In contrast, 1I currents from transfected HEK-293 cells
activated and inactivated much more quickly. In addition, the voltage
dependence of steady-state inactivation differed between these two
expression systems, with the oocyte currents requiring 8 mV higher
depolarizations. The reason for this discrepancy is under
investigation. A plausible explanation is that HEK-293 cells, or
oocytes, express a subunit of T-type channels that can influence kinetics and steady-state inactivation. High voltage-activated Ca2+ channels are multisubunit complexes, which in
addition to 1 subunits, also contain at least two and sometimes
three auxiliary subunits, 2 , , and . All of
these subunits have been reported to modulate channel properties
(Perez-Reyes and Schneider, 1994 ); by analogy, it is likely that LVA
channels also have accessory subunits. It should be noted that HEK-293
cells were originally derived from human kidney (Graham et al., 1977 ),
which is the tissue with the highest expression of 1H (Cribbs et
al., 1998 ). It is also interesting to speculate that the newly
identified 2 subunit may be a T-type channel subunit (Letts et al.,
1998 ). Mutations in the 2 gene are thought to be responsible for the absence epilepsy phenotype of the stargazer mouse.
Similarly, it has been suggested that increased T channel activity may
cause absence epilepsy in rats (Tsakiridou et al., 1995 ).
Three criteria can be used to define T-type channels, their opening at
membrane potentials near the resting membrane potential of most cells
(LVA), their slow closing after a depolarization (SD), and their tiny
(T) single-channel conductance in saturating concentrations of
Ba2+ (Matteson and Armstrong, 1986 ; Carbone and Lux,
1987 ; Fox et al., 1987 ). T-type channels also have a distinctive
criss-crossing set of current traces obtained during the
I-V protocol (Randall and Tsien, 1997 ). Despite its slow
kinetics, 1I still produces this distinctive pattern. This pattern
is the result of the voltage-dependence of T channel kinetics, where
activation kinetics are determined by the latency to first opening and
by an inactivation process that is tightly coupled to activation
(Carbone and Lux, 1987 ; Droogmans and Nilius, 1989 ; Chen and Hess,
1990 ; Miller and Hu, 1995 ). Despite the slower activation kinetics than
either 1G or 1H, 1I deactivates with a similar time course,
producing a slow tail current. HVA channels, such as 1E, close at
least sixfold faster. The exact mechanism by which T channels, which have a mean open time of ~1 msec, produce such a slow tail has not
been fully characterized.
One of the early methods for separating LVA from HVA currents was to
record currents from holding potentials of 90 and 40 mV, then
subtract the currents. This was useful because in many cells only LVA
currents inactivate at 40 mV. Recent studies suggest that some HVA
channels inactivate at lower potentials than LVA channels, notably the
R-type (Randall and Tsien, 1997 ) and the cloned 1E (Fig. 6).
Therefore steady-state inactivation is no longer a defining feature of
LVA channels. Among the cloned T channels, we find a 15 mV difference
between the subtypes, with 1I requiring the highest prepulse
potentials. Because activation of 1I is also shifted to more
depolarized potentials, this leads to its having the largest window
currents among the three cloned T channels. Notably, this window
current occurs very close to the resting membrane potential of most
cells, suggesting that 1I may play a role in determining resting
concentrations of intracellular Ca2+. Window
currents are an essential property of channels involved in pacemaker
activity and play a critical role in the integration of synaptic
potentials (Williams et al., 1997 ).
The single-channel conductance of native T channels ranges between 5 and 9 pS (Huguenard, 1996 ). Similarly, we found that 1G had a
single-channel conductance of 7.5 pS and that 1H was slightly
smaller, 5.3 pS (Cribbs et al., 1998 ; Perez-Reyes et al., 1998 ). The
conductance of 1I was significantly larger (11 pS), approaching the
value determined for rat 1E, 12.5 pS (Bourinet et al., 1996 ). In
addition, rat 1E conducts Ba2+,
Ca2+, and Sr2+ equally, as
observed for native T channels (Shuba et al., 1991 ). Although 1E and
1I have similar slope conductances, the single-channel amplitudes
are very different at 0 mV ( 1E, 0.5 pA; 1I, 0.15 pA) because
they have distinct reversal potentials. Evidence for the different
reversal potentials was presented at the whole-cell level (Fig.
4B). Measurement of the conductance of cloned T
channels is complicated by the presence of a subconductance state.
Evidence that these smaller openings are caused by the cloned T
channels and not an endogenous oocyte channel was the following: (1)
endogenous Ca2+ channels were not detected at the
whole-cell level in these batches of oocytes, (2) endogenous channels
generate 0.5 pA current at 0 mV (Lacerda et al., 1994 ), (3)
transitions between the full and subconductance states are clearly
visible (Fig. 7), and (4) both types of openings disappear when the
holding potential is shifted to 40 mV (results not shown). The
presence of subconductance states for native cardiac T channels
(Droogmans and Nilius, 1989 ) and cloned HVA channels (Meir and Dolphin,
1998 ) have been noted.
The discovery of a clone encoding slow T-type channels may have been
predicted from studies in native cells. Slow T-type channels have been
described in neurons isolated from various rat thalamic nuclei, such as
the reticular (Huguenard and Prince, 1992 ), laterodorsal (Tarasenko et
al., 1997 ), and lateral habenula (Huguenard et al., 1993 ). They have
also been described in a dorsal root ganglion-neuroblastoma hybrid
cell line (Dolphin, 1998 ). These native T currents inactivated with
nearly identical time constants as observed for 1I (55 msec). We
suggest that these slow T channels are encoded by 1I. Support for
this hypothesis is provided by the expression of 1I mRNA in these
same brain regions (Talley et al., 1999 ). Notably, 1I is abundantly
expressed in the thalamic reticular nucleus and lateral habenula. In
addition, slow thalamic T channels required stronger depolarizations
for channel opening than the fast T currents (Huguenard and Prince,
1992 ; Tarasenko et al., 1997 ). Similarly, we find that 1I gates at
less negative potentials than either 1G or 1H. One notable
difference is that the slow thalamic T current inactivated at more
negative potentials than the fast, whereas we find the opposite result.
However, we also found that the voltage dependence of inactivation
varied between expression systems, suggesting this property may be
affected by auxiliary subunits. Injection of thalamic-hypothalamic
mRNA into Xenopus oocytes has been reported to produce LVA
channels (Dzhura et al., 1996 ). The relationship of these currents to
1I is not clear, because these currents inactivated much more slowly.
Knowledge of the distribution and functional properties of the three T
channels should lead to a greater understanding of their physiological
roles. T channels are thought to play a pacemaker role in the genesis
of rebound burst firing which, through reciprocal connections, can lead
to oscillations and resonance of neuronal circuits (Huguenard, 1996 ).
Burst firing of thalamic T channels is thought to be important in the
transition to sleep and in the pathophysiology of epilepsy (McCormick
and Bal, 1997 ). The ability of many antiepileptics to inhibit T channel
activity led to the hypothesis that they may be involved in epilepsy
(Coulter et al., 1990 ). Support for this hypothesis came from the
observation that T channel activity of thalamic reticular neurons was
increased 50% in GAERS (Tsakiridou et al., 1995 ), a well
defined rat model of absence epilepsy (Vergnes and Marescaux, 1994 ).
Cloning of T channels and the ability to express these channels at high
density in stably transfected cells should provide an assay to study
the pharmacological properties of T channels and may lead to the
development of a new generation of antiepileptic drugs.
 |
FOOTNOTES |
Received Oct. 7, 1998; revised Dec. 1, 1998; accepted Dec. 23, 1998.
This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of
Health to E.P.-R. (HL57828). We thank Qun Jiang for technical assistance.
Correspondence should be addressed to Edward Perez-Reyes, Department of
Physiology, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue,
Maywood, IL 60153.
 |
REFERENCES |
-
Altschul SF,
Gish W,
Miller W,
Myers EW,
Lipman DJ
(1990)
Basic local alignment search tool.
J Mol Biol
215:403-410[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Bech-Hansen NT,
Naylor MJ,
Maybaum TA,
Pearce WG,
Koop B,
Fishman GA,
Mets M,
Musarella MA,
Boycott KM
(1998)
Loss-of-function mutations in a calcium-channel
1-subunit gene in Xp11.23 cause incomplete X-linked congenital stationary night blindness.
Nat Genet
19:264-267[Web of Science][Medline]. -
Bourinet E,
Zamponi GW,
Stea A,
Soong TW,
Lewis BA,
Jones LP,
Yue DT,
Snutch TP
(1996)
The
1E calcium channel exhibits permeation properties similar to low-voltage-activated calcium channels.
J Neurosci
16:4983-4993[Abstract/Free Full Text]. -
Carbone E,
Lux HD
(1987)
Single low-voltage-activated calcium channels in chick and rat sensory neurones.
J Physiol (Lond)
386:571-601[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Catterall WA
(1995)
Structure and function of voltage-gated ion channels.
Annu Rev Biochem
64:493-531[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Chen CF,
Hess P
(1990)
Mechanism of gating of T-type calcium channels.
J Gen Physiol
96:603-630[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Chen J,
DeVivo M,
Dingus J,
Harry A,
Li J,
Sui J,
Carty DJ,
Blank JL,
Exton JH,
Stoffel RH,
Inglese J,
Lefkowitz RJ,
Logothetis DE,
Hildebrandt J,
Iyengar R
(1995)
A region of adenylyl cyclase 2 critical for regulation by G protein
 subunits.
Science
268:1166-1169[Abstract/Free Full Text]. -
Coulter DA,
Huguenard JR,
Prince DA
(1990)
Differential effects if petit mal anticonvulsants and convulsants on thalamic neurones: calcium current reduction.
Br J Pharmacol
100:800-806[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Cribbs LL,
Lee J-H,
Yang J,
Satin J,
Zhang Y,
Daud A,
Barclay J,
Williamson MP,
Fox M,
Rees M,
Perez-Reyes E
(1998)
Cloning and characterization of
1H from human heart, a member of the T-type calcium channel gene family.
Circ Res
83:103-109[Abstract/Free Full Text]. -
DeWaard M,
Scott VES,
Pragnell M,
Campbell KP
(1996)
Identification of critical amino acids involved in
1- interaction in voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.
FEBS Lett
380:272-276[Web of Science][Medline]. -
Dolphin AC
(1998)
Properties and modulation of T-type currents in dorsal root ganglia and ND7-23 cells: comparison with
1E currents expressed in COS-7 cells.
In: Low voltage-activated T-type calcium channels (Tsien RW,
Clozel J-P,
Nargeot J,
eds), pp 269-278. Chester, UK: Adis International. -
Droogmans G,
Nilius B
(1989)
Kinetic properties of the cardiac T-type calcium channel in the guinea-pig.
J Physiol (Lond)
419:627-650[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Durell SR,
Hao Y,
Guy HR
(1998)
Structural models of the transmembrane region of voltage-gated and other K+ channels in open, closed, and inactivated conformations.
J Struct Biol
121:263-284[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Dzhura IO,
Naidenov VG,
Lyubanova OP,
Kostyuk PG,
Shuba YM
(1996)
Characterization of hypothalamic low-voltage-activated Ca channels based on their functional expression in Xenopus oocytes.
Neuroscience
70:729-738[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Ellinor PT,
Zhang J-F,
Randall AD,
Zhou M,
Schwarz TL,
Tsien RW,
Horne WA
(1993)
Functional expression of a rapidly inactivating neuronal calcium channel.
Nature
363:455-458[Medline].
-
Fox AP,
Nowycky MC,
Tsien RW
(1987)
Single-channel recordings of three types of calcium channels in chick sensory neurones.
J Physiol (Lond)
394:173-200[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Garcia J,
McKinley K,
Appel SH,
Stefani E
(1992)
Ca2+ current and charge movement in adult single human skeletal muscle fibres.
J Physiol (Lond)
454:183-196[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Graham FL,
Smiley J,
Russell WC,
Nairn R
(1977)
Characteristics of a human cell line transformed by DNA from adenovirus type 5.
J Gen Virol
36:59-72[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Hille B
(1992)
In: Ionic channels of excitable membranes. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.
-
Huguenard JR
(1996)
Low threshold calcium currents in central nervous system neurons.
Annu Rev Physiol
58:329-348[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Huguenard JR,
Prince DA
(1992)
A novel T-type current underlies prolonged Ca(2+)-dependent burst firing in GABAergic neurons of rat thalamic reticular nucleus.
J Neurosci
12:3804-3817[Abstract].
-
Huguenard JR,
Gutnick MJ,
Prince DA
(1993)
Transient Ca2+ currents in neurons isolated from rat lateral habenula.
J Neurophysiol
70:158-166[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Jan LY,
Jan YN
(1990)
A superfamily of ion channels.
Nature
345:672[Medline].
-
Lacerda AE,
Perez-Reyes E,
Wei X,
Castellano A,
Brown AM
(1994)
T-type and N-type calcium channels of Xenopus oocytes: evidence for specific interactions with beta subunits.
Biophys J
66:1833-1843[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Lennon G,
Auffray C,
Polymeropoulus M,
Soares MB
(1996)
The I.M.A.G.E. consortium: an integrated molecular analysis of genomes and their expression.
Genomics
33:151-152[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Leonard JP,
Snutch TP
(1991)
The expression of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels in Xenopus oocytes.
In: Molecular neurobiology: a practical approach (Chad J,
Wheal H,
eds), pp 161-182. Oxford: IRL.
-
Letts VA,
Felix R,
Biddlecome GH,
Arikkath J,
Mahaffey CL,
Valenzuela A,
Bartlett II FS,
Mori Y,
Campbell KP,
Frankel WN
(1998)
The mouse stargazer gene encodes a neuronal Ca2+-channel
subunit.
Nat Genet
19:340-347[Web of Science][Medline]. -
Liman ER,
Tytgat J,
Hess P
(1992)
Subunit stoichiometry of a mammalian K+ channel determined by construction of multimeric cDNAs.
Neuron
9:861-871[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Llinas R,
Jahnsen H
(1982)
Electrophysiology of mammalian thalamic neurons in vitro.
Nature
297:406-408[Medline].
-
Matteson DR,
Armstrong CM
(1986)
Properties of two types of calcium channels in clonal pituitary cells.
J Gen Physiol
87:161-182[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
McCormick DA,
Bal T
(1997)
Sleep and arousal: thalamocortical mechanisms.
Annu Rev Neurosci
20:185-215[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Meir A,
Dolphin AC
(1998)
Known calcium channel
1 subunits can form low threshold small conductance channels with similarities to native T-type channels.
Neuron
20:341-351[Web of Science][Medline]. -
Methfessel C,
Witzemann V,
Takahashi T,
Mishina M,
Numa S,
Sakmann B
(1986)
Patch clamp measurements on Xenopus laevis oocytes: currents through endogenous channels and implanted acetylcholine receptor and sodium channels.
Pflügers Arch
407:577-588[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Miller A,
Hu B
(1995)
A molecular model of low-voltage-activated calcium conductance.
J Neurophysiol
73:2349-2356[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Murakami M,
Wissenbach U,
Flockerzi V
(1996)
Gene structure of the murine calcium channel
3 subunit, cDNA and characterization of alternative splicing and transcription products.
Eur J Biochem
236:138-143[Web of Science][Medline]. -
Ophoff RA,
Terwindt GM,
Frants RR,
Ferrari M
(1998)
P/Q-type Ca2+ channel defects in migraine, ataxia and epilepsy.
Trends Pharmacol Sci
19:121-127[Medline].
-
Perez-Reyes E,
Schneider T
(1994)
Calcium channels: structure, function, and classification.
Drug Dev Res
33:295-318[Web of Science].
-
Perez-Reyes E,
Kim HS,
Lacerda AE,
Horne W,
Wei XY,
Rampe D,
Campbell KP,
Brown AM,
Birnbaumer L
(1989)
Induction of calcium currents by the expression of the alpha 1-subunit of the dihydropyridine receptor from skeletal muscle.
Nature
340:233-236[Medline].
-
Perez-Reyes E,
Cribbs LL,
Daud A,
Lacerda AE,
Barclay J,
Williamson MP,
Fox M,
Rees M,
Lee J-H
(1998)
Molecular characterization of a neuronal low voltage-activated T-type calcium channel.
Nature
391:896-900[Medline].
-
Randall AD,
Tsien RW
(1997)
Contrasting biophysical and pharmacological properties of T- type and R-type calcium channels.
Neuropharmacology
36:879-893[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Sambrook J,
Fritsch EF,
Maniatis T
(1989)
In: Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor, MA: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
-
Schneider T,
Wei X,
Olcese R,
Costantin JL,
Neely A,
Palade P,
Perez-Reyes E,
Qin N,
Zhou J,
Crawford GD,
Smith RG,
Appel SH,
Stefani E,
Birnbaumer L
(1994)
Molecular analysis and functional expression of the human type E
1 subunit.
Receptors Channels
2:255-270[Web of Science][Medline]. -
Shuba YM,
Teslenko VI,
Savchenko AN,
Pogorelaya NH
(1991)
The effect of permeant ions on single calcium channel activation in mouse neuroblastoma cells: ion-channel interactions.
J Physiol (Lond)
443:25-44[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Soares MB,
Bonaldo MDF,
Jelene P,
Su L,
Lawton L,
Efstratiadis A
(1994)
Construction and characterization of a normalized cDNA library.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
91:9228-9232[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Soong TW,
Stea A,
Hodson CD,
Dubel SJ,
Vincent SR,
Snutch TP
(1993)
Structure and functional expression of a member of the low voltage-activated calcium channel family.
Science
260:1133-1136[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Stern MD,
Pizarro G,
Rios E
(1997)
Local control model of excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.
J Gen Physiol
110:414-440.
-
Strom TM,
Nyakatura G,
Apfelstedt-Sylla E,
Hellebrand H,
Lorenz B,
Weber BHF,
Wutz K,
Gutwillinger N,
Ruther K,
Drescher B,
Sauer C,
Zrenner E,
Meitinger T,
Rosenthal A,
Meindl A
(1998)
An L-type calcium-channel gene mutated in incomplete X-linked congenital stationary blindness.
Nat Genet
19:260-263[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Talley EM,
Cribbs LL,
Lee J-H,
Daud A,
Perez-Reyes E,
Bayliss D
(1999)
Differential distribution of three members of a gene family encoding low voltage-activated (T-type) calcium channels.
J Neurosci
19:1895-1911[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Tarasenko AN,
Kostyuk PG,
Eremin AV,
Isaev DS
(1997)
Two types of low-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels in neurones of rat laterodorsal thalamic nucleus.
J Physiol (Lond)
499:77-86[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Tsakiridou E,
Bertollini L,
de Curtis M,
Avanzini G,
Pape HC
(1995)
Selective increase in T-type calcium conductance of reticular thalamic neurons in a rat model of absence epilepsy.
J Neurosci
15:3110-3117[Abstract].
-
VanDongen AMJ
(1996)
A new algorithm for idealizing single ion channel data containing multiple unknown conductance levels.
Biophys J
70:1303-1315[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Vergnes M,
Marescaux C
(1994)
Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying genetic absence epilepsy in rats.
In: Idiopathic generalized epilepsies: clinical, experimental, and genetic aspects (Malafosse A,
Genton P,
Hirsch E,
Marescaux C,
Broglin D,
Bernasconi R,
eds), pp 151-168. London: John Libbey & Co.
-
Williams ME,
Marubio LM,
Deal CR,
Hans M,
Brust PF,
Philipson LH,
Miller RJ,
Johnson EC,
Harpold MM,
Ellis SB
(1994)
Structure and functional characterization of neuronal alpha 1E calcium channel subtypes.
J Biol Chem
269:22347-22357[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Williams SR,
Toth TI,
Turner JP,
Hughes SW,
Crunelli V
(1997)
The "window" component of the low threshold Ca2+ current produces input signal amplification and bistability in cat and rat thalamocortical neurones.
J Physiol (Lond)
505:689-705[Abstract/Free Full Text].
-
Wilson DL,
Morimoto K,
Tsuda Y,
Brown AM
(1983)
Interaction between calcium ions and surface charge as it relates to calcium currents.
J Membr Biol
72:117-130[Web of Science][Medline].
-
Zamponi GW,
Bourinet E,
Snutch TP
(1996)
Nickel block of a family of neuronal calcium channels: subtype- and subunit-dependent action at multiple sites.
J Membr Biol
151:77-90[Web of Science][Medline].
Copyright © 1999 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/99/1961912-10$05.00/0
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. Pluteanu and L. L. Cribbs
T-type calcium channels are regulated by hypoxia/reoxygenation in ventricular myocytes
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol,
October 1, 2009;
297(4):
H1304 - H1313.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Zhang, M. A. Bosch, E. A. Rick, M. J. Kelly, and O. K. Ronnekleiv
17{beta}-Estradiol Regulation of T-Type Calcium Channels in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons
J. Neurosci.,
August 26, 2009;
29(34):
10552 - 10562.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C.-S. Chiang, C.-H. Huang, H. Chieng, Y.-T. Chang, D. Chang, J.-J. Chen, Y.-C. Chen, Y.-H. Chen, H.-S. Shin, K. P. Campbell, et al.
The CaV3.2 T-Type Ca2+ Channel Is Required for Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice
Circ. Res.,
February 27, 2009;
104(4):
522 - 530.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
W. L. Ernst, Y. Zhang, J. W. Yoo, S. J. Ernst, and J. L. Noebels
Genetic Enhancement of Thalamocortical Network Activity by Elevating {alpha}1G-Mediated Low-Voltage-Activated Calcium Current Induces Pure Absence Epilepsy
J. Neurosci.,
February 11, 2009;
29(6):
1615 - 1625.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Royeck, M.-T. Horstmann, S. Remy, M. Reitze, Y. Yaari, and H. Beck
Role of Axonal NaV1.6 Sodium Channels in Action Potential Initiation of CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
October 1, 2008;
100(4):
2361 - 2380.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Khan, I. P. Gray, C. A. Obejero-Paz, and S. W. Jones
Permeation and Gating in CaV3.1 ({alpha}1G) T-type Calcium Channels Effects of Ca2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, and Na+
J. Gen. Physiol.,
August 1, 2008;
132(2):
223 - 238.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. T. Nelson, P. M. Joksovic, P. Su, H.-W. Kang, A. Van Deusen, J. P. Baumgart, L. S. David, T. P. Snutch, P. Q. Barrett, J.-H. Lee, et al.
Molecular Mechanisms of Subtype-Specific Inhibition of Neuronal T-Type Calcium Channels by Ascorbate
J. Neurosci.,
November 14, 2007;
27(46):
12577 - 12583.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Cataldi, V. Lariccia, V. Marzaioli, A. Cavaccini, G. Curia, D. Viggiano, L.M.T. Canzoniero, G. di Renzo, M. Avoli, and L. Annunziato
Zn2+ Slows Down CaV3.3 Gating Kinetics: Implications for Thalamocortical Activity
J Neurophysiol,
October 1, 2007;
98(4):
2274 - 2284.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Cens, M. Rousset, A. Kajava, and P. Charnet
Molecular Determinant for Specific Ca/Ba Selectivity Profiles of Low and High Threshold Ca2+ Channels
J. Gen. Physiol.,
September 24, 2007;
130(4):
415 - 425.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. E. Hildebrand, L. S. David, J. Hamid, K. Mulatz, E. Garcia, G. W. Zamponi, and T. P. Snutch
Selective Inhibition of Cav3.3 T-type Calcium Channels by G{alpha}q/11-coupled Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors
J. Biol. Chem.,
July 20, 2007;
282(29):
21043 - 21055.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. M. Blanks, Z.-H. Zhao, A. Shmygol, G. Bru-Mercier, S. Astle, and S. Thornton
Characterization of the molecular and electrophysiological properties of the T-type calcium channel in human myometrium
J. Physiol.,
June 15, 2007;
581(3):
915 - 926.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. M. Joksovic, A. Doctor, B. Gaston, and S. M. Todorovic
Functional Regulation of T-Type Calcium Channels by S-Nitrosothiols in the Rat Thalamus
J Neurophysiol,
April 1, 2007;
97(4):
2712 - 2721.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Zhou, H. Chen, F. Lu, H. Sellak, J. A. Daigle, M. F. Alexeyev, Y. Xi, J. Ju, J. A. van Mourik, and S. Wu
Cav3.1 ({alpha}1G) controls von Willebrand factor secretion in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol,
April 1, 2007;
292(4):
L833 - L844.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. Rosati, W. Dun, M. Hirose, P. A. Boyden, and D. McKinnon
Molecular basis of the T- and L-type Ca2+ currents in canine Purkinje fibres
J. Physiol.,
March 1, 2007;
579(2):
465 - 471.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. Coste, M. Crest, and P. Delmas
Pharmacological Dissection and Distribution of NaN/Nav1.9, T-type Ca2+ Currents, and Mechanically Activated Cation Currents in Different Populations of DRG Neurons
J. Gen. Physiol.,
January 1, 2007;
129(1):
57 - 77.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. W. Tedford and G. W. Zamponi
Direct G Protein Modulation of Cav2 Calcium Channels
Pharmacol. Rev.,
December 1, 2006;
58(4):
837 - 862.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J.-Y. Park, H.-W. Kang, H.-J. Moon, S.-U. Huh, S.-W. Jeong, N. M. Soldatov, and J.-H. Lee
Activation of protein kinase C augments T-type Ca2+ channel activity without changing channel surface density
J. Physiol.,
December 1, 2006;
577(2):
513 - 523.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Qiu, M. A. Bosch, K. Jamali, C. Xue, M. J. Kelly, and O. K. Ronnekleiv
Estrogen Upregulates T-Type Calcium Channels in the Hypothalamus and Pituitary
J. Neurosci.,
October 25, 2006;
26(43):
11072 - 11082.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S.-N. Yang and P.-O. Berggren
The Role of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Pancreatic {beta}-Cell Physiology and Pathophysiology
Endocr. Rev.,
October 1, 2006;
27(6):
621 - 676.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. M. Joksovic, M. T. Nelson, V. Jevtovic-Todorovic, M. K. Patel, E. Perez-Reyes, K. P. Campbell, C.-C. Chen, and S. M. Todorovic
CaV3.2 is the major molecular substrate for redox regulation of T-type Ca2+ channels in the rat and mouse thalamus
J. Physiol.,
July 15, 2006;
574(2):
415 - 430.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. I. Ivanov and R. L. Calabrese
Graded Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission Between Leech Interneurons: Assessing the Roles of Two Kinetically Distinct Low-Threshold Ca Currents
J Neurophysiol,
July 1, 2006;
96(1):
218 - 234.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Khosravani and G. W. Zamponi
Voltage-gated calcium channels and idiopathic generalized epilepsies.
Physiol Rev,
July 1, 2006;
86(3):
941 - 966.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J.-A. Kim, J.-Y. Park, H.-W. Kang, S.-U. Huh, S.-W. Jeong, and J.-H. Lee
Augmentation of Cav3.2 T-Type Calcium Channel Activity by cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
July 1, 2006;
318(1):
230 - 237.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Traboulsie, J. Chemin, E. Kupfer, J. Nargeot, and P. Lory
T-Type Calcium Channels Are Inhibited by Fluoxetine and Its Metabolite Norfluoxetine
Mol. Pharmacol.,
June 1, 2006;
69(6):
1963 - 1968.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. L. Molineux, J. E. McRory, B. E. McKay, J. Hamid, W. H. Mehaffey, R. Rehak, T. P. Snutch, G. W. Zamponi, and R. W. Turner
Specific T-type calcium channel isoforms are associated with distinct burst phenotypes in deep cerebellar nuclear neurons
PNAS,
April 4, 2006;
103(14):
5555 - 5560.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H.-W. Kang, J.-Y. Park, S.-W. Jeong, J.-A. Kim, H.-J. Moon, E. Perez-Reyes, and J.-H. Lee
A Molecular Determinant of Nickel Inhibition in Cav3.2 T-type Calcium Channels
J. Biol. Chem.,
February 24, 2006;
281(8):
4823 - 4830.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Autret, I. Mechaly, F. Scamps, J. Valmier, P. Lory, and G. Desmadryl
The involvement of Cav3.2/{alpha}1H T-type calcium channels in excitability of mouse embryonic primary vestibular neurones
J. Physiol.,
August 15, 2005;
567(1):
67 - 78.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J.-S. Kim, J.-Y. Park, H.-W. Kang, E.-J. Lee, H. Bang, and J.-H. Lee
Zinc Activates TREK-2 Potassium Channel Activity
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
August 1, 2005;
314(2):
618 - 625.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. M Joksovic, D. A Bayliss, and S. M Todorovic
Different kinetic properties of two T-type Ca2+ currents of rat reticular thalamic neurones and their modulation by enflurane
J. Physiol.,
July 1, 2005;
566(1):
125 - 142.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. A. Steger, B. B. Shtonda, C. Thacker, T. P. Snutch, and L. Avery
The C. elegans T-type calcium channel CCA-1 boosts neuromuscular transmission
J. Exp. Biol.,
June 1, 2005;
208(11):
2191 - 2203.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
I. Vitko, Y. Chen, J. M. Arias, Y. Shen, X.-R. Wu, and E. Perez-Reyes
Functional Characterization and Neuronal Modeling of the Effects of Childhood Absence Epilepsy Variants of CACNA1H, a T-Type Calcium Channel
J. Neurosci.,
May 11, 2005;
25(19):
4844 - 4855.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. I. Brueggemann, B. L. Martin, J. Barakat, K. L. Byron, and L. L. Cribbs
Low voltage-activated calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle: T-type channels and AVP-stimulated calcium spiking
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol,
February 1, 2005;
288(2):
H923 - H935.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Toledo-Rodriguez, B. Blumenfeld, C. Wu, J. Luo, B. Attali, P. Goodman, and H. Markram
Correlation Maps Allow Neuronal Electrical Properties to be Predicted from Single-cell Gene Expression Profiles in Rat Neocortex
Cereb Cortex,
December 1, 2004;
14(12):
1310 - 1327.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Li, L. Stevens, N. Klugbauer, and D. Wray
Roles of Molecular Regions in Determining Differences between Voltage Dependence of Activation of CaV3.1 and CaV1.2 Calcium Channels
J. Biol. Chem.,
June 25, 2004;
279(26):
26858 - 26867.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Leresche, J. Hering, and R. C. Lambert
Paradoxical Potentiation of Neuronal T-Type Ca2+ Current by ATP at Resting Membrane Potential
J. Neurosci.,
June 16, 2004;
24(24):
5592 - 5602.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Zhang, A. P. Vilaythong, D. Yoshor, and J. L. Noebels
Elevated Thalamic Low-Voltage-Activated Currents Precede the Onset of Absence Epilepsy in the SNAP25-Deficient Mouse Mutant Coloboma
J. Neurosci.,
June 2, 2004;
24(22):
5239 - 5248.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. Niwa, K. Yasui, T. Opthof, H. Takemura, A. Shimizu, M. Horiba, J.-K. Lee, H. Honjo, K. Kamiya, and I. Kodama
Cav3.2 subunit underlies the functional T-type Ca2+ channel in murine hearts during the embryonic period
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol,
June 1, 2004;
286(6):
H2257 - H2263.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J.-Y. Park, H.-W. Kang, S.-W. Jeong, and J.-H. Lee
Multiple Structural Elements Contribute to the Slow Kinetics of the Cav3.3 T-type Channel
J. Biol. Chem.,
May 21, 2004;
279(21):
21707 - 21713.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. SPAT and L. HUNYADY
Control of Aldosterone Secretion: A Model for Convergence in Cellular Signaling Pathways
Physiol Rev,
April 1, 2004;
84(2):
489 - 539.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Cataldi, A. Gaudino, V. Lariccia, M. Russo, S. Amoroso, G. di Renzo, and L. Annunziato
Imatinib-Mesylate Blocks Recombinant T-Type Calcium Channels Expressed in Human Embryonic Kidney-293 Cells by a Protein Tyrosine Kinase-Independent Mechanism
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
April 1, 2004;
309(1):
208 - 215.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Khosravani, C. Altier, B. Simms, K. S. Hamming, T. P. Snutch, J. Mezeyova, J. E. McRory, and G. W. Zamponi
Gating Effects of Mutations in the Cav3.2 T-type Calcium Channel Associated with Childhood Absence Epilepsy
J. Biol. Chem.,
March 12, 2004;
279(11):
9681 - 9684.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Hering, A. Feltz, and R. C. Lambert
Slow inactivation of the CaV3.1 isotype of T-type calcium channels
J. Physiol.,
March 1, 2004;
555(2):
331 - 344.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M.-G. Feng, M. Li, and L. G. Navar
T-type calcium channels in the regulation of afferent and efferent arterioles in rats
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol,
February 1, 2004;
286(2):
F331 - F337.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. C. Stotz, S. E. Jarvis, and G. W. Zamponi
Functional roles of cytoplasmic loops and pore lining transmembrane helices in the voltage-dependent inactivation of HVA calcium channels
J. Physiol.,
January 15, 2004;
554(2):
263 - 273.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. C. Lee, Y. Hayashida, and A. T. Ishida
Availability of Low-Threshold Ca2+ Current in Retinal Ganglion Cells
J Neurophysiol,
December 1, 2003;
90(6):
3888 - 3901.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. M. Zhang, L. Shang, C. Hartzell, M. Narlow, L. Cribbs, and S. C. Dudley Jr.
Characterization and regulation of T-type Ca2+ channels in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol,
December 1, 2003;
285(6):
H2770 - H2779.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C.-C. Chen, K. G. Lamping, D. W. Nuno, R. Barresi, S. J. Prouty, J. L. Lavoie, L. L. Cribbs, S. K. England, C. D. Sigmund, R. M. Weiss, et al.
Abnormal Coronary Function in Mice Deficient in {alpha}1H T-type Ca2+ Channels
Science,
November 21, 2003;
302(5649):
1416 - 1418.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. J. Welsby, H. Wang, J. T. Wolfe, R. J. Colbran, M. L. Johnson, and P. Q. Barrett
A Mechanism for the Direct Regulation of T-Type Calcium Channels by Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Kinase II
J. Neurosci.,
November 5, 2003;
23(31):
10116 - 10121.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Pinato and J. Midtgaard
Regulation of Granule Cell Excitability by a Low-Threshold Calcium Spike in Turtle Olfactory Bulb
J Neurophysiol,
November 1, 2003;
90(5):
3341 - 3351.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. DESTEXHE and T. J. SEJNOWSKI
Interactions Between Membrane Conductances Underlying Thalamocortical Slow-Wave Oscillations
Physiol Rev,
October 1, 2003;
83(4):
1401 - 1453.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Del Toro, K. L. Levitsky, J. Lopez-Barneo, and M. D. Chiara
Induction of T-type Calcium Channel Gene Expression by Chronic Hypoxia
J. Biol. Chem.,
June 13, 2003;
278(25):
22316 - 22324.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Mochida, R. E. Westenbroek, C. T. Yokoyama, K. Itoh, and W. A. Catterall
Subtype-selective reconstitution of synaptic transmission in sympathetic ganglion neurons by expression of exogenous calcium channels
PNAS,
March 4, 2003;
100(5):
2813 - 2818.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Barreiro, C. R. W. Guimaraes, and R. B. de Alencastro
Potential of mean force calculations on an L-type calcium channel model
Protein Eng. Des. Sel.,
March 1, 2003;
16(3):
209 - 215.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Perez-Reyes
Molecular Physiology of Low-Voltage-Activated T-type Calcium Channels
Physiol Rev,
January 1, 2003;
83(1):
117 - 161.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Cataldi, E. Perez-Reyes, and R. W. Tsien
Differences in Apparent Pore Sizes of Low and High Voltage-activated Ca2+ Channels
J. Biol. Chem.,
November 22, 2002;
277(48):
45969 - 45976.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Chemin, J. Nargeot, and P. Lory
Neuronal T-type alpha 1H Calcium Channels Induce Neuritogenesis and Expression of High-Voltage-Activated Calcium Channels in the NG108-15 Cell Line
J. Neurosci.,
August 15, 2002;
22(16):
6856 - 6862.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Zhang, M. Mori, D. L. Burgess, and J. L. Noebels
Mutations in High-Voltage-Activated Calcium Channel Genes Stimulate Low-Voltage-Activated Currents in Mouse Thalamic Relay Neurons
J. Neurosci.,
August 1, 2002;
22(15):
6362 - 6371.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Sochivko, A. Pereverzev, N. Smyth, C. Gissel, T. Schneider, and H. Beck
The CaV2.3 Ca2+ channel subunit contributes to R-Type Ca2+ currents in murine hippocampal and neocortical neurones
J. Physiol.,
August 1, 2002;
542(3):
699 - 710.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Hirooka, G. E. Bertolesi, M. E. M. Kelly, E. M. Denovan-Wright, X. Sun, J. Hamid, G. W. Zamponi, A. E. Juhasz, L. W. Haynes, and S. Barnes
T-Type Calcium Channel alpha 1G and alpha 1H Subunits in Human Retinoblastoma Cells and Their Loss After Differentiation
J Neurophysiol,
July 1, 2002;
88(1):
196 - 205.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J.-H. Lee, E.-G. Kim, B.-G. Park, K.-H. Kim, S.-K. Cha, I. D. Kong, J.-W. Lee, and S.-W. Jeong
Identification of T-Type alpha 1H Ca2+ Channels (Cav3.2) in Major Pelvic Ganglion Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
June 1, 2002;
87(6):
2844 - 2850.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Lipscombe
L-Type Calcium Channels: Highs and New Lows
Circ. Res.,
May 17, 2002;
90(9):
933 - 935.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Lenglet, E. Louiset, C. Delarue, H. Vaudry, and V. Contesse
Activation of 5-HT7 Receptor in Rat Glomerulosa Cells Is Associated with an Increase in Adenylyl Cyclase Activity and Calcium Influx through T-Type Calcium Channels
Endocrinology,
May 1, 2002;
143(5):
1748 - 1760.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Wolfart and J. Roeper
Selective Coupling of T-Type Calcium Channels to SK Potassium Channels Prevents Intrinsic Bursting in Dopaminergic Midbrain Neurons
J. Neurosci.,
May 1, 2002;
22(9):
3404 - 3413.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Su, D. Sochivko, A. Becker, J. Chen, Y. Jiang, Y. Yaari, and H. Beck
Upregulation of a T-Type Ca2+ Channel Causes a Long-Lasting Modification of Neuronal Firing Mode after Status Epilepticus
J. Neurosci.,
May 1, 2002;
22(9):
3645 - 3655.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Chemin, A. Monteil, E. Perez-Reyes, E. Bourinet, J. Nargeot, and P. Lory
Specific contribution of human T-type calcium channel isotypes ({alpha}1G, {alpha}1H and {alpha}1I) to neuronal excitability
J. Physiol.,
April 1, 2002;
540(1):
3 - 14.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Mariot, K. Vanoverberghe, N. Lalevee, M. F. Rossier, and N. Prevarskaya
Overexpression of an alpha 1H (Cav3.2) T-type Calcium Channel during Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Human Prostate Cancer Cells
J. Biol. Chem.,
March 22, 2002;
277(13):
10824 - 10833.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. S. Sidach and I. M. Mintz
Kurtoxin, A Gating Modifier of Neuronal High- and Low-Threshold Ca Channels
J. Neurosci.,
March 15, 2002;
22(6):
2023 - 2034.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. J. Slaght, N. Leresche, J.-M. Deniau, V. Crunelli, and S. Charpier
Activity of Thalamic Reticular Neurons during Spontaneous Genetically Determined Spike and Wave Discharges
J. Neurosci.,
March 15, 2002;
22(6):
2323 - 2334.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Berthier, A. Monteil, P. Lory, and C. Strube
{alpha}1H mRNA in single skeletal muscle fibres accounts for T-type calcium current transient expression during fetal development in mice
J. Physiol.,
March 15, 2002;
539(3):
681 - 691.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Michels, J. Matthes, R. Handrock, U. Kuchinke, F. Groner, L. L. Cribbs, A. Pereverzev, T. Schneider, E. Perez-Reyes, and S. Herzig
Single-Channel Pharmacology of Mibefradil in Human Native T-Type and Recombinant Cav3.2 Calcium Channels
Mol. Pharmacol.,
March 1, 2002;
61(3):
682 - 694.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Barreiro, C. R. W. Guimaraes, and R. B. de Alencastro
A molecular dynamics study of an L-type calcium channel model
Protein Eng. Des. Sel.,
February 1, 2002;
15(2):
109 - 122.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. M. Santi, F. S. Cayabyab, K. G. Sutton, J. E. McRory, J. Mezeyova, K. S. Hamming, D. Parker, A. Stea, and T. P. Snutch
Differential Inhibition of T-Type Calcium Channels by Neuroleptics
J. Neurosci.,
January 15, 2002;
22(2):
396 - 403.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Talavera, M. Staes, A. Janssens, N. Klugbauer, G. Droogmans, F. Hofmann, and B. Nilius
Aspartate Residues of the Glu-Glu-Asp-Asp (EEDD) Pore Locus Control Selectivity and Permeation of the T-type Ca2+ Channel alpha 1G
J. Biol. Chem.,
November 30, 2001;
276(49):
45628 - 45635.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. J. Frazier, J. R. Serrano, E. G. George, X. Yu, A. Viswanathan, E. Perez-Reyes, and S. W. Jones
Gating Kinetics of the {alpha}1i T-Type Calcium Channel
J. Gen. Physiol.,
November 1, 2001;
118(5):
457 - 470.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. C. Gomora, A. N. Daud, M. Weiergraber, and E. Perez-Reyes
Block of Cloned Human T-Type Calcium Channels by Succinimide Antiepileptic Drugs
Mol. Pharmacol.,
November 1, 2001;
60(5):
1121 - 1132.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
O. Lesouhaitier, A. Chiappe, and M. F. Rossier
Aldosterone Increases T-Type Calcium Currents in Human Adrenocarcinoma (H295R) Cells by Inducing Channel Expression
Endocrinology,
October 1, 2001;
142(10):
4320 - 4330.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. M. Todorovic, V. Jevtovic-Todorovic, S. Mennerick, E. Perez-Reyes, and C. F. Zorumski
Cav3.2 Channel Is a Molecular Substrate for Inhibition of T-Type Calcium Currents in Rat Sensory Neurons by Nitrous Oxide
Mol. Pharmacol.,
September 1, 2001;
60(3):
603 - 610.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Scholze, T. D. Plant, A. C. Dolphin, and B. Nurnberg
Functional Expression and Characterization of a Voltage-Gated CaV1.3 ({{alpha}}1D) Calcium Channel Subunit from an Insulin-Secreting Cell Line
Mol. Endocrinol.,
July 1, 2001;
15(7):
1211 - 1221.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P J Green, R Warre, P D Hayes, N C L McNaughton, A D Medhurst, M Pangalos, D M Duckworth, and A D Randall
Kinetic modification of the {alpha}1I subunit-mediated T-type Ca2+ channel by a human neuronal Ca2+ channel {gamma} subunit
J. Physiol.,
June 1, 2001;
533(2):
467 - 478.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H.-y. Jung, N. P. Staff, and N. Spruston
Action Potential Bursting in Subicular Pyramidal Neurons Is Driven by a Calcium Tail Current
J. Neurosci.,
May 15, 2001;
21(10):
3312 - 3321.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Brevi, M. de Curtis, and J. Magistretti
Pharmacological and Biophysical Characterization of Voltage-Gated Calcium Currents in the Endopiriform Nucleus of the Guinea Pig
J Neurophysiol,
May 1, 2001;
85(5):
2076 - 2087.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. L. Cribbs, B. L. Martin, E. A. Schroder, B. B. Keller, B. P. Delisle, and J. Satin
Identification of the T-Type Calcium Channel (CaV3.1d) in Developing Mouse Heart
Circ. Res.,
March 2, 2001;
88(4):
403 - 407.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. D. Schrier, H. Wang, E. M. Talley, E. Perez-Reyes, and P. Q. Barrett
{alpha}1H T-type Ca2+ channel is the predominant subtype expressed in bovine and rat zona glomerulosa
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol,
February 1, 2001;
280(2):
C265 - C272.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Staes, K. Talavera, N. Klugbauer, J. Prenen, L. Lacinova, G. Droogmans, F. Hofmann, and B. Nilius
The amino side of the C-terminus determines fast inactivation of the T-type calcium channel {alpha}1G
J. Physiol.,
January 1, 2001;
530(1):
35 - 45.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Tateyama, S. Zong, T. Tanabe, and R. Ochi
Properties of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in rabbit ventricular myocytes expressing Ca2+ channel {alpha}1E cDNA
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol,
January 1, 2001;
280(1):
C175 - C182.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. M. Wilson, P. T. Toth, S. B. Oh, S. E. Gillard, S. Volsen, D. Ren, L. H. Philipson, E. C. Lee, C. F. Fletcher, L. Tessarollo, et al.
The Status of Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels in alpha 1E Knock-Out Mice
J. Neurosci.,
December 1, 2000;
20(23):
8566 - 8571.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Q. Barrett, H.-K. Lu, R. Colbran, A. Czernik, and J. J. Pancrazio
Stimulation of unitary T-type Ca2+ channel currents by calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol,
December 1, 2000;
279(6):
C1694 - C1703.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. C. Foehring, P. G. Mermelstein, W.-J. Song, S. Ulrich, and D. J. Surmeier
Unique Properties of R-Type Calcium Currents in Neocortical and Neostriatal Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
November 1, 2000;
84(5):
2225 - 2236.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. Leuranguer, A. Monteil, E. Bourinet, G. Dayanithi, and J. Nargeot
T-type calcium currents in rat cardiomyocytes during postnatal development: contribution to hormone secretion
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol,
November 1, 2000;
279(5):
H2540 - H2548.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. L. Martin, J.-H. Lee, L. L. Cribbs, E. Perez-Reyes, and D. A. Hanck
Mibefradil Block of Cloned T-Type Calcium Channels
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
October 1, 2000;
295(1):
302 - 308.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
W.-Y. Son, J.-H. Lee, J.-H. Lee, and C.-T. Han
Acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa is mainly mediated by {alpha}1H T-type calcium channels
Mol. Hum. Reprod.,
October 1, 2000;
6(10):
893 - 897.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Sokolov, R. G Weiss, E. N Timin, and S. Hering
Modulation of slow inactivation in class A Ca2+ channels by {beta}-subunits
J. Physiol.,
September 15, 2000;
527(3):
445 - 454.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Mori, M. Wakamori, S.-i. Oda, C. F. Fletcher, N. Sekiguchi, E. Mori, N. G. Copeland, N. A. Jenkins, K. Matsushita, Z. Matsuyama, et al.
Reduced Voltage Sensitivity of Activation of P/Q-Type Ca2+ Channels is Associated with the Ataxic Mouse Mutation Rolling Nagoya (tgrol)
J. Neurosci.,
August 1, 2000;
20(15):
5654 - 5662.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. M. Todorovic, E. Perez-Reyes, and C. J. Lingle
Anticonvulsants But Not General Anesthetics Have Differential Blocking Effects on Different T-Type Current Variants
Mol. Pharmacol.,
July 1, 2000;
58(1):
98 - 108.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Bijlenga, J.-H. Liu, E. Espinos, C.-A. Haenggeli, J. Fischer-Lougheed, C. R. Bader, and L. Bernheim
T-type alpha 1H Ca2+ channels are involved in Ca2+ signaling during terminal differentiation (fusion) of human myoblasts
PNAS,
June 20, 2000;
97(13):
7627 - 7632.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Weiergräber, A. Pereverzev, R. Vajna, M. Henry, M. Schramm, W. Nastainczyk, H. Grabsch, and T. Schneider
Immunodetection of {alpha}1E Voltage-gated Ca2+ Channel in Chromogranin-positive Muscle Cells of Rat Heart, and in Distal Tubules of Human Kidney
J. Histochem. Cytochem.,
June 1, 2000;
48(6):
807 - 820.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Beurrier, B. Bioulac, and C. Hammond
Slowly Inactivating Sodium Current (INaP) Underlies Single-Spike Activity in Rat Subthalamic Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
April 1, 2000;
83(4):
1951 - 1957.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Nargeot
A Tale of Two (Calcium) Channels
Circ. Res.,
March 31, 2000;
86(6):
613 - 615.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. F. Heubach, A. Kohler, E. Wettwer, and U. Ravens
T-Type and Tetrodotoxin-Sensitive Ca2+ Currents Coexist in Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytes and Are Both Blocked by Mibefradil
Circ. Res.,
March 31, 2000;
86(6):
628 - 635.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Satin and L. L. Cribbs
Identification of a T-Type Ca2+ Channel Isoform in Murine Atrial Myocytes (AT-1 Cells)
Circ. Res.,
March 31, 2000;
86(6):
636 - 642.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|

|