Calcium Channel, Voltage Dependent, L-Type, Alpha 1C Subunit (CACNa1C)

Activation of voltage-sensitive calcium channels by membrane depolarization triggers key cellular responses such as contraction, secretion, excitation, and electrical signaling. The L-type currents produced by voltage-sensitive calcium channels are blocked by 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives; thus, the channels responsible for these currents are referred to as DHP-sensitive. The skeletal muscle DHP-sensitive calcium channel is a complex of 5 subunits: alpha-1, alpha-2, beta, gamma, and delta. The DHP-sensitive calcium channels from cardiac muscle and the brain have pharmacologic and electrophysiologic properties that differ from those of the skeletal muscle channel. Powers et al. (1991) isolated a clone for the human CCHL1A1 gene and partially sequenced it.