Calcium Channel, Voltage Dependent, L-Type, Alpha 1D Subunit (CACNa1D)

On the basis of their kinetics and pharmacology, 4 types of Ca(2+) currents have been described. The Ca(2+) channel activity associated with the skeletal muscle, heart, and neuroendocrine/brain alpha-1 subunit isoforms is inhibited by dihydropyridine (DHP) drugs, indicating that these represent L-type currents. By contrast, the activity of the brain isoform is not inhibited by dihydropyridine drugs and thus may represent a P-type current.

CACNA1D, the deduced 2,161-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 245 kD. The predicted structure consists of 4 repeating domains, each comprising 5 hydrophobic segments. There was evidence of alternative splicing.