Abstract

Voltage gated calcium channels (Cav) are composed of up to five proteins: The ion conducting pore subunit α1 and the auxiliary subunits α₂, δ, β, and γ. Recent reports show that Cavα1 and Cavβ comprise the calcium channel core complex and that β, α2 δ and γ may serve additional roles that are independent of the Cavα₁ subunit. This short review will summarize these emerging functions.

Keywords: Auxiliary subunits, heart, insulin secretion, neurons, non-smooth muscle cells, pain perception voltage-gated calcium channel.

Graphical Abstract