MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY OF VOLTAGE-DEPENDENT CALCIUM CHANNELS

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels serve as the only link to transduce me mbrane depolarization into cellular Ca2+-dependent reactions. A wide v ariety of chemical substances that have the ability to modulate Ca2+ c hannels have been demonstrated both for their clinic utility and for i mportance in elucidating the molecular basis of various biological res ponses. Recently, introduction of molecular biology to pharmacology ha s brought a great deal of information about the molecular basis of dru g action in Ca2+ channels. In this review, we attempt to overview rece nt progress in understanding the interactions between Ca2+ channels an d their blockers, namely Ca2+ antagonists, from a molecular and struct ural point of view.