Pharmacology, structure and function of cardiac L-type Ca2+ channels

Voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels control depolarization-induced Ca2+ entr y in different electrically excitable cells, including mammalian heart. Imp ortant molecular and functional details providing new insight into L-type c hannel structure and modulation are reviewed in this article. This includes the identification of amino acid residues responsible for drug binding, th e role of accessory subunits and alternative splicing for fine-tuning chann el activity and modulation by protein kinases (A, C, tyrosine kinases), cGM P-dependent pathways, calmodulin and Ca2+. Alterations in Ca2+ channel acti vity under pathological conditions such as in heart failure or during ische mia could provide new clues for the development of drugs to treat cardiovas cular diseases. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.