CALCIUM CHANNELS IN NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE

Channels involved in the influx and intracellular mobilization of calc ium have been implicated as targets of diverse genetic and immune-medi ated neurological diseases. These include the L-type voltage-gated cal cium channel of skeletal muscle (hypokalemic periodic paralysis), the neuronal P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel (familial hemiplegic m igraine, episodic ataxia type 2, spinocerebellar ataxia 6, and Lambert -Eaton myasthenic syndrome), and the skeletal muscle ryanodine recepto r (malignant hyperthermia and central core disease). The discovery of these and other calcium channelopathies should help to clarify how dif ferent mutations affect channel function and how altered channel funct ion produces disease, and may lead to new treatments for these conditi ons.