Pharmaceuticals 2013, 6(6), 759-776; doi:10.3390/ph6060759
How “Pharmacoresistant” is Cav2.3, the Major Component of Voltage-Gated R-type Ca2+ Channels?
1
Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 39, Cologne D-50931, Germany
2
Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, Duesseldorf D-40225, Germany & Center of Molecular Medicine, Cologne D-50931, Germany
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 1 March 2013 / Revised: 26 April 2013 / Accepted: 6 May 2013 / Published: 27 May 2013
Abstract
Membrane-bound voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) are targets for specific signaling complexes, which regulate important processes like gene expression, neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability. It is becoming increasingly evident that the so called “resistant” (R-type) VGCC Cav2.3 is critical in several physiologic and pathophysiologic processes in the central nervous system, vascular system and in endocrine systems. However its eponymous attribute of pharmacologic inertness initially made in depth investigation of the channel difficult. Although the identification of SNX-482 as a fairly specific inhibitor of Cav2.3 in the nanomolar range has enabled insights into the channels properties, availability of other pharmacologic modulators of Cav2.3 with different chemical, physical and biological properties are of great importance for future investigations. Therefore the literature was screened systematically for molecules that modulate Cav2.3 VGCCs. View Full-Text
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Schneider, T.; Dibué, M.; Hescheler, J. How “Pharmacoresistant” is Cav2.3, the Major Component of Voltage-Gated R-type Ca2+ Channels? Pharmaceuticals 2013, 6, 759-776.
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