Calcium Channels as Therapeutic Targets

Dear Colleagues,

Ion channels are key modulators of intracellular levels of Ca²⁺, which, in turn, is a vital physiological ‘second messenger’. Whether modulated through voltage changes, endogenous ligands/protein partners, and/or changes to Ca²⁺ levels, different Ca²⁺ channel families represent key molecular targets in a range of pathophysiologies that carry a heavy health, well-being, and economic burden. Thus, Ca²⁺ channels are major targets in diseases, including pain, epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Understanding and treating these diseases is increasingly relevant in today’s aging society.

This Special Issue will shed light on new pharmacological agents that modulate different classes of Ca²⁺ channels, including voltage-gated and transient receptor potential channels and/or the auxiliary subunits that make up the protein complex. We welcome submissions from diverse fields of studies, including, but not limited to, the development of small molecular entities and biological drugs, the development of toxins from the plant and animal kingdoms, the exploitation of knowledge of Ca²⁺ channel structure and function, and genetic studies of channelopathies and disease association.

Prof. Dr. Gary J. Stephens
Prof. Dr. David Adams
Dr. Hussein N. Rubaiy
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels
• TRP channels
• Ca²⁺-permeable TRP and ASIC channels
• STIM/orai channels
• Ca²⁺ channel structure and function
• Ca²⁺ channel toxins
• Ca²⁺ channelopathies
• neuropharmacology
• pain
• epilepsy
• neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders