%0 Journal Article %A Darrell R. Abernethy %A Nikolai M. Soldatov %T Structure-Functional Diversity of Human L-Type Ca2+Channel: Perspectives for New Pharmacological Targets %D 2002 %R 10.1124/jpet.300.3.724 %J Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics %P 724-728 %V 300 %N 3 %X The L-type Ca2+ channels mediate depolarization-induced influx of Ca2+ into a wide variety of cells and thus play a central role in triggering cardiac and smooth muscle contraction. Because of this role, clinically important classes of 1,4-dihydropyridine, phenylalkylamine, and benzothiazepine Ca2+ channel blockers were developed as powerful medicines to treat hypertension and angina pectoris. Molecular cloning studies revealed that the channel is subject to extensive structure-functional variability due to alternative splicing. In this review, we will focus on a potentially important role of genetically driven variability of Ca2+ channels in expression regulation and mutations, Ca2+-induced inactivation, and modulation of sensitivity to Ca2+ channel blockers with the perspective for new pharmacological targets. U.S. Government %U https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/jpet/300/3/724.full.pdf