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

Voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels control depolarization-induced Ca2+ entry in different electrically excitable cells, including mammalian heart. Important molecular and functional details providing new insight into L-type channel structure and modulation are reviewed in this article. This includes the identification of amino acid residues responsible for drug binding, the role of accessory subunits and alternative splicing for fine-tuning channel activity and modulation by protein kinases (A, C, tyrosine kinases), cGMP-dependent pathways, calmodulin and Ca2+. Alterations in Ca2+ channel activity under pathological conditions such as in heart failure or during ischemia could provide new clues for the development of drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.