Voltage-Gated Ca_v1 Channels in Disorders of Vision and Hearing

Title:Voltage-Gated Ca_v1 Channels in Disorders of Vision and Hearing

Volume: 8

Author(s): Mei-ling A. Joiner and Amy Lee

Affiliation:

Keywords: Cav1 channels, Cabeta, alpha2delta, calmodulin, CaBPs, harmonin, inner hair cell, photoreceptor, Rab3-interacting molecule 2, ribbon synapse, thyroid hormone.

Abstract: Ca_v1 channels mediate L-type Ca²⁺ currents that trigger the exocytotic release of glutamate from the specialized “ribbon” synapse of retinal photoreceptors (PRs) and cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs). Genetic evidence from animal models and humans support a role for Ca_v1.3 and Ca_v1.4 as the primary Cav channels in IHCs and PRs, respectively. Because of the unique features of transmission at ribbon synapses, Ca_v1.3 and Ca_v1.4 exhibit unusual properties that are well-suited for their physiological roles. These properties may be intrinsic to the channel subunit(s) and/or may be conferred by regulatory interactions with synaptic signaling molecules. This review will cover advances in our understanding of the function of Ca_v1 channels at sensory ribbon synapses, and how dysregulation of these channels leads to disorders of vision and hearing.

Cite this article as:

Joiner A. Mei-ling and Lee Amy, Voltage-Gated Ca_v1 Channels in Disorders of Vision and Hearing, Current Molecular Pharmacology 2015; 8 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467208666150507104937