Voltage-dependent calcium channel subunit alpha-2/delta-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CACNA2D1gene.[5][6]
This gene encodes a member of the alpha-2/delta subunit family, a protein in the voltage-dependent calcium channel complex. Calcium channels mediate the influx of calcium ions into the cell upon membrane depolarization and consist of a complex of alpha-1, alpha-2/delta, beta, and gamma subunits in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Research on a highly similar protein in rabbit suggests the protein described in this record is cleaved into alpha-2 and delta subunits. Alternate transcriptional splice variants of this gene have been observed, but have not been thoroughly characterized.[6]
In mammals, alpha-2/delta proteins exist in four subtypes coded by four separate but closely related genes, CACNA2D1, CACNA2D2, CACNA2D3 and CACNA2D4.
Recently, alpha-2/delta1 proteins, in addition to calcium channels, have been found to interact directly with N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptors (NMDAR), AMPA type glutamate receptors (AMPAR) and the extracellular adhesion protein, thrombospondin.[7]
Alpha-2/delta proteins are believed to be the molecular target of the gabapentinoidsgabapentin and pregabalin, which are used to treat epilepsy and neuropathic pain.[8][9][10] Only alpha-2/delta subtypes 1 and 2 (but not 3 and 4) are substrates for gabapentinoid drug binding.
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Ellis SB, Williams ME, Ways NR, et al. (1988). "Sequence and expression of mRNAs encoding the alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits of a DHP-sensitive calcium channel". Science. 241 (4873): 1661–4. Bibcode:1988Sci...241.1661E. doi:10.1126/science.2458626. PMID2458626.
Iles DE, Lehmann-Horn F, Scherer SW, et al. (1994). "Localization of the gene encoding the alpha 2/delta-subunits of the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel to chromosome 7q and analysis of the segregation of flanking markers in malignant hyperthermia susceptible families". Hum. Mol. Genet. 3 (6): 969–75. doi:10.1093/hmg/3.6.969. PMID7951247.
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