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Sci. STKE, 25 November 2003
Vol. 2003, Issue 210, p. tw461
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.2102003TW461]

EDITORS' CHOICE

CHANNELS Contradictory Calcium Entry

Calcium ions enter muscle cells through voltage-gated channels (so-called L-type channels) and initiate muscle contraction. However, in an analysis of mice lacking a different channel (the {alpha}lH T-type calcium channel), Chen et al. now show that calcium entering cells through T-type calcium channels can have the opposite effect and cause relaxation of smooth muscle and dilation of coronary arteries. The T-type channels, which may act by influencing large-conductance calcium-sensitive potassium channels, provide a potential new target for treatment of cardiovascular disease.

C.-C. Chen, K. G. Lamping, D. W. Nuno, R. Barresi, S. J. Prouty, J. L. Lavoie, L. L. Cribbs, S. K. England, C. D. Sigmund, R. M. Weiss, R. A. Williamson, J. A. Hill, K. P. Campbell, Abnormal coronary function in mice deficient in {alpha}1H T-type Ca2+ channels. Science 302, 1416-1418 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: Contradictory Calcium Entry. Sci. STKE 2003, tw461 (2003).

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Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882)