Cav3sarja

Cav3sarja, often written as Cav3-sarja in Finnish sources, refers to the Cav3 family of voltage-gated calcium channels. These channels are characterized as low-voltage-activated, opening at relatively hyperpolarized membrane potentials and contributing to excitability and rhythmic activity in neurons and other tissues. The Cav3 family is part of the larger CaV channel superfamily, which mediates calcium influx in response to membrane depolarization.

Members of the Cav3-sarja include Cav3.1, Cav3.2, and Cav3.3. Each member is encoded by a distinct gene: CACNA1G (Cav3.1), CACNA1H (Cav3.2), and CACNA1I (Cav3.3). The three α1 subunits differ in their activation and inactivation properties, as well as in tissue distribution, leading to specialized roles in various physiological processes.

Function and significance: Cav3 channels regulate neuronal excitability, contribute to rebound burst firing, and participate in the generation of thalamocortical oscillations that underlie certain brain states such as sleep. They are also found in cardiac and other tissues where they can influence pacemaking and signal integration. The channels operate as part of a complex with auxiliary β and α2δ subunits, and their kinetics are modulated by these subunits and by pharmacological agents.

Pharmacology and clinical relevance: Cav3 channels are targets for anticonvulsants and other modulators. Pharmacological agents can inhibit or modify their activity, affecting conditions such as absence epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and migraine. Genetic variants in CACNA1G, CACNA1H, or CACNA1I can influence channel function and susceptibility to neurological disorders.

See also: voltage-gated calcium channel, CACNA1G, CACNA1H, CACNA1I.