Molecular cloning and functional expression of Cav3.1c, a T-type calcium channel from human brain

Low voltage-activated T-type calcium channels are encoded by a family of at least three genes, with additional diversity created by alternative splicing, This study describes the cloning of the human brain alpha 1G, which is a novel isoform, Ca(v)3.1c, Comparison of this sequence to genomic sequences deposited in the GenBank allowed us to identify the intron/exon boundaries of the human CACNA1G gene, A full-length cDNA mas constructed, then used to generate a stably-transfected mammalian cell line. The resulting currents were analyzed for their voltage- and time-dependent properties, These properties identify this gene as encoding a T-type Ca2+ channel. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.