PMID: 26680202

Authors:

Wu J, Yan Z, Li Z, Yan C, Lu S, Dong M, Yan N

Title:

Structure of the voltage-gated calcium channel Cav1.1 complex.

Journal:

Science. 2015 Dec 18;350(6267):aad2395. doi: 10.1126/science.aad2395.

Abstract:

The voltage-gated calcium channel Ca(v)1.1 is engaged in the excitation-contraction coupling of skeletal muscles. The Ca(v)1.1 complex consists of the pore-forming subunit alpha1 and auxiliary subunits alpha2delta, beta, and gamma. We report the structure of the rabbit Ca(v)1.1 complex determined by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. The four homologous repeats of the alpha1 subunit are arranged clockwise in the extracellular view. The gamma subunit, whose structure resembles claudins, interacts with the voltage-sensing domain of repeat IV (VSD(IV)), whereas the cytosolic beta subunit is located adjacent to VSD(II) of alpha1. The alpha2 subunit interacts with the extracellular loops of repeats I to III through its VWA and Cache1 domains. The structure reveals the architecture of a prototypical eukaryotic Ca(v) channel and provides a framework for understanding the function and disease mechanisms of Ca(v) and Na(v) channels.