Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Cav3.2

Title: Physical interaction between calcineurin and Cav3.2 T-type Ca2+ channel modulates their functions.

Authors: Ching-Hui Huang, Yong-Cyuan Chen, Chien-Chang Chen

Journal, date & volume: FEBS Lett., 2013 Jun 19 , 587, 1723-30

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23669360

Abstract
Cav3.2 T-type Ca(2+) channel is required for the activation of calcineurin/NFAT signaling in cardiac hypertrophy. We aimed to investigate how Cav3.2 and calcineurin interact. We found that Ca(2+) and calmodulin modulate the Cav3.2/calcineurin interaction. Calcineurin binding to Cav3.2 decreases the enzyme's phosphatase activity and diminishes the channel's current density. Phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy in neonatal cardiac myocytes is reduced by a cell-permeable peptide with the calcineurin binding site sequence. These data suggest that Cav3.2 regulates calcineurin/NFAT pathway through both the Ca(2+) influx and calcineurin binding. Our findings unveiled a reciprocal regulation of Ca(2+) signaling which contributes to our understanding of cardiac hypertrophy.