Characterization of Voltage-gated Calcium Channel CaV2.1 in the Chicken Nervous System

Transmitter release is gated primarily by P-type voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV2.1) at most mammalian synapses, while N-type (CaV2.2) channels play a lesser role. While this is also true in some lower vertebrates curiously in synapses in the chicken transmitter release appears to be gated almost exclusively by CaV2.2 channels (Stanley and Goping, 1991). Our objective is to resolve this dichotomy and in this study we have used a cloning approach to look for, and characterize the primary molecular structure of chick CaV2.1. RT-PCR applied to chick whole brain cDNA generated a full length CaV2.1 sequence. Interestingly, while the channel includes the transmembrane domains, the C-terminal is truncated and lacks a typical DxWC terminus. While we cannot as yet conclude any functional details about the channel, we do show that it is expressed in the chicken nervous system in some capacity.M.Sc.2018-06-21 00:00:0