Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 + 704 word(s) 704 2020-12-15 07:46:30

Video Upload Options

Do you have a full video?

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Zhou, V. CACNA1C Gene. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/5034 (accessed on 29 March 2024).
Zhou V. CACNA1C Gene. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/5034. Accessed March 29, 2024.
Zhou, Vicky. "CACNA1C Gene" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/5034 (accessed March 29, 2024).
Zhou, V. (2020, December 24). CACNA1C Gene. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/5034
Zhou, Vicky. "CACNA1C Gene." Encyclopedia. Web. 24 December, 2020.
CACNA1C Gene
Edit

calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 C

genes

1. Normal Function

The CACNA1C gene provides instructions for making one of several calcium channels. Calcium channels, which transport positively charged calcium atoms (calcium ions) into cells, play a key role in a cell's ability to generate electrical signals. Calcium ions are important for many cellular functions, including regulating the electrical activity of cells, cell-to-cell communication, the tensing of muscle fibers (muscle contraction), and the regulation of certain genes, particularly those involved in the development of the brain and bones before birth.

The calcium channel produced from the CACNA1C gene is known as CaV1.2. These channels are found in many types of cells, although they appear to be particularly important for the function of heart cells (cardiomyocytes) and nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. In the heart, CaV1.2 channels open and close at specific times to control the flow of calcium ions into cardiomyocytes at each heartbeat. How long the channels are open and closed is regulated to maintain normal heart function. In the brain, CaV1.2 channels are thought to be involved in memory, the fear response, and the rapid transmission of nerve signals; however, the role of these channels in the brain and other tissues is not completely understood.

Researchers have discovered that many different versions (isoforms) of the CaV1.2 channel can be produced from the CACNA1C gene by a mechanism called alternative splicing. This mechanism produces different versions of the channel by cutting and rearranging the genetic instructions in different ways. Some versions of the CaV1.2 channel are more common than others in certain parts of the body. For example, in the heart and brain, about 80 percent of CaV1.2 channels are made with a particular segment known as exon 8. The other 20 percent of CaV1.2 channels contain a slightly different version of this segment, known as exon 8A. This difference becomes important when researchers are studying the effects of CACNA1C mutations in various tissues.

2. Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

2.1. Short QT Syndrome

Short QT syndrome

2.2. Timothy Syndrome

Mutations in the CACNA1C gene have been found to cause Timothy syndrome. This condition primarily affects the heart but can affect many other areas of the body, including the fingers and toes, teeth, nervous system, and immune system. Timothy syndrome is characterized by a heart condition called long QT syndrome, which causes the heart (cardiac) muscle to take longer than usual to recharge between beats. This abnormality in the heart's electrical system can cause severe abnormalities of the heart rhythm (arrhythmias), which can lead to sudden death.

Mutations in the CACNA1C gene change the structure of CaV1.2 channels throughout the body. The altered channels stay open much longer than usual, which allows calcium ions to continue flowing into cells abnormally. The resulting overload of calcium ions within cardiac muscle cells changes the way the heart beats and can cause abnormal heart muscle contraction and arrhythmia. It is thought that the altered channels and calcium ion flow also impair regulation of certain genes during development, resulting in the facial, dental, and neurological abnormalities in Timothy syndrome.

In some cases, people with CACNA1C gene mutations have long QT syndrome without the other features of Timothy syndrome. It is unclear why some people have only heart problems while other have additional features.

2.3. Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome

2.4. Other Disorders

Mutations in the CACNA1C gene have also been identified in people with a condition called long QT syndrome 8. These individuals have arrhythmia that can lead to fainting (syncope) or cardiac arrest and sudden death without the other features of Timothy syndrome (described above). Research suggests that CACNA1C gene mutations that cause long QT syndrome 8 occur in a different part of the gene than those that cause Timothy syndrome. While these CACNA1C gene mutations alter CaV1.2 channels and calcium channel flow, it is unclear why they cause only heart problems.

3. Other Names for This Gene

  • CAC1C_HUMAN
  • CACH2
  • CACN2
  • CACNL1A1
  • calcium channel, cardic dihydropyridine-sensitive, alpha-1 subunit
  • calcium channel, L type, alpha 1 polypeptide, isoform 1, cardic muscle
  • calcium channel, voltage-dependent, L type, alpha 1C subunit
  • CaV1.2
  • CCHL1A1
  • DHPR, alpha-1 subunit
  • MGC120730
  • voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel alpha 1C subunit
  • voltage-gated calcium channel alpha subunit Cav1.2

References

  1. Fukuyama M, Wang Q, Kato K, Ohno S, Ding WG, Toyoda F, Itoh H, Kimura H,Makiyama T, Ito M, Matsuura H, Horie M. Long QT syndrome type 8: novel CACNA1Cmutations causing QT prolongation and variant phenotypes. Europace. 2014Dec;16(12):1828-37. doi: 10.1093/europace/euu063.
  2. Gardner RJM, Crozier IG, Binfield AL, Love DR, Lehnert K, Gibson K, LintottCJ, Snell RG, Jacobsen JC, Jones PP, Waddell-Smith KE, Kennedy MA, Skinner JR.Penetrance and expressivity of the R858H CACNA1C variant in a five-generationpedigree segregating an arrhythmogenic channelopathy. Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2019Jan;7(1):e00476. doi: 10.1002/mgg3.476.
  3. Liao P, Yong TF, Liang MC, Yue DT, Soong TW. Splicing for alternativestructures of Cav1.2 Ca2+ channels in cardiac and smooth muscles. Cardiovasc Res.2005 Nov 1;68(2):197-203.
  4. Napolitano C, Antzelevitch C. Phenotypical manifestations of mutations in the genes encoding subunits of the cardiac voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel. Circ Res. 2011 Mar 4;108(5):607-18. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.110.224279. Review.
  5. Napolitano C, Splawski I, Timothy KW, Bloise R, Priori SG. Timothy Syndrome.2006 Feb 15 [updated 2015 Jul 16]. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, WallaceSE, Bean LJH, Stephens K, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle(WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2020. Available fromhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1403/
  6. Paar V, Jirak P, Larbig R, Zagidullin NS, Brandt MC, Lichtenauer M, Hoppe UC, Motloch LJ. Pathophysiology of Calcium Mediated Ventricular Arrhythmias and NovelTherapeutic Options with Focus on Gene Therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Oct24;20(21). pii: E5304. doi: 10.3390/ijms20215304. Review.
  7. Splawski I, Timothy KW, Decher N, Kumar P, Sachse FB, Beggs AH, SanguinettiMC, Keating MT. Severe arrhythmia disorder caused by cardiac L-type calciumchannel mutations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jun 7;102(23):8089-96;discussion 8086-8.
  8. Splawski I, Timothy KW, Sharpe LM, Decher N, Kumar P, Bloise R, Napolitano C, Schwartz PJ, Joseph RM, Condouris K, Tager-Flusberg H, Priori SG, Sanguinetti MC,Keating MT. Ca(V)1.2 calcium channel dysfunction causes a multisystem disorderincluding arrhythmia and autism. Cell. 2004 Oct 1;119(1):19-31.
  9. Wemhöner K, Friedrich C, Stallmeyer B, Coffey AJ, Grace A, Zumhagen S, SeebohmG, Ortiz-Bonnin B, Rinné S, Sachse FB, Schulze-Bahr E, Decher N. Gain-of-functionmutations in the calcium channel CACNA1C (Cav1.2) cause non-syndromic long-QT butnot Timothy syndrome. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2015 Mar;80:186-95. doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.01.002.
  10. Yamakage M, Namiki A. Calcium channels--basic aspects of their structure,function and gene encoding; anesthetic action on the channels--a review. Can JAnaesth. 2002 Feb;49(2):151-64. Review.
More
Information
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
View Times: 390
Entry Collection: MedlinePlus
Revision: 1 time (View History)
Update Date: 24 Dec 2020
1000/1000