Jeziorski Michael C, Greenberg Robert M
Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM-UAQ Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro. 76001, México.
Int J Parasitol. 2006 May 31;36(6):625-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2006.02.002. Epub 2006 Mar 7.
Voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels provide the pathway for Ca2+ influxes that underlie Ca2+ -dependent responses in muscles, nerves and other excitable cells. They are also targets of a wide variety of drugs and toxins. Ca2+ channels are multisubunit protein complexes consisting of a pore-forming alpha(1) subunit and other modulatory subunits, including the beta subunit. Here, we review the structure and function of schistosome Ca2+ channel subunits, with particular emphasis on variant Ca2+ channel beta subunits (Ca(v)betavar) found in these parasites. In particular, we examine the role these beta subunits may play in the action of praziquantel, the current drug of choice against schistosomiasis. We also present evidence that Ca(v)betavar homologs are found in other praziquantel-sensitive platyhelminths such as the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, and that these variant beta subunits may thus represent a platyhelminth-specific gene family.
电压门控钙（Ca2+）通道为Ca2+内流提供了途径，而Ca2+内流是肌肉、神经和其他可兴奋细胞中Ca2+依赖性反应的基础。它们也是多种药物和毒素的作用靶点。Ca2+通道是多亚基蛋白复合物，由一个形成孔道的α(1)亚基和其他调节亚基组成，包括β亚基。在此，我们综述了血吸虫Ca2+通道亚基的结构和功能，特别强调了在这些寄生虫中发现的变异型Ca2+通道β亚基（Ca(v)betavar）。特别是，我们研究了这些β亚基在吡喹酮（目前治疗血吸虫病的首选药物）作用中可能发挥的作用。我们还提供证据表明，在其他对吡喹酮敏感的扁形虫如猪肉绦虫（猪带绦虫）中发现了Ca(v)betavar同源物，因此这些变异型β亚基可能代表一个扁形虫特异性基因家族。
