Emerging Alternative Functions for the Auxiliary Subunits of the Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels.

Voltage gated calcium channels (Cav) are composed of up to five proteins: The ion conducting pore subunit α1 and the auxiliary subunits α2, δ, β, and γ. Recent reports show that Cavα1 and Cavβ comprise the calcium channel core complex and that β, α2 δ and γ may serve additional roles that are independent of the Cavα1 subunit. This short review will summarize these emerging functions.