How “Pharmacoresistant” is Ca(v)2.3, the Major Component of Voltage-Gated R-type Ca(2+) Channels?

Membrane-bound voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCCs) are targets for specific signaling complexes, which regulate important processes like gene expression, neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability. It is becoming increasingly evident that the so called “resistant” (R-type) VGCC Ca(v)2.3 is critical in several physiologic and pathophysiologic processes in the central nervous system, vascular system and in endocrine systems. However its eponymous attribute of pharmacologic inertness initially made in depth investigation of the channel difficult. Although the identification of SNX-482 as a fairly specific inhibitor of Ca(v)2.3 in the nanomolar range has enabled insights into the channels properties, availability of other pharmacologic modulators of Ca(v)2.3 with different chemical, physical and biological properties are of great importance for future investigations. Therefore the literature was screened systematically for molecules that modulate Ca(v)2.3 VGCCs.