Sites and Regulation of L-Type Ca2+ Channel Cav1.2 Phosphorylation in Brain

Cav1.2 channel phosphorylation plays an important role in regulating neuronal plasticity by action potential-dependent Ca2+ entry. Most studies of Cav1.2 regulation by phosphorylation have been reported in heart and muscles. Here, we identified phosphorylation sites of neuronal Cav1.2 channel protein purified from rat brain using mass spectrometry. The functional characterization of these phosphorylation sites showed altered voltage-dependent biophysical properties of the channel, without affecting current density. These results show that neuronal Cav1.2 channel is regulated by phosphorylation in a complex mechanism involving multiple phosphorylation sites.