Ion channels play a crucial role in cell functioning, contributing to transmembrane potential and participating in cell signalling and homeostasis. To fulfil highly specialised functions, cells have developed various mechanisms to regulate channel expression and activity at particular subcellular loci, and alteration of ion channel regulation can lead to serious disorders. Glycosylation, one of the most common forms of co- and post-translational protein modification, is rapidly emerging as a fundamental mechanism not only controlling the proper folding of nascent channels but also their subcellular localisation, gating and function. Moreover, studies on various channel subtypes have revealed that glycosylation represents an important determinant by which other signalling pathways modulate channel activity. The discovery of detailed mechanisms of regulation of ion channels by glycosylation provides new insights in the physiology of ion channels and may allow developing new pharmaceutics for the treatment of ion channel-related disorders.

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague Czech Republic

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The T-type calcium channelosome

Transcriptomic analysis of glycan-processing genes in the dorsal root ganglia of diabetic mice and functional characterization on Cav3.2 channels

Genetic T-type calcium channelopathies

The Cacna1h mutation in the GAERS model of absence epilepsy enhances T-type Ca2+ currents by altering calnexin-dependent trafficking of Cav3.2 channels

Trafficking of neuronal calcium channels

Cooperative roles of glucose and asparagine-linked glycosylation in T-type calcium channel expression

A Cav3.2/Stac1 molecular complex controls T-type channel expression at the plasma membrane

Modulation of Cav3.2 T-type calcium channel permeability by asparagine-linked glycosylation