This gene encodes a member of the alpha-2/delta subunit family, a protein in the voltage-dependent calcium channel complex. Calcium channels mediate the influx of calcium ions into the cell upon membrane polarization and consist of a complex of alpha-1, alpha-2/delta, beta, and gamma subunits in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Various versions of each of these subunits exist, either expressed from similar genes or the result of alternative splicing. Research on a highly similar protein in rabbit suggests the protein described in this record is cleaved into alpha-2 and delta subunits. Alternate transcriptional splice variants of this gene have been observed but have not been thoroughly characterized. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
De Sevilla Müller, Liu, Solomon, Rodriguez, Brecha: "Expression of voltage-gated calcium channel α(2)δ(4) subunits in the mouse and rat retina." in: The Journal of comparative neurology, Vol. 521, Issue 11, pp. 2486-501, (2013) (PubMed).
Kataoka, Takakura, Nishikawa, Tsuchida, Kodama, Kunisada, Risau, Kita, Nishikawa: "Expressions of PDGF receptor alpha, c-Kit and Flk1 genes clustering in mouse chromosome 5 define distinct subsets of nascent mesodermal cells." in: Development, growth & differentiation, Vol. 39, Issue 6, pp. 729-40, (1998) (PubMed).