AUTHOR=Pereira da Silva Eric A. , Martín-Aragón Baudel Miguel , Navedo Manuel F. , Nieves-Cintrón Madeline 

TITLE=Ion channel molecular complexes in vascular smooth muscle

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.999369

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.999369

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Ion channels that influence membrane potential and intracellular calcium concentration control vascular smooth muscle excitability. Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC), transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, voltage (K<sub>V</sub>), and Ca<sup>2+</sup>-activated K<sup>+</sup> (BK) channels are key regulators of vascular smooth muscle excitability and contractility. These channels are regulated by various signaling cues, including protein kinases and phosphatases. The effects of these ubiquitous signaling molecules often depend on the formation of macromolecular complexes that provide a platform for targeting and compartmentalizing signaling events to specific substrates. This manuscript summarizes our current understanding of specific molecular complexes involving VGCC, TRP, and K<sub>V</sub> and BK channels and their contribution to regulating vascular physiology.</p>