The CACNA1C gene encodes the α1C subunit of the Cav1.2 voltage-gated calcium channel, a key player in mediating calcium influx in excitable cells. This channel is critical for regulating cardiac muscle contraction, neuronal excitability, and hormone secretion. CACNA1C antibodies are immunodetection tools designed to target specific epitopes of the Cav1.2 protein, enabling researchers to study its expression, localization, and function in tissues. These antibodies are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence to investigate channel dynamics in physiological and pathological contexts.
CACNA1C mutations or dysregulation are linked to multiple disorders, including Timothy syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias, autism spectrum disorders, and psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Antibodies against CACNA1C help elucidate its role in disease mechanisms, such as altered calcium signaling pathways or structural channel abnormalities. Commercial CACNA1C antibodies are typically validated in knockout models or siRNA-treated cells to ensure specificity.
Research using these antibodies has advanced understanding of calcium-dependent signaling in neurodevelopment, heart function, and synaptic plasticity. However, challenges remain, including cross-reactivity with homologous calcium channel subunits. Ongoing studies aim to refine antibody precision and explore therapeutic strategies targeting Cav1.2 in calcium channelopathies.