title: CACNA1G
text: # CACNA1G
  
  Calcium channel, voltage-dependent, T type, alpha 1G subunit, also known as CACNA1G or $Ca_v3.1$ is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CACNA1G gene. It is one of the primary targets in the pharmacology of absence seizure.
  
  ## Function
  
  $Ca_v3.1$ is a type of low-voltage-activated calcium channel, also known as "T-type" for its transient on and off. It is expressed in thalamocortical relay nucleus, and is responsible for the slow-wave sleep and absence seizure. During a slow-wave sleep, $Ca_v3.1$ is put into burst mode, and a self-sustaining synchronous cycle between cortex and thalamus is formed, sensory inputs are isolated from cortex; while awake the thalamus should instead relay sensory inputs from outside the central nervous system. The mechanism of absence seizure has a lot in common with slow-wave sleep. Therefore, a blocker that inhibits the burst mode activation of $Ca_v3.1$ is effective in treating absence seizures. Common drugs including ethosuximide, as well as trimethadione.
  
  ## Interactive pathway map
  
  Click on genes, proteins and metabolites below to link to respective Wikipedia articles.
  
  * ↑ The interactive pathway map can be edited at WikiPathways: "NicotineActivityonChromaffinCells_WP1603".
  