Background：

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.