Human N-type calcium channel isoform and uses thereof

A method for identifying compounds which selectively bind a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform comprising,

• providing a first cell or membrane encapsulated space which expresses a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform,
• providing a second cell or membrane encapsulated space which expresses a human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform, wherein the second cell or membrane encapsulated space is identical to the first cell except for the α1B isoform expressed,
• contacting the first cell or membrane encapsulated space and the second cell or membrane encapsulated space with a compound,
• determining the binding of the compound to the first cell or membrane encapsulated space and the second cell or membrane encapsulated space, wherein a compound which binds the first cell or membrane encapsulated space but does not bind the second cell or membrane encapsulated space is a compound which selectively binds the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform.

A method for identifying compounds which selectively bind a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform comprising,

• providing a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid,
• providing a human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid,
• contacting the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid and the human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid with a compound,
• determining the binding of the compound to the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid and the human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid, wherein a compound which binds the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid but does not bind the human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid is a compound which selectively binds the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform.

A method for identifying compounds which preferentially bind a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform comprising,

• providing a first cell or membrane encapsulated space which expresses a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform,
• providing a second cell or membrane encapsulated space which expresses a human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform, wherein the second cell or membrane encapsulated space is identical to the first cell except for the α1B isoform expressed,
• contacting the first cell or membrane encapsulated space and the second cell or membrane encapsulated space with a compound,
• determining the binding of the compound to the first cell or membrane encapsulated space and the second cell or membrane encapsulated space, wherein a compound which binds the first cell or membrane encapsulated space in an amount greater than the compound binds the second cell or membrane encapsulated space is a compound which preferentially binds the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform.

A method for identifying compounds which preferentially bind a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform comprising,

• providing a human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid,
• providing a human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid,
• contacting the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid and the human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid with a compound,
• determining the binding of the compound to the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid and the human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid, wherein a compound which binds 5 the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid in an amount greater than the human N-type calcium channel non-hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform polypeptide or nucleic acid is a compound which preferentially binds the human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit isoform.