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GeneE
25 sources retrieved ยท Most recent: April 2026 ยท Index updated 14 days ago
โ“˜GeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
CACNA1A
calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 A
Chromosome 19 ยท 19p13.13
NCBI Gene: 773Ensembl: ENSG00000141837.23HGNC: HGNC:1388UniProt: A0A087WW63
275PubMed Papers
24Diseases
11Drugs
565Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Highly ConstrainedHub GeneIon ChannelTransporter
RESEARCH IMPACT
TrendingVariant-Rich
CLINICAL
FDA Approved TargetOMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
โœ“ Experimental GO Evidenceโœ“ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
nucleussyntaxin bindingresponse to amyloid-betacellular response to amyloid-betaFamilial paroxysmal ataxiaepisodic ataxia type 2migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โœฆAI Summary

CACNA1A encodes the alpha1A subunit of voltage-gated P/Q-type calcium channels (Cav2.1), which are critical for calcium-dependent neuronal processes including neurotransmitter release and synaptic transmission 1. These high-voltage activated channels are specifically blocked by omega-agatoxin-IVA but insensitive to dihydropyridines, distinguishing them from other calcium channel subtypes. Pathogenic CACNA1A variants cause multiple neurological disorders with overlapping phenotypes, including familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1), episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2), and spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) 123. Recent studies reveal an expanded phenotypic spectrum encompassing developmental delay/intellectual disability (96% of cases), epilepsy (55%), autism spectrum disorder (23%), and paroxysmal movement disorders 4. Gain-of-function variants typically cause more severe phenotypes with intractable seizures and recurrent status epilepticus, while loss-of-function variants often present with refractory absence seizures 5. The molecular mechanisms involve disrupted calcium signaling affecting neuronal development, migration, and synapse formation 6. Treatment approaches include antiepileptics (lamotrigine, valproate, topiramate), calcium channel blockers (flunarizine, verapamil), and acetazolamide, though many patients develop refractory symptoms 53.

Sources cited
1
CACNA1A encodes Cav2.1 P/Q-type calcium channels and causes FHM1, EA2, and SCA6
PMID: 20204399
2
CACNA1A mutations cause familial hemiplegic migraine with motor weakness and neurological symptoms
PMID: 32430436
3
CACNA1A mutations cause episodic ataxia type 2 with recurrent incoordination
PMID: 39174244
4
Expanded CACNA1A phenotype includes developmental delay (96%), epilepsy (55%), and autism spectrum disorder (23%)
PMID: 35722745
5
Gain-of-function variants cause more severe seizures while loss-of-function variants cause absence seizures
PMID: 34102571
6
CACNA1A variants disrupt calcium signaling affecting neuronal development and synapse formation
PMID: 40111503
7
Treatment includes antiepileptics, calcium channel blockers, and acetazolamide
PMID: 39174244
Disease Associationsโ“˜24
Familial paroxysmal ataxiaOpen Targets
0.83Strong
episodic ataxia type 2Open Targets
0.83Strong
migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1Open Targets
0.82Strong
developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42Open Targets
0.81Strong
spinocerebellar ataxia type 6Open Targets
0.78Strong
SeizureOpen Targets
0.72Strong
epilepsyOpen Targets
0.64Moderate
neuropathic painOpen Targets
0.60Moderate
fibromyalgiaOpen Targets
0.60Moderate
genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathyOpen Targets
0.60Moderate
restless legs syndromeOpen Targets
0.58Moderate
neuralgiaOpen Targets
0.58Moderate
anxiety disorderOpen Targets
0.57Moderate
postherpetic neuralgiaOpen Targets
0.57Moderate
developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 52Open Targets
0.56Moderate
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.55Moderate
CACNA1A-related complex neurodevelopmental disorderOpen Targets
0.55Moderate
Epileptic encephalopathyOpen Targets
0.55Moderate
spinal cord injuryOpen Targets
0.54Moderate
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.52Moderate
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 42UniProt
Episodic ataxia 2UniProt
Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1UniProt
Spinocerebellar ataxia 6UniProt
Pathogenic Variants565
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4996C>T (p.Arg1666Trp)Pathogenic
Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1|not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Ataxia
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2026โ†’ Residue 1666
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4034G>A (p.Arg1345Gln)Pathogenic
Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1|not provided|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Episodic ataxia type 2;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2026โ†’ Residue 1345
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.1994C>T (p.Thr665Met)Pathogenic
Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1|Migraine, sporadic hemiplegic, with progressive cerebellar ataxia|not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Familial hemiplegic migraine|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Inborn genetic diseases|Episodic ataxia type 2;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1|Episodic ataxia type 2;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|CACNA1A-related disorder
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2026โ†’ Residue 665
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4978C>T (p.Arg1660Cys)Likely pathogenic
not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2026โ†’ Residue 1660
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4633C>T (p.Arg1545Ter)Pathogenic
Episodic ataxia type 2|Inborn genetic diseases|Episodic ataxia type 2;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2026โ†’ Residue 1545
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.3829C>T (p.Arg1277Ter)Pathogenic
Episodic ataxia type 2|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|CACNA1A-related complex neurodevelopmental disorder|not provided
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2026โ†’ Residue 1277
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.1594G>A (p.Glu532Lys)Pathogenic
not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42;Episodic ataxia type 2
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 532
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.1745G>A (p.Arg582Gln)Pathogenic
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6|Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1|Sporadic hemiplegic migraine|not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Familial hemiplegic migraine|Episodic ataxia type 2;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 52|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 582
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4403C>T (p.Ser1468Leu)Pathogenic
not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 1468
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4042C>T (p.Arg1348Trp)Pathogenic
not provided|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42;Episodic ataxia type 2
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 1348
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.2633_2649dup (p.Ala884fs)Pathogenic
Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Paroxysmal central nervous system disorders
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 884
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.3532dup (p.Leu1178fs)Pathogenic
not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Inborn genetic diseases
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 1178
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4072C>T (p.Arg1358Trp)Pathogenic
not provided|CACNA1A-associated disorders|Delayed gross motor development|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42;Episodic ataxia type 2
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 1358
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4051C>T (p.Arg1351Ter)Pathogenic
Episodic ataxia type 2|not provided|Inborn genetic diseases|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 1351
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.1360C>T (p.Arg454Ter)Pathogenic
not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 454
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.5260G>A (p.Gly1754Arg)Pathogenic
Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Inborn genetic diseases|not provided
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 1754
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.4897G>A (p.Asp1633Asn)Pathogenic
not provided|Inborn genetic diseases|Episodic ataxia type 2|Episodic ataxia type 2;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 52;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1|CACNA1A-related disorder|Episodic ataxia type 2;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 1633
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.471dup (p.Ala158fs)Pathogenic
not provided|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 158
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.835C>T (p.Arg279Cys)Pathogenic
Episodic ataxia type 2;Epileptic encephalopathy;Gait ataxia|Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|not provided|Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6|Episodic ataxia type 2;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 52;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6|Inborn genetic diseases|Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Episodic ataxia type 2;Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1;Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6|CACNA1A-related complex neurodevelopmental disorder
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 279
NM_001127222.2(CACNA1A):c.184T>C (p.Tyr62His)Likely pathogenic
Episodic ataxia type 2;Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 42|Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 1
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†2025โ†’ Residue 62
View on ClinVar โ†—
Drug Targets11
ATAGABALINPhase II
Voltage-gated calcium channel modulator
insomnia
BEPRIDILApproved
Voltage-gated calcium channel blocker
cardiovascular disease
ELPETRIGINEPhase I
Sodium channel protein type II alpha subunit blocker
bipolar disorder
GABAPENTINApproved
Voltage-gated calcium channel modulator
epilepsy
GABAPENTIN ENACARBILApproved
Voltage-gated calcium channel modulator
restless legs syndrome
IMAGABALINPhase III
Voltage-gated calcium channel modulator
generalized anxiety disorder
PHLOROGLUCINOLApproved
Voltage-gated calcium channel blocker
gastrointestinal disease
PREGABALINApproved
Voltage-gated calcium channel modulator
neuropathic pain
SULOCTIDILApproved
Voltage-gated calcium channel blocker
cardiovascular disease
TERODILINEApproved
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist
Urinary incontinence
TERODILINE HYDROCHLORIDEUNKNOWN
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist
Related Genes
SYT1Protein interaction100%SNAP25Protein interaction100%CALML3Protein interaction100%CALML6Protein interaction100%CALML5Protein interaction100%CALM3Protein interaction100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Ovary
1%
Heart
1%
Bone Marrow
0%
Liver
0%
Lung
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
CACNA1ASYT1SNAP25CALML3CALML6CALML5CALM3
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewerโ€ฆ
PDB3BXK ยท 2.55 ร… ยท X-ray
View on RCSB โ†—
Constraintโ“˜
LOEUFโ“˜
0.33Highly Constrained
pLIโ“˜
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.26 [0.20โ€“0.33]
RankingsWhere CACNA1A stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #1,325of 20,598
    Most Researched275 ยท top 10%
  • #212of 1,025
    FDA-Approved Drug Targets7 ยท top quartile
  • #91of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants565 ยท top 5%
  • #1,390of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.33 ยท top 10%
Genes detectedCACNA1A
Sources retrieved25 papers
Response timeโ€”
๐Ÿ“„ Sources
25โ–ผ
1
Clinical and genetic characterization of CACNA1A-related disease.
PMID: 35722745
Clin Genet ยท 2022
1.00
2
CACNA1A-Related Channelopathies: Clinical Manifestations and Treatment Options.
PMID: 36592223
Handb Exp Pharmacol ยท 2023
0.90
3
Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of hemiplegic migraine.
PMID: 32430436
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry ยท 2020
0.80
4
Familial hemiplegic migraine.
PMID: 39174245
Handb Clin Neurol ยท 2024
0.70
5
The episodic ataxias.
PMID: 39174244
Handb Clin Neurol ยท 2024
0.60