Hypoxia inhibits the recombinant alpha 1C subunit of the human cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel.

1. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were used to investigate the effects of hypoxia on recombinant human L-type Ca2+ channel alpha 1C subunits stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. 2. Ca2+ channel currents were reversibly inhibited by hypoxia (PO2 < 90 mmHg). The degree of inhibition depended on the charge carrier used, Ca2+ currents being more O2 sensitive than Ba2+ currents. 3. Hypoxic inhibition of Ca2+ channel currents was more pronounced at lower activating membrane potentials (< or = +30 mV), and was associated with a slowing of activation kinetics. Current inactivation and deactivation were unaffected by hypoxia. 4. Since hypoxia similarly regulates native L-type Ca2+ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells, our results suggest that hypoxic regulation of L-type Ca2+ channels arises from modification of structural features of the alpha 1 subunit common to cardiac and smooth muscle L-type channels.