Voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels mediate the entry of Ca(2+) ions into excitable cells and are involved in a variety of Ca(2+)-dependent processes, including muscle contraction, hormone or neurotransmitter release, and gene expression. The protein encoded by this gene is an integral membrane protein that belongs to the calcium channel alpha-1 subunits family. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2009]