Making the T-type even tinier: corticotropin-releasing factor-mediated inhibition of low-voltage-activated calcium channel activity.

T-type calcium channels are important for a variety of physiological processes such as brain and heart function. Proper regulation of these channels by second messengers is fundamental; however, our knowledge of the molecular pathways that regulate T-type calcium channels is limited in comparison with other voltage-dependent calcium channels. In this issue of Molecular Pharmacology, Tao et al. (p. 1596) demonstrate that Cav3.2 is regulated by activation of the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 in a Gbetagamma-dependent manner.