Properties of omega conotoxin MVIIC receptors associated with alpha 1A calcium channel subunits in rat brain.

Solubilized 125I-omega conotoxin MVIIC receptors from rat cerebellum were immunoprecipitated by antibodies directed against the calcium channel alpha 1A subunit. Anti-alpha 1A antibodies recognized a 240-220, 180 and 160 kDa proteins in immunoblots of cerebellar membranes. Disuccinimidyl suberate cross-linked 125I-omega conotoxin MVIIC to an alpha 2 delta-like 200-180 kDa subunit, which migrated at 150-140 kDa after disulfide reduction. These observations are consistent with a heteromeric structure in which high affinity omega conotoxin MVIIC binding sites formed by alpha 1A subunits are located in close proximity to peripheral alpha 2 subunits.