Patent ID: 8021853

Claim:
A method for identifying inhibitors of the L-type Ca 2+ channel β 3 protein, comprising: a) contacting recombinant host cells with a calcium indicator that emits detectable signals in the presence of calcium, wherein the recombinant host cells have been transfected with a recombinant expression vector comprising nucleic acid control sequences operatively linked to an L-type Ca 2+ channel β 3 protein-encoding nucleic acid sequence, wherein the contacting occurs under conditions to promote expression of the L-type Ca 2+ channel β 3 protein and wherein the host cell does not possess functional β 3 protein-containing L-type Ca 2+ channels after expression of the L-type Ca 2+ channel β 3 protein; b) treating the host cells with one or more test compounds, wherein the treating occurs before, simultaneous with, or after the contacting of the host cells with the calcium indicator; c) stimulating the recombinant host cells with an amount of ATP that is effective to increase intracellular calcium concentration release from cellular stores; and d) detecting signals from the calcium indicator in the recombinant host cells, wherein a test compound-induced increase in the signals from the calcium indicator in the recombinant host cells as compared to a control indicates that the test compound promotes release of calcium from intracellular stores, and wherein the test compound is an inhibitor of the L-type Ca 2+ channel β 3 protein.