The present invention relates to modified voltage-gated calcium (CaV ) channels. Furthermore, the invention provides nucleic acid sequences to generate modified CaV channels as well as isolated CaV channel proteins or subunits. The present invention further provides cells or animal models expressing the modified CaV channels. The invention further relates to methods using modified Cav channels or animals expressing Cav channels in diagnostic and clinical assays. The methods of using modified Cav channels are particularly interesting for the identification and activity testing of chemical or pharmaceutical compounds, which may have the capacity of modulating the activity of Cav channels.
