Cheng Luan et al. report that the voltage-gated calcium channel CaVγ4 is necessary for maintaining pancreatic beta-cell function. They find that MafA, a transcription factor required for beta-cell maturation, directly regulates the gene encoding CaVγ4 and suggest that restoration of CaVγ4 may be a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes.
- Cheng Luan
- Yingying Ye
- Erik Renström