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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Monitoring ER/SR Calcium Release with the Targeted Ca2+ Sensor CatchER+
Published on: May 19, 2017
Selenium compounds modulate the calcium release channel/ryanodine receptor of rabbit skeletal muscle by oxidizing
Ruohong Xia1, Howard E Ganther, Adam Egge
1Physics Department, East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai 200062, China.
Abstract:
Selenium compounds, such as sodium selenite and Ebselen were shown to increase high affinity ryanodine binding to the skeletal muscle type ryanodine receptor (RyR1) at nanomolar concentrations, and inhibit the receptor at low micromolar concentrations. This biphasic response was observed in both concentration and time-dependent assays. Extensive washing did not reverse either the stimulation or suppression of receptor binding, but both were prevented or reversed by addition of reduced glutathione, GSH. Selenium compounds were also shown to induce Ca(2+) release from the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Sodium selenite and Ebselen stimulated the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor by oxidizing 14 of 47 free thiols per monomer on RyR1 (as detected with the alkylating agent 7-diethylamino-3-(4'-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin) (CPM). Oxidation of the remaining thiols by these selenium compounds resulted in inhibition of the ryanodine receptor.
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