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Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Signaling Cascades01:24

Intracellular Signaling Cascades

Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
Intracellular Signaling Cascades01:24

Intracellular Signaling Cascades

Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers01:15

Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers

Many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic; they do not cross the cell membrane but bind to cell-surface receptors. Thus, their message must be relayed by second messengers present in the cell cytoplasm. There are several second messenger pathways, each with its own way of relaying information. For example, the G protein-coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol pathway is active when the receptor induces...
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling01:16

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis01:21

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.

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Related Experiment Video

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Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading (TED)
09:32

Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading (TED)

Published on: May 7, 2013

Calcium signaling.

David E Clapham1

  • 1Aldo R. Castañeda Professor of Cardiovascular Research, Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Enders 1309, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA. dclapham@enders.tch.harvard.edu

Cell
|December 18, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Calcium ions (Ca2+) are crucial for cellular functions, influencing protein behavior and intracellular levels. This review explores Ca2+ signaling, its localized actions, and roles in cell processes like apoptosis and transcription.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Calcium ions (Ca2+) are ubiquitous intracellular messengers.
  • Ca2+ regulates a vast array of cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental principles of Ca2+ signaling.
  • To discuss mechanisms controlling cytoplasmic and organelle Ca2+ homeostasis.
  • To highlight the localized nature of Ca2+ signal transduction.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Ca2+ signaling principles.
  • Examination of Ca2+ binding to proteins.
  • Analysis of Ca2+ transport and buffering systems.

Main Results:

  • Ca2+ binding induces conformational changes in proteins, altering their function.
  • Tight regulation of intracellular Ca2+ levels is essential for cell signaling.
  • Ca2+ signals are often highly localized, enabling specific cellular responses.

Conclusions:

  • Ca2+ acts as a critical regulator across diverse cellular functions.
  • Understanding Ca2+ signaling is key to comprehending cell excitability, secretion, motility, programmed cell death, and gene expression.