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Related Concept Videos

Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
Mechanical Systems01:22

Mechanical Systems

Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically described...
Electro-mechanical Systems01:19

Electro-mechanical Systems

Electromechanical systems are intricate configurations that effectively combine electrical and mechanical elements to achieve a desired outcome. Central to many of these systems is the DC motor, a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, enabling various applications ranging from simple fans to complex robotic mechanisms.
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...
Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors01:30

Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors

G Protein–Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to various stimuli. GPCRs regulate critical physiological pathways and are excellent drug targets for treating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, or Alzheimer's. Nearly 35% of approved drugs implement their therapeutic effects by selectively interacting with specific GPCRs.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or...
Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscles01:20

Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscles

Excitation-contraction coupling is a series of events that occur between generating an action potential and initiating a muscle contraction. It occurs at the triad, a structure found in skeletal muscle fibers that comprise a T-tubule and terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum on each side. These triads are visible in longitudinally sectioned muscle fibers. They are typically located at the A-I junction — the junction between the A and I bands of the sarcomere.
When an action potential...

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Related Experiment Video

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Ocular Kinematics Measured by In Vitro Stimulation of the Cranial Nerves in the Turtle
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The STIM/Orai coupling machinery.

Irene Frischauf1, Rainer Schindl, Isabella Derler

  • 1Institute for Biophysics, University of Linz, Linz, Austria.

Channels (Austin, Tex.)
|September 5, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Store-operated calcium (SOC) channels, crucial for cell functions, are primarily composed of STIM1 and Orai1. This review details their activation cascade, structural features, and physiological importance in health and disease.

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Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Physiology
  • Ion Channel Function

Background:

  • Non-excitable cells utilize store-operated channels (SOCs) for essential functions like transcription and growth.
  • The calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) current (I(CRAC)) is a well-characterized SOC, critical in immune cells.
  • Identifying the molecular components of CRAC channels has been a long-standing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the activation cascade of the STIM1/Orai1 complex, from ER calcium sensing to plasma membrane influx.
  • To compare functional domains of STIM1/Orai1 with homologs STIM2 and Orai2/3.
  • To discuss recent findings on Orai channel pore architecture and selectivity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of functional and structural studies on STIM and Orai proteins.
  • Analysis of STIM1/Orai1 activation mechanisms.
  • Comparative analysis of STIM and Orai protein families.

Main Results:

  • STIM1 acts as the ER calcium sensor, forming puncta upon store depletion.
  • Orai1 is identified as the pore-forming subunit of the CRAC channel.
  • STIM1/Orai1 complex activation leads to calcium influx into non-excitable cells.

Conclusions:

  • The STIM1/Orai1 complex is essential for store-operated calcium signaling.
  • Broad tissue expression and knockout mouse studies highlight the physiological significance of STIM/Orai proteins.
  • Understanding STIM1/Orai1 function is vital for comprehending calcium signaling in human health and disease.