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Related Concept Videos

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,...
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...
Enlargement of the Plasma Membrane01:22

Enlargement of the Plasma Membrane

Cell division and enlargement are processes that require precise control. The control ensures that cell division cannot proceed unless the cell has grown to a specific size. A spherical, dividing cell requires an approximately 1.6X increase in its surface area to double its volume. The secretory pathway also has a significant role in cell membrane enlargement. Secretory vesicles that bud off from the Golgi apparatus and later fuse with the plasma membrane during exocytosis are a major source of...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
What are Second Messengers?01:12

What are Second Messengers?

Because many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic, they do not cross the cell membrane and thus their message must be relayed to a second messenger on the inside. There are several second messenger pathways, each with their own way of relaying information. G-protein coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol path is active when the receptor induces phospholipase C to hydrolyze the phospholipid,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators
11:33

Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators

Published on: March 22, 2019

Subplasma membrane Ca2+ signals.

John G McCarron1, Susan Chalmers, Marnie L Olson

  • 1Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. john.mccarron@strath.ac.uk

IUBMB Life
|June 2, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding cellular calcium (Ca2+) signals near the plasma membrane is key. This review covers methods for measuring these localized Ca2+ signals, highlighting their importance in cell function.

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Imaging Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Mammalian Cells
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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators
11:33

Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators

Published on: March 22, 2019

Applications of Spatio-temporal Mapping and Particle Analysis Techniques to Quantify Intracellular Ca2+ Signaling In Situ
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Applications of Spatio-temporal Mapping and Particle Analysis Techniques to Quantify Intracellular Ca2+ Signaling In Situ

Published on: January 7, 2019

Imaging Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Mammalian Cells
09:30

Imaging Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Mammalian Cells

Published on: March 3, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Calcium ions (Ca2+) regulate numerous cellular processes.
  • Ca2+ signals often initiate at the plasma membrane, making sub-plasma membrane signaling critical.
  • Understanding localized Ca2+ dynamics is essential for cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of local sub-plasma membrane Ca2+ signals.
  • To review experimental methods for measuring these signals.
  • To discuss the advantages and limitations of different measurement approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing fluorescent Ca2+ indicators.
  • Two main approaches: targeted indicators in sub-plasma membrane space and high-resolution imaging of dispersed indicators.
  • Comparison of indicator targeting versus high-resolution imaging techniques.

Main Results:

  • Targeted indicators offer selectivity but have limited dynamic range and slow response times, primarily for cultured cells.
  • High-resolution imaging with small molecule indicators provides better dynamic range and speed, applicable to all cells.
  • High-resolution imaging presents technical challenges and difficulties in signal calibration.

Conclusions:

  • Localized Ca2+ signaling near the plasma membrane is crucial for cellular functions.
  • Both targeted indicators and high-resolution imaging have distinct advantages and disadvantages for measuring these signals.
  • The choice of method depends on the specific experimental requirements and cell type.