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Related Concept Videos

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

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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.
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Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
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Calmodulin-dependent Signaling01:16

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

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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.
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The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
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Chemical Synapses01:26

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis
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Ca2+ Uncaging in Nerve Terminals: A Three-Point Calibration Procedure.

Olexiy Kochubey, Ralf Schneggenburger

    Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
    |August 5, 2015
    PubMed
    Summary

    Calcium (Ca2+) uncaging precisely elevates intracellular Ca2+ in cells, enabling direct measurement of Ca2+-dependent transmitter release rates. This technique is crucial for understanding neuronal functions like exocytosis.

    Area of Science:

    • Cell biology
    • Neuroscience
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+) regulate numerous cellular processes, including neurotransmitter release.
    • Precisely controlling and measuring intracellular Ca2+ dynamics is essential for understanding these processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe the methodology of Ca2+ uncaging for controlled intracellular Ca2+ elevation.
    • To enable direct correlation between Ca2+ signals and cellular responses like transmitter release.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilizing photolyzable Ca2+ chelators (e.g., DM-nitrophen) introduced via whole-cell patch-clamp.
    • Employing a brief light pulse to photolyze the chelator, causing a rapid Ca2+ increase.
    • Measuring the resulting intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+)]i) using ratiometric fluorescent indicators (e.g., Fura-2).

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    Main Results:

    • Ca2+ uncaging generates a spatially homogenous and measurable elevation of [Ca2+)]i.
    • This allows for direct quantification of the relationship between [Ca2+)]i and the rate of transmitter release.
    • Accurate calibration of fluorescent indicators in the presence of the chelator is critical for quantitative measurements.

    Conclusions:

    • Ca2+ uncaging is a powerful technique for studying Ca2+-dependent cellular functions in excitable cells.
    • It provides direct insights into processes such as neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and membrane trafficking.