Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026

07:51
Pull-down of Calmodulin-binding Proteins
Published on: January 23, 2012
26.0K
The Ca(2+)/Calmodulin/CaMKK2 Axis: Nature's Metabolic CaMshaft
Kathrina L Marcelo1, Anthony R Means2, Brian York2
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|July 25, 2016
Summary
Calcium (Ca2+) and its receptor calmodulin (CaM) activate the Ca2+/CaM kinase (CaMK) cascade, crucial for metabolic regulation. Understanding this axis is key to metabolic homeostasis and disease.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Cellular Signaling
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Calcium (Ca2+) is a vital intracellular messenger.
- Ca2+ binds calmodulin (CaM) to regulate numerous cellular processes.
- Disrupted Ca2+ homeostasis is implicated in metabolic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize recent advances on the Ca2+/CaM kinase (CaMK) axis in metabolic tissues.
- To elucidate the role of Ca2+/CaM-dependent signaling in metabolic homeostasis.
- To understand the contribution of this axis to metabolic disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of recent research.
- Focus on Ca2+/CaM-dependent signaling pathways.
- Analysis of CaMK cascade in key metabolic tissues.
Main Results:
- The Ca2+/CaM kinase (CaMK) cascade amplifies Ca2+ signals via phosphorylation.
- Proper Ca2+ flux regulation is essential for whole-body metabolism.
- The Ca2+/CaM axis plays a significant role in metabolic tissues.
Conclusions:
- The Ca2+/CaM-CaMK signaling pathway is critical for metabolic homeostasis.
- Dysregulation of this axis contributes to metabolic disease development.
- Further understanding of Ca2+/CaM-dependent signaling is essential for metabolic health research.
Related Concept Videos
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
6.9K
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,...
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
6.9K
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
9.1K
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an essential second messenger that activates protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates various biological processes. A single epinephrine molecule binds to GPCR and activates several heterotrimeric G proteins, each stimulating multiple adenylyl cyclase, amplifying the signal, and synthesizing large numbers of cAMP molecules. Small changes in cAMP concentration affect PKA activity. The binding of four cAMP molecules induces a conformational change in PKA,...
9.1K
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers
9.3K
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...
9.3K
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
4.1K
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...
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
4.1K
MAPK Signaling Cascades
9.1K
Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
9.1K
Intracellular Signaling Cascades
54.9K
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...
54.9K

