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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
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Spatial Ca2+ profiling: decrypting the universal cytosolic Ca2+ oscillation
Krishna Samanta1, Anant B Parekh1
1Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK.
The Journal of Physiology
|November 19, 2016
Summary
Calcium (Ca2+) oscillations, triggered by cell surface receptors, encode signals not just in spike timing but also in spatial patterns. This spatial signaling near membrane channels enhances cellular communication.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biochemistry
- Signal transduction
Background:
- Cell surface receptor stimulation triggers phospholipase C, producing inositol trisphosphate.
- Inositol trisphosphate generates oscillations in cytosolic calcium (Ca2+), a key second messenger.
- Calcium signaling information is encoded in amplitude and frequency of Ca2+ spikes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of spatial profiles in calcium (Ca2+) oscillations.
- To explore how spatial patterns of Ca2+ signaling contribute to information transduction.
- To understand the significance of Ca2+ microdomains in cellular communication.
Main Methods:
- Stimulation of cell-surface receptors coupled to phospholipase C.
- Monitoring cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations.
- Analysis of spatial patterns of Ca2+ signaling.
Main Results:
- Calcium (Ca2+) oscillations exhibit spatial profiles that encode signaling information.
- Distinct Ca2+ microdomains near CRAC and IP3-gated channels signal to specific downstream targets.
- Spatial profiling enhances the transduction power of Ca2+ oscillations.
Conclusions:
- The spatial dimension of calcium (Ca2+) oscillations is a critical component of cellular signaling.
- Spatial Ca2+ microdomains provide targeted signaling to distinct downstream effectors.
- Understanding spatial Ca2+ dynamics deepens our knowledge of cellular communication.
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