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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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Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

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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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Endocrine Signaling01:45

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Endocrine cells produce hormones to communicate with remote target cells found in other organs. The hormone reaches these distant areas using the circulatory system. This exposes the whole organism to the hormone but only those cells expressing hormone receptors or target cells are affected. Thus, endocrine signaling induces slow responses from its target cells but these effects also last longer.
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Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers01:15

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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...
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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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Regulation of Sodium and Potassium01:26

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The regulation of sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the human body is a complex process governed primarily by hormones such as aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).
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Fluorescent Calcium Imaging and Subsequent In Situ Hybridization for Neuronal Precursor Characterization in Xenopus laevis
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Crosslink between calcium and sodium signalling.

Alexei Verkhratsky1,2, Mohamed Trebak3, Fabiana Perocchi4,5

  • 1Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Experimental Physiology
|December 7, 2017
PubMed
Summary

This review details the crucial links between calcium (Ca2+) and sodium (Na+) signaling pathways. It highlights molecular mechanisms and functional consequences for cellular processes, particularly in the central nervous system.

Keywords:
Ca2+ signallingNa+ signallingNa+-Ca2+ exchangerastrocytesmitochondriamitochondrial calcium uniporterneuropathologytransient receptor potential channels

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Area of Science:

  • Cellular Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Ionic gradients are essential for cellular function, generating signals that regulate cellular processes.
  • Cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) and sodium (Na+) signaling are intricately linked via molecular pathways controlling ion fluxes.
  • These ionic dynamics are fundamental to cellular function and communication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To overview the molecular mechanisms linking Na+ and Ca2+ dynamics in various cell types.
  • To highlight the general importance of ionic signaling in cellular regulation.
  • To discuss the functional consequences of Ca2+ and Na+ signaling in neuronal and astroglial pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on ionic signaling pathways.
  • Focus on molecular physiology of plasmalemmal and mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ exchangers.
  • Analysis of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and mitochondrial ion transport.

Main Results:

  • Ca2+ and Na+ signaling are tightly coordinated through molecular pathways.
  • Plasmalemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchangers (NCX) regulate ion flux and membrane potential.
  • Mitochondrial channels (MCU, NCLX) link cytosolic ion fluctuations with cellular energetics.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular Ca2+ and Na+ signaling control numerous cellular responses.
  • In the CNS, these signals regulate astroglial homeostatic cascades vital for synaptic transmission.
  • Understanding these ionic links is crucial for comprehending neuronal function and energy metabolism.