Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

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,...

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential....

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

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...

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers

Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium ions are essential to contract smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. They enter these cells through voltage-dependent calcium channels, specifically L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane. These L-type calcium channels are integral to the excitation-contraction coupling process in smooth muscle. When a stimulus is received by smooth muscle cells, their membrane depolarizes. This alteration in membrane potential instigates the opening of L-type calcium channels. As a result,...

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only when a ligand attaches to the binding site.
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A Role for the V0 Sector of the V-ATPase in Neuroexocytosis: Exogenous V0d Blocks Complexin and SNARE Interactions with V0c.

Cells·2023

Same author

Neural activity selects myosin IIB and VI with a specific time window in distinct dynamin isoform-mediated synaptic vesicle reuse pathways.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2015

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Live Cell Calcium Imaging Combined with siRNA Mediated Gene Silencing Identifies Ca2+ Leak Channels in the ER Membrane and their Regulatory Mechanisms

Live Cell Calcium Imaging Combined with siRNA Mediated Gene Silencing Identifies Ca2+ Leak Channels in the ER Membrane and their Regulatory Mechanisms

Published on: July 7, 2011

Calcium Channels and Calcium-Binding Proteins.

Sumiko Mochida¹

¹Department of Physiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|September 28, 2023

Summary

Nerve impulse signals trigger organ actions by controlling calcium ion (Ca2+) entry via voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). These channels, classified by voltage sensitivity, are crucial for specific organ functions.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Physiology

Background:

Nerve impulses initiate organ function through excitatory cell activation.
Calcium ion (Ca2+) influx via voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) is essential for this process.
VGCCs are categorized into high- and low-voltage activated types based on their activation thresholds.

Discussion:

The specific expression of VGCC subtypes in different organs suggests specialized roles in regulating organ activity.
Understanding these organ-specific VGCC expressions is key to comprehending physiological control mechanisms.
Investigating the differential functions of high- and low-voltage activated channels provides insight into cellular excitability.

Key Insights:

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) mediate Ca2+ entry essential for nerve impulse transmission and organ activation.

More Related Videos

Pull-down of Calmodulin-binding Proteins

Pull-down of Calmodulin-binding Proteins

Published on: January 23, 2012

Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading TED

Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading TED

Published on: May 7, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Live Cell Calcium Imaging Combined with siRNA Mediated Gene Silencing Identifies Ca2+ Leak Channels in the ER Membrane and their Regulatory Mechanisms

Live Cell Calcium Imaging Combined with siRNA Mediated Gene Silencing Identifies Ca2+ Leak Channels in the ER Membrane and their Regulatory Mechanisms

Published on: July 7, 2011

Pull-down of Calmodulin-binding Proteins

Pull-down of Calmodulin-binding Proteins

Published on: January 23, 2012

Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading TED

Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading TED

Published on: May 7, 2013

Classification of VGCCs into high- and low-voltage activated subtypes highlights distinct biophysical properties.

Organ-specific expression patterns of VGCCs underscore their tailored roles in physiological processes.

Outlook:

Further research into organ-specific VGCCs can reveal novel therapeutic targets for diseases involving organ dysfunction.
Exploring the precise molecular mechanisms underlying VGCC subtype expression will enhance our understanding of cellular excitability.
Investigating the interplay between VGCCs and specific organ functions may lead to advancements in regenerative medicine.