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Expression and function of ryanodine receptors in nonexcitable cells
D L Bennett1, T R Cheek, M J Berridge
1Babraham Institute Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. d1b15@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|March 15, 1996
Summary
Ryanodine receptors are found in excitable cells like muscle and brain, and also in some nonexcitable cells. These receptors may play a subtle role in regulating intracellular calcium signaling.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ryanodine receptors are intracellular calcium channels crucial for excitation-contraction coupling in muscle.
- Their expression and function in nonexcitable cells remain less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) across diverse excitable and nonexcitable cell types.
- To explore the functional role of RyRs in calcium signaling within nonexcitable cells.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for gene expression analysis.
- [3H]ryanodine binding assays to confirm protein expression.
- Single-cell Fura-2 imaging for calcium (Ca2+) signaling studies.
Main Results:
- RyR expression confirmed in brain, heart, skeletal muscle, PC12, and A7r5 cells.
- Differentiated muscle cell lines showed strong expression of RyR isoforms 1 and 3.
- RyRs were detected in HeLa and LLC-PK1 cells, but not in most other nonexcitable cell types.
- In HeLa cells, ryanodine did not elevate Ca2+ but decreased the amplitude of ATP-evoked Ca2+ signals.
Conclusions:
- Ryanodine receptors are expressed in a subset of nonexcitable cells.
- RyRs may contribute to the nuanced regulation of intracellular calcium dynamics in these cells.