Molecular Biochemistry I

Ca⁺⁺ Signals

Reading:

Textbook Reading: Biochemistry, 3rd Edition, by Voet & Voet, p. 642-644.

Some recent articles (optional reading): 
S. W. Vetter & E. Leclerc (2003) "Novel aspects of calmodulin target recognition and activation," Eur. J. Biochem. 270: 404-414.
M. G. Berridge, M. D. Bootman & H. L. Roderick (2003) "Calcium signalling: dynamics, homeostasis and remodelling," Nature Rev. Molec. Cell Biol. 4: 517-529.
A. F. Dulhunty & P. Pouliquin (2003) "What we don't know about the structure of ryanodine receptor calcium release channels," Clinical & Experimental Pharm. & Physiol. 30: 713-723.
Z. Liu, J. Zhang, R. Wang, S. R. W. Chen, & T. Wagenknecht (2004) "Location of divergent region 2 on the three-dimensional structure of cardiac muscle ryanodine receptor/calcium release channel," J. Mol Biol. 338: 533-545.
C. W. Taylor, P. C. A. da Fonseca & E. P. Morris (2004) "IP₃ receptors: the search for structure," Trends in Biochem. Sci. 29: 210-219.
E. Carafoli (2004) "Calcium-mediated cellular signals: a story of failures," Trends in Biochem. Sci. 29: 371-379.
G. Meissner (2004) "Molecular regulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor ion channel," Cell Calcium 35: 621-628.
H. Zou, L. M. Lifshitz, R. A. Tuft, K. E. Fogarty & J. J. Singer (2004) "Imaging calcium entering the cytosol through a single opening of plasma membrane ion channels: SCCaFTs - fundamental calcium events," Cell Calcium 35: 523-533.
X. H. T. Wehrens, S. E. Lehnart & A. R. Marks (2005) "Intracellular calcium release and cardiac disease," Annu. Rev. Physiol. 67: 69-98.
R. L. Patterson, D. Boehning & S. H. Snyder (2004) "Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors as signal integrators," Annu. Rev. Biochem. 73: 437-465.
S. J. Ludtke, I. I. Serysheva, S. L. Hamilton & W. Chiu (2005) "The pore structure of the closed RyR1 channel," Structure 13: 1203-1211.
R. L. Patterson, D. B. van Rossum, N. Nikolaidis, D. L. Gill & S. H. Snyder (2005) "Phospholipase C-g: diverse roles in receptor-mediated calcium signaling," Trends in Biochem. Sci. 30: 688-697.
K. Mikoshiba (2006) "Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) receptors and their role in neuronal cell function," J. Neurochem. 97: 1627-1633.
B. Devogelaere, L. Verbert, J. B. Parys, L. Missiaen & H. De Smedt (2007) "The complex regulatory function of the ligand-binding domain of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor," Cell Calcium.

Potential Test Question:

a. Describe the overall structure of calmodulin. Diagram and describe in detail the structure and composition of one of calmodulin's Ca⁺⁺-binding sites. What conformation of calmodulin is promoted by Ca⁺⁺ binding in the presence of a target peptide?
b. What is the effect of increased production of IP₃ (inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate) within a cell? What processes contribute to the turning off of an IP₃-activated Ca⁺⁺ signal?

Copyright © 1998-2007 by Joyce J. Diwan. All rights reserved.

Lecture notes on Calcium Signals

Interactive Quiz on     Ca++ Signals