Spiral waves and intracellular calcium signalling.
Confocal imaging of intracellular Ca2+ brings a new level of resolution to the study of hormonal control of intracellular Ca2+ release. This approach has demonstrated the existence of pulsatile circular and spiral waves of Ca+ release induced by receptor activation. The data obtained by confocal imaging support a new framework for understanding intracellular Ca2+ signalling. The goal of this chapter is to review our data on the complexity of intracellular Ca2+ release in Xenopus oocytes, introduce the concept of Ca2+ excitability as a model for Ca2+ release and discuss the implications for encoding intracellular signal information.
Lechleiter
J D
JD
Department of Neuroscience, Markey Center, University of Virginia HSC, Charlottesville 22908.
Clapham
D E
DE
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D002118:Calcium