Structural and functional aspects of calcium homeostasis in eukaryotic cells.
The maintenance of a low cytosolic free-Ca2+ concentration, ([Ca2+]i) is a common feature of all eukaryotic cells. For this purpose a variety of mechanisms have developed during evolution to ensure the buffering of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm, its extrusion from the cell and/or its accumulation within organelles. Opening of plasma membrane channels or release of Ca2+ from intracellular pools leads to elevation of [Ca2+]i; as a result, Ca2+ binds to cytosolic proteins which translate the changes in [Ca2+]i into activation of a number of key cellular functions. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of the structural and functional characteristics of the various components of [Ca2+]i homeostasis in eukaryotes.
Pietrobon
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Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Unit for the Study of the Physiology of Mitochondria, University of Padova, Italy.
Di Virgilio
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F
Pozzan
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T
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism
D002118:Calcium