title: Crosstalk between cellular morphology and calcium oscillation patterns. Insights from a stochastic computer model.
abstract: Agonist-induced oscillations in the concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) display a wide variety of temporal and spatial patterns. In non-excitable cells, typical oscillatory patterns are somewhat cell-type specific and range from frequency-encoded, repetitive Ca2+ spikes to oscillations that are more sinusoidal in shape. Although the response of a cell population, even to the same stimulus, is often extremely heterogeneous, the response of the same cell to successive exposures can be remarkably similar. We propose that such "Ca2+ fingerprints' can be a consequence of cell-specific morphological properties. The hypothesis is tested by means of a stochastic computer simulation of a two-dimensional model for oscillatory Ca2+ waves which encompasses the basic elements of the two-pool oscillator introduced by Goldbeter et al. (Goldbeter A., Dupont G., Berridge M.J. Minimal model for signal-induced Ca(2+)-oscillations and for their frequency encoding through protein phosphorylation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1990; 87: 1461-1465). In the framework of our extended spatiotemporal model, single cells can display various oscillation patterns which depend on the agonist dose, Ca2+ diffusibility, and several morphological parameters. These are, for example, size and shape of the cell and the cell nucleus, the amount and distribution of Ca2+ stores, and the subcellular location of the inositol(1,4,5)-trisphosphate-generating apparatus.
authors.affiliation: AG Medizinische Physik und Elektronenmikroskopie, Institut für Immunbiologie der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D002118:Calcium