title: Ryanodine receptors: structure and macromolecular interactions.
abstract: Ryanodine receptors (RyRs), a class of intracellular calcium release channels, are the largest ion channels known. Recently, cryoelectron microscopy and image reconstructions of isolated receptors have shown that most of the protein mass forms a porous, multidomain cytoplasmic assembly. Evidence is mounting that suggests that the cytoplasmic assembly communicates with the transmembrane regions over distances of 100  or greater. RyRs are centrally important in excitation-contraction coupling, which occurs at specialized regions where the sarcoplasmic reticulum, containing the RyRs, and the plasma membrane/transverse-tubule system form junctions. Numerous proteins are present at these junctions, some of which interact directly with the RyR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health and Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA. Terry@orkney.ph.albany.edu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wagenknecht
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radermacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005615:Freezing; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel