Ryanodine receptors: structure and macromolecular interactions.
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.
Wagenknecht
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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
Radermacher
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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
D015220:Calcium Channels; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel