title: Optimal ion channel clustering for intracellular calcium signaling.
abstract: Ion channels and receptors in the cell membranes and internal membranes are often distributed in discrete clusters. One particularly well-studied example is the distribution of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors in the plasma membrane that controls the flux of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol. By using mathematical modeling, we show that channel clustering can enhance the cell's Ca2+ signaling capability. Furthermore, we predict optimal signaling cellular capability at cluster sizes and distances that agree with experimentally found values in Xenopus oocyte.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy and Quantitative Biology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. shuai@helios.phy.ohiou.edu
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shuai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D007473:Ion Channels; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D002118:Calcium