title: Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor regulation during 'quantal' Ca2+ release in smooth muscle.
abstract: Smooth muscle is activated by plasma-membrane-acting agonists that induce inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P(3)] to release Ca(2+) from the intracellular sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) store. Increased concentrations of agonist evoke a concentration-dependent graded release of Ca(2+) in a process called 'quantal' Ca(2+) release. Such a graded release seems to be incompatible with both the finite capacity of the SR store and the positive-feedback Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR)-like process that is operative at Ins(1,4,5)P(3) receptors, which - once activated - might be expected to deplete the entire store. Proposed explanations of quantal release include the existence of multiple stores, each with different sensitivities to Ins(1,4,5)P(3), or Ins(1,4,5)P(3) receptor opening being controlled by the Ca(2+) concentration within the SR. Here, we suggest that the regulation of Ins(1,4,5)P(3) receptors by the Ca(2+) concentration within the SR explains the quantal Ca(2+)-release process and the apparent existence of multiple Ca(2+) stores in smooth muscle.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiology and Pharmacology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 27 Taylor Street, Glasgow G4 0NR, UK. john.mccarron@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McCarron
authors.forename: Marnie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rainbow
authors.forename: Debbi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chalmers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism*; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000502:physiology; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D002118:Calcium