Biochemistry of calcium oscillations.
Cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) oscillations are vastly flexible cell signals that convey information regulating numerous cellular processes. The frequency and amplitude of the oscillating signal can be varied infinitely by concerted actions of Ca2+ transporters and Ca2+-binding proteins to encode specific messages that trigger downstream molecular events. High frequency cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations regulate fast responses, such as synaptic transmission and secretion, whereas low frequency oscillations regulate slow processes, such as fertilization and gene transcription. Thus, the cell exploits Ca2+ oscillations as a signalling carrier to transduce vital information that controls its behaviour. Here, we review the underlying biochemical mechanisms responsible for generating and discriminating cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations.
Uhlén
Per
P
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden. per.uhlen@ki.se
Fritz
Nicolas
N
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053499:Plasma Membrane Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000378:metabolism
D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D053499:Plasma Membrane Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium