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Compartmentalized signalling: Ca 2+ compartments, microdomains and the many facets of Ca 2+ signalling
Author(s) -
Laude Alex J.,
Simpson Alec W. M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.06927.x
Subject(s) - organelle , signalling , calcium signaling , function (biology) , chemistry , biophysics , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , signal transduction
Ca 2+ regulates a multitude of cellular processes and does so by partitioning its actions in space and time. In this review, we discuss how Ca 2+ responses are constructed from small quantal (elementary) events that have the potential to propagate to produce large pan‐cellular responses. We review how Ca 2+ is compartmentalized both physically and functionally, and describe how each organelle has its own distinct Ca 2+ ‐handling properties. We explain how coordination of the movement of Ca 2+ between organelles is used to shape and hone Ca 2+ signals. Finally, we provide a number of specific examples of where compartmentation and localization of Ca 2+ are crucial to cell function.