Physiological regulation and the role of calcium transporters
摘要
Signalling of calcium ions is vital for the normal physiology and survival of cells. Membrane bound organelles like the mitochondria and many other cell-bound proteins and receptors play significant roles in regulating intracellular calcium levels thus maintaining homeostasis of the external and internal cell environments. The regulation of cellular calcium levels is necessary because more or less readings result in detrimental consequences even as grave as cell death. In this review, we consider several families of calcium transporters, some that allow its entry into the cell and others that regulate its efflux from the cell when intracellular levels are abnormal. The TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM7, calcitonin receptor, calcium sensitive receptor, G-Protein coupled receptors, mitochondrial calcium transporters, calcium uniporter channels, SERCA and PERCA are discussed in details.