Calcium-binding protein

Calcium-binding proteins are proteins that participate in calcium cell signalling pathways by binding to Ca²⁺.

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The most ubiquitous Ca²⁺-sensing protein, found in all eukaryotic organisms including yeasts, is calmodulin.

Intracellular storage and release of Ca²⁺ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum is associated with the high-capacity, low-affinity calcium-binding protein, calsequestrin.^[1]

With their role in signal transduction, calcium-binding proteins contribute to all aspects of the cell's functioning, from homeostasis to learning and memory.

For example, the neuron-specific calexcitin has been found to have an excitatory effect on neurons, and interacts with proteins that control the firing state of neurons, such as the the voltage-dependent potassium channel.^[2]

See also

• Vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein
• Wikipedia:MeSH_D12.776#MeSH_D12.776.157.125_---_calcium-binding_proteins

References

1. ^ Siegel, George (Ed.). Basic neurochemistry : molecular, cellular and medical aspects. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins / 1999 ISBN 0-397-51820-X
2. ^ Nelson T, Cavallaro S, Yi C, McPhie D, Schreurs B, Gusev P, Favit A, Zohar O, Kim J, Beushausen S, Ascoli G, Olds J, Neve R, Alkon D (1996). "Calexcitin: a signaling protein that binds calcium and GTP, inhibits potassium channels, and enhances membrane excitability". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 93 (24): 13808-13. PMID 8943017.