Editorial Material
Biophysics
Charlotte E. R. Smith, Eleonora Grandi
Summary: Recent studies have shed light on the spatiotemporal regulation of intracellular Ca2+ release and signaling in the heart. This research highlight focuses on the latest findings in Biophysical Journal, examining the structure of Ca2+ handling proteins and assessing their functional role in both health and disease. These studies pave the way for future investigations and understanding of Ca2+ signaling in the heart.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shamit Kumar, Tusar Kanta Acharya, Ramizur Rahaman Halder, Parnasree Mahapatra, Young-Tae Chang, Chandan Goswami
Summary: Menthol is a bioactive compound that causes various physiological changes, and its cellular and subcellular effects are still poorly understood. In this study, the effects of menthol on mitochondrial metabolism were characterized. Menthol regulates mitochondrial Ca2+, ATP, superoxides, cardiolipin, membrane potential, and ER-mito contact sites. Additionally, menthol acts as a cooling agent for mitochondria and protects against mitochondrial damage from certain toxins. These findings suggest that menthol could be used as a supplementary agent for anti-aging, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory purposes where higher mitochondrial temperature is prevalent.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matteo Moschetta, Tiziana Ravasenga, Antonio De Fusco, Luca Maragliano, Davide Aprile, Marta Orlando, Silvio Sacchetti, Silvia Casagrande, Gabriele Lignani, Anna Fassio, Pietro Baldelli, Fabio Benfenati
Summary: The study reveals that Synapsin I acts as a novel Ca2+ buffer in excitatory terminals, and blocking its binding to Ca2+ leads to abnormal neurotransmitter release and short-term plasticity. This finding sheds light on the physiological role of Ca2+ binding to SynI in the regulation of SV clustering and trafficking in nerve terminals.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paula Maria Heister, Trevor Powell, Antony Galione
Summary: Insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells is associated with highly localized intracellular Ca2+ signals, which may be influenced by global Ca2+ signals and SERCA-based sequestration mechanisms. Previous work has demonstrated the importance of NAADP-induced Ca2+ release in stimulus-secretion coupling in beta-cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hyun-Bum Kim, Jacqueline Morris, Kevin Miyashiro, Tonis Lehto, Ulo Langel, James Eberwine, Jai-Yoon Sul
Summary: The research found that astrocytes can generate a stronger calcium signal response after acute ethanol exposure, primarily influenced by neuronally-derived purinergic signaling. Astrocytes adapt to the effects of ethanol by modulating the activity of adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C, highlighting their important role in shaping the overall physiological responsiveness to ethanol.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinhe Yang, Shuai Chen, Shuo Zhang, Sai Shi, Rui Zong, Yiting Gao, Bingcai Guan, Nikita Gamper, Haixia Gao
Summary: Zinc serves as a cofactor for numerous enzymes, transcription factors, receptors, and other proteins. It acts as an important signaling molecule and can activate Kv7 channels, protecting neurons from overactivity.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin K. O'Hare, Kevin C. Gonzalez, Stephanie A. Herrlinger, Yusuke Hirabayashi, Victoria L. Hewitt, Heike Blockus, Miklos Szoboszlay, Sebi Rolotti, Tristan C. Geiller, Adrian Negrean, Vikas Chelur, Franck Polleux, Attila Losonczy
Summary: This study reveals the important role of intracellular calcium release in shaping dendritic feature selectivity and output-level receptive fields, particularly in apical dendrites.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ritu Dwivedi, Bernard T. Drumm, Tuleen Alkawadri, S. Lorraine Martin, Gerard P. Sergeant, Mark A. Hollywood, Keith D. Thornbury
Summary: We investigated the effects of TMEM16A blockers on isometric contractions in mouse bronchial rings and intracellular calcium in bronchial myocytes. We found that benzbromarone and MONNA caused intracellular calcium release, resulting in a reduction of carbachol-induced contractions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chin-Min Chuang, Cing-Yu Chen, Pao-Sheng Yen, Cheng-Hsun Wu, Lian-Ru Shiao, Kar-Lok Wong, Paul Chan, Yuk-Man Leung
Summary: Propofol induces Ca2+ release and inhibits Ca2+ clearance in human endothelial cells, leading to the release of pain mediators and potential pain sensation.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Xin-Shen Wu, Shobana Subramanian, Yalan Zhang, Bo Shi, Jessica Xia, Tiansheng Li, Xiaoli Guo, Lynda El-Hassar, Klara Szigeti-Buck, Jorge Henao-Mejia, Richard A. Flavell, Tamas L. Horvath, Elizabeth A. Jonas, Leonard K. Kaczmarek, Ling-Gang Wu
Summary: Potassium channels play a crucial role in endocytosis and vesicle mobilization by organizing the F-actin cytoskeleton, in addition to their traditional role in ion conductance. Mutations in potassium channels that impair these non-conducting functions may contribute to various neurological disorders.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Margherita Barbetti, Rocchina Vilella, Valeria Naponelli, Iolanda Bilotti, Martina Magistrati, Cristina Dallabona, Donald Ielpo, Diego Andolina, Andrea Sgoifo, Monia Savi, Luca Carnevali
Summary: The impact of psychosocial stressors on cardiovascular health in women has gained attention, but studies in this area are lacking. This study used a rodent model to investigate the effects of social defeat stress on cardiac function and Ca2+ homeostasis in female rats. The results showed that social stress impaired cardiomyocyte function and Ca2+ dynamics, which may increase vulnerability to cardiovascular risk.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xiaohui Wang, Xiaoli Cui, Yang Li, Fei Li, Yue Li, Jinye Dai, Han Hu, Xuefeng Wang, Jianyuan Sun, Yan Yang, Shuli Zhang
Summary: This study reveals that melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) plays a crucial role in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis. By modifying the phosphorylation of AMPAR GluA1 subunit through the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent signaling cascade, MC4R knockdown (KD) is able to attenuate AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated synaptic responses and lead to rapid body weight gain. The reduction of AMPAR GluA1 expression not only weakens synaptic responses but also causes body weight gain, suggesting that synaptic response aberration may contribute to obesity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claude Collet, Mercedes Charreton, Laszlo Szabo, Marianna Takacs, Laszlo Csernoch, Peter Szentesi
Summary: Calcium sparks in honey bee skeletal muscle cells show higher frequency and larger spatial spread compared to vertebrates, with both sparks and embers present. The differences in spark amplitudes between honey bees and vertebrates may be related to genomic and excitation-contraction coupling specificities. The characterization of calcium release events in an arthropod like honey bees, with distinct genomic, ultrastructural, and physiological features, may contribute to a better understanding of calcium homeostasis in invertebrate cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kanishka Basnayake, David Mazaud, Lilia Kushnireva, Alexis Bemelmans, Nathalie Rouach, Eduard Korkotian, David Holcman
Summary: The study reveals that replenishment of dendritic spines involves store-operated calcium entry pathway. Key conditions for replenishment without depletion include small amplitude and slow timescale of calcium influx, as well as close proximity between the spine apparatus and plasma membranes. The nanoscale organization of dendritic spines separates replenishment from depletion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fushun Wang, Wei Wang, Simeng Gu, Dan Qi, Nathan A. Smith, Weiguo Peng, Wei Dong, Jiajin Yuan, Binbin Zhao, Ying Mao, Peng Cao, Qing Richard Lu, Lee A. Shapiro, S. Stephen Yi, Erxi Wu, Jason H. Huang
Summary: The researchers discovered two distinct astrocytic Ca2+ signals in the mouse barrel cortex, which play different roles in modulating sensory transmission during sleep and arousal states.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)