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Calcium (Ca, atomic number 20) is an abundant alkaline earth metal which exists in living systems as Ca2+ ions. Mobilization of calcium stores within cells is important for physiological processes, including oocyte activation during fertilization. Calcium is also involved in multiple cellular signalling pathways, including synaptic transmission in nerve cells and cell motility.
Annexins are calcium-regulated membrane binding proteins with an array of cellular activities. Here, Gerke et al. describe recent research highlighting the many functions of annexins and provide a view on directions for the future.
MAM Ca2+ dynamics play an important role in diverse biological processes, but directly and specifically measuring Ca2+ concentrations in this region is technically challenging. Here the authors report a MAM-specific BRET-based Ca2+ indicator called MAM-Calflux, which works as both a Ca2+ indicator and a structural marker due to its ratiometric nature.
Bacterial CAX antiporter homolog YfkE can transport Ca2+ and inorganic phosphate (Pi) together in a 1:1 ratio, exchanging them for H+ and becoming a high-flux antiporter when coupled with Pi.
In a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, calcium enters neurons via ‘nanoruptures’ in the cell membrane and accumulates in the cytoplasm of axons, driving axonal degeneration.
