signaling molecules involving Ca2+

Question 1

is cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration higher or lower than the extracellular concentration?

Answer 1

• cytoplasmic CA2+ conc. is lower than the extracellular concentration

Question 2

How is the concentration gradient of Ca2+ maintained

Answer 2

• calcium pumps

Question 3

What is one protein that responds to a change int he Ca2+ concentration gradient?

Answer 3

calmodulin
- Ca2+ binding protein helps modulate targets like calcium pumps and channels

Question 4

what happens to the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration when there is a sustained receptor-lingand interaction?

Answer 4

• influxes are still short lived
• Ca influx is tightly controlled so if the interaction is sustained, it will just continue to peak and drop
• other pumps will keep pushing it out