Local Regulation of L‐Type Ca2+ Channel Sparklets in Arterial Smooth Muscle

MF Navedo, GC Amberg - Microcirculation, 2013 - Wiley Online Library
Microcirculation, 2013Wiley Online Library
This review addresses the latest advances in our understanding of the regulation of a novel
Ca2+ signal called L‐type Ca2+ channel sparklets in arterial smooth muscle. L‐type Ca2+
channel sparklets are elementary Ca2+ influx events produced by the opening of a single or
a small cluster of L‐type Ca2+ channels. These Ca2+ signals were first visualized in the
vasculature in arterial smooth muscle cells. In these cells, L‐type Ca2+ channel sparklets
display two functionally distinct gating modalities that regulate local and global [Ca2+] i. The …
Abstract
This review addresses the latest advances in our understanding of the regulation of a novel Ca2+ signal called L‐type Ca2+ channel sparklets in arterial smooth muscle. L‐type Ca2+ channel sparklets are elementary Ca2+ influx events produced by the opening of a single or a small cluster of L‐type Ca2+ channels. These Ca2+ signals were first visualized in the vasculature in arterial smooth muscle cells. In these cells, L‐type Ca2+ channel sparklets display two functionally distinct gating modalities that regulate local and global [Ca2+]i. The activity of L‐type Ca2+ channel sparklets varies regionally within a cell depending on the dynamic activity of a cohort of protein kinases and phosphatases recruited to L‐type Ca2+ channels in the arterial smooth muscle sarcolemma in a complex coordinated by the scaffolding molecule AKAP150. We also described a mechanism whereby clusters of L‐type Ca2+ channels gate cooperatively to amplify intracellular Ca2+ signals with likely pathological consequences.
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