Thirty-six years after the publication of the important article by Busa and Nuccitelli on the variability of intracellular pH (pHi) and the interdependence of pHi and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), little research has been carried out on pHi and calcium signaling. Moreover, the results appear to be contradictory. Some authors claim that the increase in [Ca2+]i is due to a reduction in pHi, others that it is caused by an increase in pHi. The reasons for these conflicting results have not yet been discussed and clarified in an exhaustive manner. The idea that variations in pHi are insignificant, because cellular buffers quickly stabilize the pHi, may be a limiting and fundamentally wrong concept. In fact, it has been shown that protons can move and react in the cell before they are neutralized. Variations in pHi have a remarkable impact on [Ca2+]i and hence on some of the basic biochemical mechanisms of calcium signaling. This paper focuses on the possible triggering role of protons during their short cellular cycle and it suggests a new hypothesis for an IP3 proton dependent mechanism of action.
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February 2021
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In the brain, cocaine exposure results in mitochondrial DNA damage, depletion of ATP and increased oxidative stress, coupled with increased mitochondrial fission. Therapies preventing such bioenergetic impairment may hold promise in mitigating cocaine pathology and addiction. You can read more about this in the review by Thornton and colleagues (pp. 749–764) in this issue. Image provided by Claire Thornton.
Review Article|
February 26 2021
Role of protons in calcium signaling
Giuliano Molinari
;
1Studio Tecnico Ing. Laura Molinari, 37138 Verona, Italy
2Member of IEEE, Piscataway, NJ 08855, U.S.A
Correspondence: Giuliano Molinari (giuliano.molinari@fastwebnet.it)
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Elsa Nervo
Elsa Nervo
3Società Chimica Italiana, 00198 Roma, Italy
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 15 2020
Revision Received:
January 28 2021
Accepted:
February 01 2021
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2021
Biochem J (2021) 478 (4): 895–910.
Article history
Received:
December 15 2020
Revision Received:
January 28 2021
Accepted:
February 01 2021
Citation
Giuliano Molinari, Elsa Nervo; Role of protons in calcium signaling. Biochem J 26 February 2021; 478 (4): 895–910. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20200971
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