Electromagnetic Fields and Calcium Signaling by the Voltage Dependent Anion Channel

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can interact with biological tissues exerting positive as well as negative effects on cell viability, but the underlying sensing and signaling mechanisms are largely unknown. So far in excitable cells EMF exposure was postulated to cause Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent Ca channels (VDCC) leading to cell activation and an antioxidant response. Upon further activation oxidative stress causing DNA damage or cell death may follow. Here we report collected evidence from literature that voltage dependent anion channels (VDAC) located not only in the outer microsomal membrane but also in the cytoplasmic membrane convert to Ca2+ conducting channels of varying capacities upon subtle changes of the applied EMF even in non-excitable cells like erythrocytes. Thus, VDAC can be targeted by external EMF in both types of membranes to release Ca2+ into the cytosol. The role of frequency, pulse modulation or polarization remains to be investigated in suitable cellular models. VDACs are associated with several other proteins, among which the 18 kDa translocator (TSPO) is of specific interest since it was characterized as the central benzodiazepine receptor in neurons. Exhibiting structural similarities with magnetoreceptors we propose that TSPO could sense the magnetic component of the EMF and thus together with VDAC could trigger physiological as well as pathological cellular responses. Pulsed EMFs in the frequency range of the brain-wave communication network may explain psychic disturbances of electromagnetic hypersensitive persons. An important support is provided from human psychology that states deficits like insomnia, anxiety or depression can be treated with diazepines that indicates apparent connections between the TSPO/VDAC complex and organismic responses to EMF.

New insights into store-independent Ca^(2+) entry: secretory pathway calcium ATPase 2 in normal physiology and cancer

Recent studies in secretory pathway calcium ATPases （SPCA） revealed novel functions of SPCA2 in interacting with store-operated Ca2＋ channel Oral I and inducing Ca2＋ influx at the cell surface. Importantly, SPCA2-mediated Ca2＋ signaling is uncoupled from its conventional role of Ca2＋-ATPase and independent of store-operated Ca2＋ signaling pathway. SPCA2-induced store-independent Ca2＋ entry （SICE） plays essential roles in many important physiological processes, while unbalanced SICE leads to enhanced cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Finally, we have summarized the clinical implication of SICE in oral cancer prognosis and treatment. Inhibition of SICE may be a new target for the development of cancer therapeutics.

Structure, biochemical function, and signaling mechanism of plant NLRs

To counter pathogen invasion,plants have evolved a large number of immune receptors,including membrane-resident pattern recognition receptors(PRRs)and intracellular nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat receptors(NLRs).Our knowledge about PRR and NLR signaling mechanisms has expanded significantly over the past few years.Plant NLRs form multi-protein complexes called resistosomes in response to pathogen effectors,and the signaling mediated by NLR resistosomes converges on Ca2+-permeable channels.Ca2+-permeable channels important for PRR signaling have also been identified.These findings highlight a crucial role of Ca2+in triggering plant immune signaling.In this review,we first discuss the structural and biochemical mechanisms of non-canonical NLR Ca2+channels and then summarize our knowledge about immune-related Ca2+-permeable channels and their roles in PRR and NLR signaling.We also discuss the potential role of Ca2+in the intricate interaction between PRR and NLR signaling.

The calcium sensing receptor: from calcium sensing to signaling

The Ca2+-sensing receptor(the Ca SR),a G-protein-coupled receptor,regulates Ca2+ homeostasis in the body by monitoring extracellular levels of Ca2+([Ca2+]o) and responding to a diverse array of stimuli.Mutations in the Ca2+-sensing receptor result in hypercalcemic or hypocalcemic disorders,such as familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia,neonatal severe primary hyperparathyroidism,and autosomal dominant hypocalcemic hypercalciuria.Compelling evidence suggests that the Ca SR plays multiple roles extending well beyond not only regulating the level of extracellular Ca2+ in the human body,but also controlling a diverse range of biological processes.In this review,we focus on the structural biology of the Ca SR,the ligand interaction sites as well as their relevance to the disease associated mutations.This systematic summary will provide a comprehensive exploration of how the Ca SR integrates extracellular Ca2+ into intracellular Ca2+ signaling.

Plant Sensing and Signaling in Response to K＋-Deficiency

Potassium （K＋） is one of the essential macronutrients for plant growth and development. However, K＋ content in soils is usually limited so that the crop yields are restricted. Plants may adapt to K＋-deficient environment by adjusting their physiological and morphological status, indicating that plants may have evolved their sensing and signaling mechanisms in response to K＋-deficiency. This short review particularly discusses some components as possible sensors or signal transducers involved in plant sensing and signaling in response to K＋-deficiency, such as K＋ channels and transporters, H＋-ATPase, some cytoplasmic enzymes, etc. Possible involvement of Ca2＋ and ROS signals in plant responses to K＋-deficiency is also discussed.

Ca^(2+) signalling in cardiovascular disease:the role of the plasma membrane calcium pumps

The plasma membrane calcium ATPases(PMCA) are a family of genes which extrude Ca2+from the cell and are involved in the maintenance of intracellular free calcium levels and/or with Ca2+signalling,depending on the cell type.In the cardiovascular system,Ca2+ is not only essential for contraction and relaxation but also has a vital role as a second messenger in signal transduction pathways.A complex array of mechanisms regulate intracellular free calcium levels in the heart and vasculature and a failure in these systems to maintain normal Ca2+homeostasis has been linked to both heart failure and hypertension.This article focuses on the functions of PMCA,in particular isoform 4(PMCA4) ,in the heart and vasculature and the reported links between PMCAs and contractile function,cardiac hypertrophy,cardiac rhythm and sudden cardiac death,and blood pressure control and hypertension.It is becoming clear that this family of calcium extrusion pumps have essential roles in both cardiovascular health and disease.

Expression and reconstitution of the bioluminescent Ca2+reporter aequorin in human embryonic stem cells,and exploration of the presence of functional IP3 and ryanodine receptors during the early stages of their differentiation into cardiomyocytes

In order to develop a novel method of visualizing possible Ca2＋ signaling during the early differentiation of hESCs into cardi- omyocytes and avoid some of the inherent problems associated with using fluorescent reporters, we expressed the biolumines- cent Ca2＋ reporter, apo-aequorin, in HES2 cells and then reconstituted active holo-aequorin by incubation withf-coelenterazine. The temporal nature of the Ca2＋ signals generated by the holo-f-aequorin-expressing HES2 cells during the earliest stages of differentiation into cardiomyocytes was then investigated. Our data show that no endogenous Ca2＋ transients （generated by re- lease from intracellular stores） were detected in 1-12-day-old cardiospheres but transients were generated in cardiospheres following stimulation with KC1 or CaC12, indicating that holo-f-aequorin was functional in these cells. Furthermore, following the addition of exogenous ATP, an inositol trisphosphate receptor （IP3R） agonist, small Ca2＋transients were generated from day 1 onward. That ATP was inducing Ca2＋ release from functional IP3Rs was demonstrated by treatment with 2-APB, a known IP3R antagonist. In contrast, following treatment with caffeine, a ryanodine receptor （RyR） agonist, a minima/Ca2＋ response was observed at day 8 of differentiation only. Thus, our data indicate that unlike RyRs, IP3Rs are present and continually functional at these early stages of cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Canonical transient receptor potential 4 and its small molecule modulators

Canonical transient receptor potential 4(TRPC4) forms non-selective cation channels that contribute to phospholipase C-dependent Ca2+ entry into cells following stimulation of G protein coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases.Moreover,the channels are regulated by pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o proteins,lipids,and various other signaling mechanisms.TRPC4-containing channels participate in the regulation of a variety of physiological functions,including excitability of both gastrointestinal smooth muscles and brain neurons.This review is to present recent advances in the understanding of physiology and development of small molecular modulators of TRPC4 channels.

IP3R-mediated Ca2＋ signals govern hematopoietic and cardiac divergence of Flk1＋ cells via the calcineurin-N FATc3-Etv2 pathway

Ca2＋ signals participate in various cellular processes with spatial and temporal dynamics, among which, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors （IP3Rs）-mediated Ca2＋ signals are essential for early development. However, the underlying mechanisms of IP3R- regulated cell fate decision remain largely unknown. Here we report that IP3Rs are required for the hematopoietic and cardiac fate divergence of mouse embryonic stem cells （mESCs）. Deletion of IP3Rs （IP3R-tKO） reduced FIkl＋/PDGFRα- hematopoietic mesoderm, c-Kit＋/CD41＋ hematopoietic progenitor ceil population, and the colony-forming unit activity, but increased cardiac progenitor markers as well as cardiomyocytes. Concomitantly, the expression of a key regulator of hematopoiesis, Ely2, was reduced in IP3R-tKO cells, which could be rescued by the activation of Ca2＋ signals and calcineurin or overexpression of constitutively active form of NFATc3. Furthermore, IP3R-tKO impaired specific targeting of Ely2 by NFATc3 via its evolutionarily conserved cis-element in differentiating ESCs. Importantly, the activation of Ca2＋-calcineurin-NFAT pathway reversed the phenotype of IP3R-tKO cells. These findings reveal an unrecognized governing role of IP3Rs in hematopoietic and cardiac fate commitment via IP3Rs-Ca2＋-calcineurin-NFATc3- Etv2 pathway.

Optopharmacological control of TRPC channels by coumarin-caged lipids is associated with a phototoxic membrane effect

Photouncaging of second messengers has been successfully employed to gain mechanistic insight of cellular signaling path- ways. One of the most enigmatic processes of ion channel regulation is lipid recognition and lipid-gating of TRPC channels, which represents pivotal mechanisms of cellular Ca2＋ homeostasis. Recently, optopharmacological tools including caged lipid mediators became available, enabling an unprecedented level of temporal and spatial control of the activating lipid species within a cellular environment. Here we tested a commonly used caged ligand approach for suitability to investigate TRPC sig- naling at the level of membrane conductance and cellular Ca2＋ handling. We report a specific photouncaging artifact that is triggered by the cage structure coumarin at UV illumination. Electrophysiological characterization identified a light-dependent membrane effect of coumarin. UV light （340 nm） as used for photouncaging, initiated a membrane conductance specifically in the presence of coumarin as low as 30 pmol L-1 concentrations. This conductance masked the TRPC3 conductance evoked by photouncaging, while TRPC-mediated cellular Ca2＋ responses were largely preserved. The observed light-induced membrane effects of the released caging moiety may well interfere with certain cellular functions, and prompt caution in using couma- fin-caged second messengers in cellular studies.

Plant abiotic stress response and nutrient use efficiency

Abiotic stresses and soil nutrient limitations are major environmental conditions that reduce plant growth,productivity and quality.Plants have evolved mechanisms to perceive these environmental challenges,transmit the stress signals within cells as well as between cells and tissues,and make appropriate adjustments in their growth and development in order to survive and reproduce.In recent years,significant progress has been made on many fronts of the stress signaling research,particularly in understanding the downstream signaling events that culminate at the activation of stress-and nutrient limitation-responsive genes,cellular ion homeostasis,and growth adjustment.However,the revelation of the early events of stress signaling,particularly the identification of primary stress sensors,still lags behind.In this review,we summarize recent work on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of plant abiotic stress and nutrient limitation sensing and signaling and discuss new directions for future studies.

Membrane protein reconstitution for functional and structural studies

Membrane proteins are involved in various critical biological processes,and studying membrane proteins represents a major challenge in protein biochemistry.As shown by both structural and functional studies,the membrane environment plays an essential role for membrane proteins.In vitro studies are reliant on the successful reconstitution of membrane proteins.This review describes the interaction between detergents and lipids that aids the understanding of the reconstitution processes.Then the techniques of detergent removal and a few useful techniques to refine the formed proteoliposomes are reviewed.Finally the applications of reconstitution techniques to study membrane proteins involved in Ca2+ signaling are summarized.

Mitochondrial superoxide anions induced by exogenous oxidative stress determine tumor cell fate: an individual cell-based study

Objective: Reactive oxygen species(ROS) are involved in a variety of biological phenomena and serve both deleterious and beneficial roles. ROS quantification and assessment of reaction networks are desirable but difficult because of their short half-life and high reactivity. Here, we describe a pro-oxidative model in a single human lung carcinoma SPC-A-1 cell that was created by application of extracellular H2O2 stimuli. Methods: Modified microfluidics and imaging techniques were used to determine O2·- levels and construct an O2^·- reaction network. To elucidate the consequences of increased O2^·- input, the mitochondria were given a central role in the oxidative stress mode, by manipulating mitochondria-interrelated cytosolic Ca2+ levels, mitochondrial Ca^2+ uptake, auto-amplification of intracellular ROS and the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Results and conclusions: Results from a modified microchip demonstrated that 1 mmol/L H·-2 O2 induced a rapid increase in cellular O2 levels(>27 vs.>406 amol in 20 min), leading to increased cellular oxidizing power(evaluated by ROS levels) and decreased reducing power(evaluated by glutathione(GSH) levels). In addition, we examined the dynamics of cytosolic Ca^2+ and mitochondrial Ca^2+ by confocal laser scanning microscopy and confirmed that Ca^2+ stores in the endoplasmic reticulum were the primary source of H2O2-induced cytosolic Ca^2+ bursts. It is clear that mitochondria have pivotal roles in determining how exogenous oxidative stress affects cell fate. The stress response involves the transfer of Ca^2+ signals between organelles,ROS auto-amplification, mitochondrial dysfunction, and a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway.