Calcium-induced calcium release
Encyclopedia
Calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) is a process whereby calcium
can trigger release of further calcium from the muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. Originally proposed for skeletal muscle
in the 1970s, subsequent research has revealed that it is even more pronounced in the cardiac muscle
. It is now obvious that CICR is a widely occurring cellular signaling process present even in many non-muscle cells e.g. in the insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells and many other cells.
The muscle cell membrane (sarcolemma) contains many ion receptors. One of which is the voltage-gated ion channel DHPR (Dihydropyridine receptor) which allows the entry of calcium ions into the cytosol. The sarcoplasmic reticulum (myocyte version of the endoplasmic reticulum) stores calcium ions. On the sarcoplasmic reticulum there is a receptor called the ryanodine receptor
, which is sensitive to cytosolic calcium ions. The ryanodine receptor(RYR) is a calcium release channel which releases the sarcoplasmic reticulum's(SR) calcium stores. The increase in intracellular Ca2+ ions induces the RYR to release even more Ca2+ from the SR.
The purpose of this mechanism is to release a very small, yet significant, proportion of calcium into the muscle's cytosol. The calcium ions eventually bind to an accessory protein found on the actin filament, which stimulates muscle contraction.
Ca2+ ions are a key component to muscle contraction.
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
can trigger release of further calcium from the muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. Originally proposed for skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle is a form of striated muscle tissue existing under control of the somatic nervous system- i.e. it is voluntarily controlled. It is one of three major muscle types, the others being cardiac and smooth muscle...
in the 1970s, subsequent research has revealed that it is even more pronounced in the cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle is a type of involuntary striated muscle found in the walls and histologic foundation of the heart, specifically the myocardium. Cardiac muscle is one of three major types of muscle, the others being skeletal and smooth muscle...
. It is now obvious that CICR is a widely occurring cellular signaling process present even in many non-muscle cells e.g. in the insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells and many other cells.
The muscle cell membrane (sarcolemma) contains many ion receptors. One of which is the voltage-gated ion channel DHPR (Dihydropyridine receptor) which allows the entry of calcium ions into the cytosol. The sarcoplasmic reticulum (myocyte version of the endoplasmic reticulum) stores calcium ions. On the sarcoplasmic reticulum there is a receptor called the ryanodine receptor
Ryanodine receptor
Ryanodine receptors form a class of intracellular calcium channels in various forms of excitable animal tissue like muscles and neurons...
, which is sensitive to cytosolic calcium ions. The ryanodine receptor(RYR) is a calcium release channel which releases the sarcoplasmic reticulum's(SR) calcium stores. The increase in intracellular Ca2+ ions induces the RYR to release even more Ca2+ from the SR.
The purpose of this mechanism is to release a very small, yet significant, proportion of calcium into the muscle's cytosol. The calcium ions eventually bind to an accessory protein found on the actin filament, which stimulates muscle contraction.
Ca2+ ions are a key component to muscle contraction.