Ca2+ transport and chemoreception in Paramecium

Intracellular Ca2+ levels in Paramecium must be tightly controlled, yet little is understood about the mechanisms of control. We describe here indirect evidence that a phosphoenzyme intermediate is the calmodulin-regulated plasma membrane Ca2+ pump and that a Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in pellicles (the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology, 1993, Vol.163 (4), p.288-296
Main Authors: WRIGHT, M. V, ELWESS, N, VAN HOUTEN, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology. Molecular biology
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Transport, Active
Calcium - metabolism
Calcium-Transporting ATPases - metabolism
Calmodulin - genetics
Calmodulin - metabolism
Chemoreceptor Cells - metabolism
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Mutation
Paramecium - genetics
Paramecium - metabolism
Protozoa
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Summary:Intracellular Ca2+ levels in Paramecium must be tightly controlled, yet little is understood about the mechanisms of control. We describe here indirect evidence that a phosphoenzyme intermediate is the calmodulin-regulated plasma membrane Ca2+ pump and that a Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in pellicles (the complex of cell body surface membranes) is the enzyme correlate of the plasma membrane pump protein. A change in Ca2+ pump activity has been implicated in the chemoresponse of paramecia to some attractant stimuli. Indirect support for this is demonstrated using mutants with different modifications of calmodulin to correlate defects in chemoresponse with altered Ca2+ homeostasis and pump activity.
ISSN:0174-1578
1432-136X
DOI:10.1007/BF00347779