Lecture 7

Question 1

What should blood serum calcium levels be?

Answer 1

1.9-2.3 mM of which over 50% is free calcium

Question 2

What is calcium used for in the body?

Answer 2

Neurotransmission 
Muscle contraction
Fertilisation
Cell death 
Regulation of metabolism 
Learning and memory

Question 3

How are calcium concentration gradients set up and maintained?

Answer 3

Buffer proteins and pumps and transporters

Question 4

How are calcium concentration gradients maintained?

Answer 4

SERCA- Sarcoplasmic endoplasmic calcium ATPase which pumps calcium from cell into sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum

PMCA- plasma membrane calcium ATPase

NCX- Sodium calcium exchanger which uses sodium gradient to drive outward movement of calcium

Question 5

What mechanism increase intracellular calcium levels?

Answer 5

CICR (calcium induced calcium release receptors) or ryanodine receptors which release calcium from sarcoplasmic ndoplasmic reticulum

Also the IP3 receptor which release calcium form the sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum on binding of IP3.