Na and Ca Transport Across the Plasma Membrane of Squid Giant Axons: Mechanism of Metabolic Control of the Na/Ca Exchanger

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9631107 Beauge Calcium (Ca) ions act as transducers of the information reaching the cell surface into a language known by the cell interior in nearly all animal cells. Changes in intracellular calcium concentrations is the signal that activates functions like hormone secretion, muscle contraction, and nerve-cell communication. The actual signal is a large increase in the concentration of the intracellular Ca, after which the Ca concentration returns rapidly to the "resting" levels. The research funded by this grant is directed at one of the mechanisms responsible for the "recovery" of resting Ca concentration levels - sodium (Na) ion/calcium ion exchange. The emphasis is on the control of this exchange system by two phosphoryl group donors: ATP and phosphoarginine. This work is carried out on a giant axon in the squid where the internal and external environments can be controlled by the experimenters.. Understanding the mechanisms by which Na-Ca exchange is regulated is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that underlie neural signaling in all animals. In addition, it is crucial for understanding muscle contraction.