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- Title
Calcium Influx through Voltage-Operated Calcium Channels Is Required for Proopiomelanocortin Protein Expression in Xenopus Melanotropes.
- Authors
HURK, M J J; SCHEENEN, W J J M; ROUBOS, E W; JENKS, B.G
- Abstract
Melanotrope cells of Xenopus laevis generate transitory increases in intracellular Ca2+, known as Ca2+ oscillations. These oscillations arise from the influx of Ca2+ through voltage-operated Ca2+ channels (VOCCs). Such oscillations are the driving force for secretion of α-melanophore-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) from the cell. The influx of Ca2+ through VOCCs initiates the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ to generate a Ca2+ wave. The function of the Ca2+ wave in the melanotrope is unknown, but its presence in the nucleus suggests a role in the regulation of gene expression, perhaps that of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the precursor protein for α-MSH. To determine the possible function of Ca2+ waves in Xenopus melanotropes, we addressed whether functional VOCCs, which are an established requirement for both secretion and Ca2+ wave initiation, are also required to maintain POMC gene expression.
- Subjects
XENOPUS laevis; PROOPIOMELANOCORTIN; PEPTIDE hormones; PITUITARY hormones; GENE expression
- Publication
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2005, Vol 1040, Issue 1, p494
- ISSN
0077-8923
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1196/annals.1327.101