• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-41
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• 1999

Physiological activity of osteoblast including bone formation is known to be closely related to the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ activity($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in osteoblast. $Ca^{2+}$ is an important intracellular messenger in diverse cellular functions, and regulation of its level is mediated by the transmembrane $Ca^{2+}$ movement via $Ca^{2+}$ channels, $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange, and by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ movement through the intracellular stores. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ is regulated in osteoblast-like cells(OLCs) by measuring $Ca^{2+}$ activity with cell imaging technique. OLCs were isolated from femur and tibia of neonatal rats, and cultured for 7 days. Cultured OLCs were loaded with a $Ca^{2+}$-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fura-2, and fluorescence images were monitored with a cooled CCD camera. The images were processed and analyzed with an image analyzing software. The results were as follows. (1) $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of OLC decreased as the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the superfusing Tyrode solution was lowered. When $Na^+$ concentration in the superfusing solution was decreased, $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increased.. These suggest that $Ca^{2+}$ flux occurs via the $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange mechanism. (2) When $Na^+$ in the superfusing solution was removed. a transient $Ca^{2+}$, increase($Ca^{2+}$ spike) was occasionally observed. However, $Ca^{2+}$ spike was not observed after adding 1 ${\mu}M$ thapsigargin. This implies that the generation of $Ca^{2+}$ spike is mediated by the release of $Ca^{2+}$ from endoplasmic reticulum(ER). (3) As the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the superfusing solution was raised, the frequency of 0mM $Na^+$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ spike increased, suggesting that $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release(CICR) mechanism exists. (4) After $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was decreased with the superfusion of $Ca^{2+}$-free solution containing thapsigargin, the recovery of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ with reperfusion of 2.5mM $Ca^{2+}$ solution transiently exceeded the control level, suggesting that the depletion of $Ca^{2+}$ in ER induces $Ca^{2+}$ influx from extracellular medium via store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ influx(SOCI) mechanism. (5) $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was not affected by the superfusion of 25mM $K^+$ Tyrode solution. These results suggest that intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ activity in osteoblast is regulated by transmembrane $Ca^{2+}$ flux via $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange, $Ca^{2+}$ release from the internal store (ER) via $Ca^{2+}$-induced $Ca^{2+}$ release, and store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ influx across the cell membrane.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.268-278
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• 2005

We investigated the effect of cytosolic and extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ on $Ca^{2+}$ signals in pancreatic acinar cells by measuring $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the cytosol($[Ca^{2+}]_c$) and in the lumen of the ER($[Ca^{2+}]_{Lu}$). To control buffers and dye in the cytosol, a patch-clamp microelectrode was employed. Acetylcholine released $Ca^{2+}$ mainly from the basolateral ER-rich part of the cell. The rate of $Ca^{2+}$ release from the ER was highly sensitive to the buffering of $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ whereas ER $Ca^{2+}$ refilling was enhanced by supplying free $Ca^{2+}$ to the cytosol with $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ clamped at resting levels with a patch pipette containing 10 mM BAPTA and 2 mM $Ca^{2+}$. Elevation of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ to 10 mM from 1 mM raised resting $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ slightly and often generated $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ oscillations in single or clustered cells. Although pancreatic acinar cells are reported to have extracellular $Ca^{2+}$-sensing receptors linked to phospholipase C that mobilize $Ca^{2+}$ from the ER, exposure of cells to 10 mM $Ca^{2+}$ did not decrease $[Ca^{2+}]_{Lu}$ but rather raised it. From these findings we conclude that 1) ER $Ca^{2+}$ release is strictly regulated by feedback inhibition of $[Ca^{2+}]_c$, 2) ER $Ca^{2+}$ refilling is determined by the rate of $Ca^{2+}$ influx and occurs mainly in the tiny subplasmalemmal spaces, 3) extracellular $Ca^{2+}$-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ oscillations appear to be triggered not by activation of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$-sensing receptors but by the ER sensitised by elevated $[Ca^{2+}]_c$ and $[Ca^{2+}]_{Lu}$.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.65-76
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• 2007

Purpose: It is generally accepted that smooth muscle contraction is triggered by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) released from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores such as sarcoplasmic teticulum (SR) and from the extracellular space. The increased $[Ca^{2+}]^i$ can phosphorylate the 20,000 dalton myosin light chain $(MLC_{20})$ by activating MLC kinase (MLCK), and this initiates smooth muscle contraction. In addition to the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$MACK-tension pathway, a number of intracellular signal molecules, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC) and others, play important roles in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. However, the mechanisms regulating contraction of depletion of SR $Ca^{2+}$ in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips is not still clear. Methods: To investigate the rotes of $Ca^{2+}$ influx and SR $Ca^{2+}$ release channel on gastric motility, isometric contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were examined in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips. Results: High KCl, ryanodine, an activator of $Ca^{2+-}$induced $Ca^{2+}$ release channel, and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an inhibitor of SR $Ca^{2+-}$ATPase evoked a sustained increase in muscle contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. These increases induced by high KCl, ryanodine, and CPA were partially blocked by application of verapamil ($10{\mu}M$), a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel inhibitor. Additionally, in $Ca^{2+-}$free solution (1 mM EGTA), ryanodine and CPA had no effect contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in fundic muscle strips. Conclusion: These results that extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx and depletion of SR trigger $Ca^{2+}$ influx through verapamil-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channel, and extracellular and SR $Ca^{2+}$ store may functionally involve in the subcellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization in mouse gastric muscle.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2006

The foliar injuries and absorption rates of calcium compounds in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. momotaro) and citrus [Shiranuhi(C. Marc. ${\time}C$. sinensis Osbeck)${\time}C$. reticulata Blanco)] were investigated. 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0% of $CaCl_2$, $Ca(NO_3)_2$, $Ca(H_2PO_4)_2$, Ca-EDTA, Ca formate or Ca acetate solution were applied to the leaves of tomato and citrus. The leaf burns were observed only in the foliar applications of Ca-EDTA and $Ca(H_2PO_4)_2$. Ca-EDTA exhibited more serious foliar injury than CaH2PO4. As applied with $^{45}CaCl_2$, $^{45}Ca(NO_3)_2$, $^{45}Ca$ formate or $^{45}Ca$ acetate, the rates of Ca absorptions by tomato and citrus leaves for 7 days were 17 to 32% and 6.6 to 46%, respectively. It meant that the absorption was differently influenced on calcium compounds. In tomato, the order of Ca foliar absorption was $Ca(NO_3)_2$ > Ca formate = $CaCl_2$ > Ca acetate. Although there was no difference in Ca absorption between the adaxial and abaxial parts of tomato leaves, total absorption was greater in expanded leaves than in expanding ones. On the other hand, in citrus Ca foliar absorption from $Ca(NO_3)_2$ or Ca formate was more active than that from $CaCl_2$ or Ca acetate. In conclusion, $Ca(NO_3)_2$ and Ca formate are recommended for the foliar application of Ca in tomato and citrus in order to increase absorption of Ca into their leaves.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Change in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) is an essential event for egg activation and further development. $Ca^{2+}$ ion is originated from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-store via inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor and/or $Ca^{2+}$ influx via $Ca^{2+}$ channel. This study was performed to investigate whether changes in $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) activity affect $Ca^{2+}$ influx during artificial egg activation with ethanol using $Ca^{2+}$ monitoring system and whole-cell patch clamp technique. Under $Ca^{2+}$ ion-omitted condition, $Ca^{2+}$-oscillation was stopped within 30 min post microinjection of porcine sperm factor, and ethanol-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase was reduced. To investigate the role of CaM KII known as an integrator of $Ca^{2+}$- oscillation during mammalian egg fertilization, CaM KII activity was tested with a specific inhibitor KN-93. In the eggs treated with KN-93, ethanol failed to induce egg activation. In addition, KN-93 inhibited inward $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$) in a time-dependent manner in whole-cell configuration. Immunostaining data showed that the voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels were distributed along the plasma membrane of mouse egg and 2-cell embryo. From these results, we suggest that $Ca^{2+}$ influx during fertilization might be controlled by CaM KII activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2007

In atrial myocytes, lacking t-tubules, $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$)-initiated $Ca^{2+}$ release at the peripheral junctional sites propagates into the interior of the cell by diffusion of $Ca^{2+}$. We have previously reported that time of activation of the central sites is independent of $I_{Ca}$. In the present study we have probed the effects of Bay K 8644 on $Ca^{2+}$ propagation wave to the center of the myocyte using rapid 2-D confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging in the rat atrial myocytes. Enhancement of $I_{Ca}$ by Bay K 8644 accelerated the rate of peripheral $Ca^{2+}$ release, but did not affect the speed of propagation of central release. In contrast, enhancement of $I_{Ca}$ by intracellular cAMP reduced the magnitude of peripheral and central $Ca^{2+}$ transients, but significantly accelerated the speed of central $Ca^{2+}$ release. Our data suggest that the speed of central $Ca^{2+}$ propagation triggered by $I_{Ca}$ is not regulated by the magnitude of either $I_{Ca}$ or local cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ releases.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1995

The crystal sructures of $X(Ca_{46}Al_{92}Si_{100}O_{384})$ and $Ca_{32}K_{28}-X(Ca_{32}K_{28}Al_{92}Si_{100}O_{384})$ dehydrated at $360^{\circ}C$ and $2{\times}10^{-6}$ Torr have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3 at $21(1)^{\circ}C.$ Their structures were refined to the final error indices, R_1=0.096,\;and\;R_2=0.068$ with 166 reflections, and R_1=0.078\;and\;R_2=0.056$ with 130 reflections, respectively, for which I > $3\sigma(I).$ In dehydrated $Ca_{48}-X,\;Ca^{2+}$ ions are located at two different sites opf high occupancies. Sixteen $Ca^{2+}$ ions are located at site I, the centers of the double six rings $(Ca(1)-O(3)=2.51(2)\AA$ and thirty $Ca^{2+}$ ions are located at site II, the six-membered ring faces of sodalite units in the supercage. Latter $Ca^{2+}$ ions are recessed $0.44\AA$ into the supercage from the three O(2) oxygen plane (Ca(2)-O(2)= $2.24(2)\AA$ and $O(2)-Ca(2)-O(2)=119(l)^{\circ}).$ In the structure of $Ca_{32}K_{28}-X$, all $Ca^{2+}$ ions and $K^+$ ions are located at the four different crystallographic sites: 16 $Ca^{2+}$ ions are located in the centers of the double six rings, another sixteen $Ca^{2+}$ ions and sixteen $K^+$ ions are located at the site II in the supercage. These $Ca^{2+}$ ions adn $K^+$ ions are recessed $0.56\AA$ and $1.54\AA$, respectively, into the supercage from their three O(2) oxygen planes $(Ca(2)-O(2)=2.29(2)\AA$, $O(2)-Ca(2)-O(2)=119(1)^{\circ}$, $K(1)-O(2)=2.59(2)\AA$, and $O(2)-K(1)-O(2)=99.2(8)^{\circ}).$ Twelve $K^+$ ions lie at the site III, twofold axis of edge of the four-membered ring ladders inside the supercage $(K(2)-O(4)=3.11(6)\AA$ and $O(1)-K(2)-O(1)=128(2)^{\circ}).$

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1998

This study has been designed in order to examine a physiological role of $Ca^{2+}$ which has been known as an essential factor for capacitation, to confirm whether the enzyme activity of $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase on capacitation is important or not, and to clarify relationship between various levels of the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration and $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase which has been known to be an important factor of the plasma membranes. In the present study applying quercetin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor, the enzymatic effect of $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase on capacitation was found to be remarkable: a significant increase of the transition from the original type (type A) to the type B and the type AR of the spermatozoa. This finding suggests that $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase plays an important role in the efflux and the influx of the $Ca^{2+}$ which has been known to be an essential factor the capacitation and acrosome reaction, and that the inhibitory action of the $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase might be a prerequsite step toward the acrosome reaction. The conclusion reached can be deduced as follows: increment of the intracelluar $Ca^{2+}$ concentration occurred by controlling the slope of $Ca^{2+}$ concentration through $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase activities in both the intra- and extracelluar fluid may be an important procedure for capacitation and acrosome reaction, and ultimately for fertilization of the spermatozoa and the ova.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.384-385
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• 1999

Two anhydrous crystal structures of fully dehydrated, $Ca^{2+}$- and $Tl^+$-exchanged zeolite X, TEX>$Ca_{18}Tl_{56}Si_{100}Al_{92}O_{384}($Ca_{18}Tl_{56}$-X;\alpha=24.883(4)\AA)$ and TEX>$Ca_{32}Tl_{28}Si_{100}Al_{92}O_{384}($Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X;\alpha=24.973(4)\AA)$ per unit cell, have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3 at $21(1)^{\circ}C.$ $Ca_{18}Tl_{56}-X$ was prepared by ion exchange in a flowing stream of 0.045 M aqueous $Ca(NO_3)_2$ and 0.005 M $TlNO_3$. $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}-X$ was prepared similarly using a mixed solution of 0.0495 M $Ca(NO_3)_2$ and 0.0005M $TlNO_3$. Each crystal was then dehydrated at 360 $^{\circ}C$ and $2{\times}10^{-6}$ Torr for 2 days. Their structures were refined to the final error indices, $R_1=0.039\;and\;R_2=0.036$ with 382 reflections for $Ca_{18}Tl_{56}-X$ , and $R_1=0.046\;and\;R_2=0.045$ with 472 reflections for $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X for which $/>3\sigma(I).$ In the structures of dehydrated $Ca_{18}Tl_{56^-}X\;and\;Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X, $Ca^{2+}\;and\;Tl^+$ ions are located at six crystallographic sites. Sixteen $Ca^{2+}$ ions fill the octahedral sites I at the centers of double six rings ($Ca_{18}Tl_{56}$-X:Ca-O=2.42(1) and O-Ca-O=93.06(4)$^{\circ}$; $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X Ca-O=2.40(1) $\AA$ and O-Ca-O=93.08(3)$^{\circ}$). In the structure of $Ca_{18}Tl_{56}$-X, another two $Ca^{2+}$ ions occupy site II (Ca-O=2.35(2) $\AA$ and O-Ca-O=111.69(2)$^{\circ}$) and twenty six $Tl^+$ ions occupy site II opposite single six-rings in the supercage; each is 1.493 $\AA$ from the plane of three oxygens $(Tl-O=2.70(8)\AA$ and O-Tl-O=92.33(4)$^{\circ}$). About four $Tl^+$ ions are found at site II',1.695 $\AA$ into sodalite cavity from their three oxygen plane (Tl-O=2.81 (1) and O-Tl-O=87.48(3)). The remaining twenty six $Tl^+$ ions are distributed over site III'(Tl-O=2.82 (1) $\AA$ and Tl-O=2.88(3)$^{\circ}$). In the structure of $Ca_{32}Tl_{28}$-X, sixteen $Ca^{2+}$ ions and fifteen $Tl^+$ ions occupy site III' (Ca-O=2.26(1) $\AA$ and O-Ca-O=119.14(4)$^{\circ}$; Tl-O=2.70(1) $\AA$ and O-Tl-O=92.38$^{\circ}$) and one $Tl^+$ ion occupies site II'. The remaining twelve $Tl^+$ ions are distributed over site III'. It appears that $Ca^{2+}$ ions prefer sites I and II in that order and $Tl^+$ ions occupy the remaining sites.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.272-278
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• 2009

The optimized structures and vibrational frequencies for $Ca^+-(CO)_n$ and $Ca^+-(CO_2)_n$ (n=1,2) complexes were calculated with MP2 and B3LYP methods employing 6-311++G(2d,p) basis sets. Also the binding energies were investigated for all complexes to compare the stabilities. For $Ca^+-(CO)_n$ C-bonded complexes are more stable than O-bonded complexes. Two stable conformations, linear and $C_{2v}$ form, are possible for $Ca^+-(CO)_2$ complexes and the $C_{2v}$ form is more stable than the linear form. $Ca^+-(CO_2)_2$ also has two possible conformations and linear form has slightly lower energy than $C_{2v}$ form.