Multi-scale models of local control of calcium induced calcium release

Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2006 Jan-Apr;90(1-3):136-50. doi: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2005.05.014.

Abstract

Calcium-induced-calcium-release in cardiac myocytes is the release of Ca(2+) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) triggered by Ca(2+) entering the cell through L-type Ca(2+) channels. The Ca(2+) is released through ryanodine receptors which 'sense' local [Ca(2+)] in the small region (the diadic space) positioned between the t-tubules and the SR. The length-scale of a single diad is of the order of 10nm and the diffusion time-scale is of order of 1 micros with each cell containing approximately 10,000 diadic spaces which act independently. However, typically one is interested in Ca(2+) currents at the whole cell level and higher. This is a multi-scale problem and cannot be solved by direct computation. In this paper we develop a general framework for deriving approximate solutions of these models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / physiology*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / physiology*
  • Calcium Signaling*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / metabolism
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / physiology

Substances

  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
  • Calcium