Research

Abstract: The aim of this study was to use both a theoretical and experimental approach to determine the influence of the sarco-endoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity and mitochondria Ca2+ uptake on Ca2+ homeostasis in airway myocytes. Experimental studies were performed on myocytes freshly isolated from rat trachea. [Ca2+]i was measured by microspectrofluorimetry using indo-1. Stimulation by caffeine for 30 s induced a concentration-graded response characterized by a transient peak followed by a progressive decay to a plateau phase. The decay phase was accelerated for 1-s stimulation, indicating ryanodine receptor closure. In Na2+-Ca2+-free medium containing 0.5 mM La3+, the [Ca2+]i response pattern was not modified, indicating no involvement of transplasmalemmal Ca2+ fluxes. The mathematical model describing the mechanism of Ca2+ handling upon RyR stimulation predicts that after Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the Ca2+ is first sequestrated by cytosolic proteins and mitochondria, and pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum after a time delay. Experimentally, we showed that the [Ca2+]i decay after Ca2+ increase was not altered by the SERCA inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid, but was slightly but significantly modified by the mitochondria uncoupler carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone. The experimental and theoretical results indicate that, although Ca2+ pumping back by SERCA is active, it is not primarily involved in [Ca2+]i decrease that is due, in part, to mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake.

The Biophysical Society	*E. Roux and M. Marhl* Role of sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in Ca2+ removal in airway myocytes Biophysical Journal 86 (2004) 2583-2595	Abstract: The aim of this study was to use both a theoretical and experimental approach to determine the influence of the sarco-endoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity and mitochondria Ca2+ uptake on Ca2+ homeostasis in airway myocytes. Experimental studies were performed on myocytes freshly isolated from rat trachea. [Ca2+]i was measured by microspectrofluorimetry using indo-1. Stimulation by caffeine for 30 s induced a concentration-graded response characterized by a transient peak followed by a progressive decay to a plateau phase. The decay phase was accelerated for 1-s stimulation, indicating ryanodine receptor closure. In Na2+-Ca2+-free medium containing 0.5 mM La3+, the [Ca2+]i response pattern was not modified, indicating no involvement of transplasmalemmal Ca2+ fluxes. The mathematical model describing the mechanism of Ca2+ handling upon RyR stimulation predicts that after Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the Ca2+ is first sequestrated by cytosolic proteins and mitochondria, and pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum after a time delay. Experimentally, we showed that the [Ca2+]i decay after Ca2+ increase was not altered by the SERCA inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid, but was slightly but significantly modified by the mitochondria uncoupler carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone. The experimental and theoretical results indicate that, although Ca2+ pumping back by SERCA is active, it is not primarily involved in [Ca2+]i decrease that is due, in part, to mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake.

Elsevier	*M. Marhl, T. Haberichter, M. Brumen, R. Heinrich* Complex calcium oscillations and the role of mitochondria and cytosolic proteins Biosystems 57 (2000) 75-86	Abstract: Intracellular calcium oscillations, which are oscillatory changes of cytosolic calcium concentration in response to agonist stimulation, are experimentally well observed in various living cells. Simple calcium oscillations represent the most common pattern and many mathematical models have been published to describe this type of oscillation. On the other hand, relatively few theoretical studies have been proposed to give an explanation of complex intracellular calcium oscillations, such as bursting and chaos. In this paper, we develop a new possible mechanism for complex calcium oscillations based on the interplay between three calcium stores in the cell: the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria and cytosolic proteins. The majority (approximate to 80%) of calcium released from the ER is first very quickly sequestered by mitochondria. Afterwards, a much slower release of calcium from the mitochondria serves as the calcium supply for the intermediate calcium exchanges between the ER and the cytosolic proteins causing bursting calcium oscillations. Depending on the permeability of the ER channels and on the kinetic properties of calcium binding to the cytosolic proteins, different patterns of complex calcium oscillations appear. With our model, we are able to explain simple calcium oscillations, bursting and chaos. Chaos is also observed for calcium oscillations in the bursting mode.

Elsevier	*M. Marhl, S. Schuster, M. Brumen, R. Heinrich* Modelling oscillations of calcium and endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane potential - Role of the signalling and buffering proteins and of the size of the Ca2+ sequestering ER subcompartments Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics 46 (1998) 79-90	Abstract: Intracellular calcium oscillations provide a natural clock that may be of crucial importance for the timing of many cellular processes. Elucidating of the mechanisms underlying these oscillations is of particular interest. The theoretical description presented here extends existing models of calcium oscillations by allowing for two types of proteins differing in their calcium-binding properties. This model reflects experimental findings by considering both a fast calcium-binding process to low-affinity protein binding sites such as found in the N-domains of calmodulin or troponin C and a class of high-affinity calcium binding proteins with slow binding kinetics (e.g., parvalbumin or the C-domains of calmodulin and troponin C). Furthermore, recalling that calcium is mainly stored in small subcompartments of the ER, it is argued that only a small fraction of its overall volume participates in the rapid release and uptake of calcium. The effect of the size of this fraction is studied. The hypothesis saying that any electric potential difference across the ER membrane would be dissipated by the highly permeant ions is critically examined by an analytical estimation based on the electroneutrality condition and by numerical integration of the complete model equations. It is predicted theoretically that the transmembrane potential of the ER calcium stores, which is up to now virtually impossible to determine in experiment, builds up in the millivolt range at physiological concentrations of monovalent ions. The phenomenology of oscillations is studied by numerical integration. The model reproduces experimentally observed values of frequency and amplitude as well as the typical spike-like shape of oscillations. The model reveals also the time course of a shift of the bound Ca2+ population from the low-affinity binding sites to the high-affinity binding sites.