Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) and Ca2+ mobilization

ROS and ROS-Mediated Cellular Signaling

It has long been recognized that an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can modify the cell-signaling proteins and have functional consequences, which successively mediate pathological processes such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, unchecked growth, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and aging. While numerous articles have demonstrated the impacts of ROS on various signaling pathways and clarify the mechanism of action of cell-signaling proteins, their influence on the level of intracellular ROS, and their complex interactions among multiple ROS associated signaling pathways, the systemic summary is necessary. In this review paper, we particularly focus on the pattern of the generation and homeostasis of intracellular ROS, the mechanisms and targets of ROS impacting on cell-signaling proteins (NF-κB, MAPKs, Keap1-Nrf2-ARE, and PI3K-Akt), ion channels and transporters (Ca(2+) and mPTP), and modifying protein kinase and Ubiquitination/Proteasome System.

Nucleotide-mediated airway clearance

A thin layer of airway surface liquid (ASL) lines the entire surface of the lung and is the first point of contact between the lung and the environment. Surfactants contained within this layer are secreted in the alveolar region and are required to maintain a low surface tension and to prevent alveolar collapse. Mucins are secreted into the ASL throughout the respiratory tract and serve to intercept inhaled pathogens, allergens and toxins. Their removal by mucociliary clearance (MCC) is facilitated by cilia beating and hydration of the ASL by active ion transport. Throughout the lung, secretion, ion transport and cilia beating are under purinergic control. Pulmonary epithelia release ATP into the ASL which acts in an autocrine fashion on P2Y(2) (ATP) receptors. The enzymatic network describes in Chap. 2 then mounts a secondary wave of signaling by surface conversion of ATP into adenosine (ADO), which induces A(2B) (ADO) receptor-mediated responses. This chapter offers a comprehensive description of MCC and the extensive ramifications of the purinergic signaling network on pulmonary surfaces.

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate analogues containing substituted nicotinic acid: effect of modification on Ca(2+) release

Analogues of nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) with substitution at either the 4- or the 5-position position of the nicotinic acid moiety have been synthesized from NADP enzymatically using Aplysia californica ADP-ribosyl cyclase or mammalian NAD glycohydrolase. Substitution at the 4-position of the nicotinic acid resulted in the loss of agonist potency for release of Ca(2+)-ions from sea urchin egg homogenates and in potency for competition ligand binding assays using [(32)P]NAADP. In contrast, several 5-substituted NAADP derivatives showed high potency for binding and full agonist activity for Ca(2+) release. 5-Azido-NAADP was shown to release calcium from sea urchin egg homogenates at low concentration and to compete with [(32)P]NAADP in a competition ligand binding assay with an IC(50) of 18 nM, indicating that this compound might be a potential photoprobe useful for specific labeling and identification of the NAADP receptor.

Compartmentalized signalling: Ca2+ compartments, microdomains and the many facets of Ca2+ signalling

Ca(2+) regulates a multitude of cellular processes and does so by partitioning its actions in space and time. In this review, we discuss how Ca(2+) responses are constructed from small quantal (elementary) events that have the potential to propagate to produce large pan-cellular responses. We review how Ca(2+) is compartmentalized both physically and functionally, and describe how each organelle has its own distinct Ca(2+)-handling properties. We explain how coordination of the movement of Ca(2+) between organelles is used to shape and hone Ca(2+) signals. Finally, we provide a number of specific examples of where compartmentation and localization of Ca(2+) are crucial to cell function.