Cytoplasmic calcium buffering

Abstract

Calcium buffering is one of the mechanisms to control calcium (Ca 2+) persistence in the cytosol and hence, Ca 2+ dependence of many intracellular processes. Compared with Ca 2+ sequestration into intracellular Ca 2+ stores, Ca 2+ buffering is a rapid process occurring in sub-second scale. Ca 2+ buffers can be mobile or fixed depending of their molecular weight, but other parameters as their concentration, affinity for Ca 2+ or Ca 2+ binding and releasing kinetics are important to know their role in Ca 2+ signaling. This process determines Ca 2+ diffusion and spatiotemporal Ca 2+ signaling in the cell and is one of the basis of the versatility and complexity of Ca 2+ as intracellular messenger. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.