Maintaining a certain calcium concentration is important for the proper functioning of nerve cells and muscle cells.
- In neurons, it is imperative to maintain a certain level of calcium ions (Ca2+) because these ions act as second (intracellular) messengers.
- A resting (non-signaling) neuron has an intracellular Ca2+ concentration of 50 to 100 nanomoles (nM).
- In neurons, the influx of Ca2+ ions through voltage-dependent membrane channels is involved in different processes such as neuronal growth, development, regulation of neuronal excitability, etc.
- Intracellular Ca(2+) ion concentration also has a fundamental role in muscle contraction.
- In muscle cells, Ca2+ ions are stored within the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which is s a membrane-bound structure similar to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
- During muscle contraction, Ca2+ ions bind to troponin C, thereby leading to a conformational change in tropomyosin, which is a fundamental contractile protein in muscle cells.
In conclusion, calcium concentration is fundamental for the proper functioning of both nerve cells and muscle cells.
Learn more in:
https://brainly.com/question/7464765?referrer=searchResults
