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.