Nanojunctions and calcium signalling in smooth muscle cells: From contraction and relaxation to gene expression

ESM & EVBO programme

Our understanding of how smooth muscle cells generate site- and function-specific intracellular Ca²⁺ signals remains in its infancy. However, evidence accumulated over the last 40 years suggests that this may be determined by the release of Ca²⁺ into and the restricted diffusion of Ca²⁺ away from cytoplasmic nanospaces, which are defined by membrane-membrane junctions less than 100 nm across. Cellular nanojunctions are therefore at the limits of current optical resolution, which has hindered general consideration of their diversity and relevance to smooth muscle function. The present symposium will consider how cellular nanojunctions may provide for appropriate regulation of smooth muscle contraction, relaxation and gene expression.