HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Tian, J. Articles by Xie, Z.-j. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tian, J. Articles by Xie, Z.-j.

REVIEW

The Na-K-ATPase and Calcium-Signaling Microdomains

Jiang Tian and Zi-jian Xie

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, Ohio, zi-jian.xie{at}utoledo.edu

The Na-K-ATPase is an energy-transducing ion pump that converts the free energy of ATP into transmembrane ion gradients. It also serves as a functional receptor for cardiotonic steroids such as ouabain and digoxin. Binding of ouabain to the Na-K-ATPase can activate calcium signaling in a cell-specific manner. The exquisite calcium modulation via the Na-K-ATPase is achieved by the ability of the pump to integrate signals from numerous protein and non-protein molecules, including ion transporters, channels, protein kinases/phosphatases, as well as cellular Na⁺. This review focuses on the unique properties of the Na-K-ATPase and its role in the formation of different calcium-signaling microdomains.