CALCIUM PUMP Meaning and
Definition
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A calcium pump refers to a specialized protein or enzyme found in the cell membranes of various cells, particularly in muscle cells and nerve cells, that aids in maintaining the appropriate levels of calcium ions within the cells. This process is crucial for various cellular functions and signaling.
The calcium pump, also known as a calcium ATPase, functions by actively transporting calcium ions against their concentration gradient, typically from the cytoplasm into the extracellular spaces or storage organelles like the endoplasmic reticulum. It accomplishes this task by utilizing the energy derived from the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule that stores energy.
By removing calcium ions from the cytoplasm, the calcium pump helps regulate the concentration of calcium in cells, which is vital for several processes including muscle contraction, neurotransmission, hormone secretion, and gene expression. In muscle cells, for instance, the calcium pump plays a crucial role in regulating the relaxation phase of muscular contractions by actively removing calcium ions from the cytoplasm following contraction.
Defects or dysfunctions in the calcium pump can disrupt calcium homeostasis and lead to various disorders. For example, abnormalities in calcium pump proteins have been associated with muscle disorders like muscular dystrophy and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Therefore, studying and understanding the calcium pump's mechanisms and regulation is essential for the development of potential therapeutic interventions for these conditions or other pathological states involving calcium imbalances.
Common Misspellings for CALCIUM PUMP
- xalcium pump
- valcium pump
- falcium pump
- dalcium pump
- czlcium pump
- cslcium pump
- cwlcium pump
- cqlcium pump
- cakcium pump
- capcium pump
- caocium pump
- calxium pump
- calvium pump
- calfium pump
- caldium pump
- calcuum pump
- calcjum pump
- calckum pump
- calcoum pump
- calc9um pump
Etymology of CALCIUM PUMP
The word "calcium" is derived from the Latin word "calx", which means lime. Lime is a compound of calcium and is often used in construction and agriculture. The term "pump" comes from the Middle English word "pompe", which originated from the Old English word "pumpa" and originally referred to a device used for raising or moving water. When these two words are combined, "calcium pump" refers to a cellular mechanism responsible for the movement of calcium ions across cell membranes.
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