Calmodulin Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Calmodulin - Article ExampleCalmodulin possesses a very important crop of stimulating the functioning of different enzymes as well as the mediation of ion channels. The activity of calmodulin is only brought about by the hamper of four calcium ions. This attachment brings about a change in the structure of calmodulin and makes it capable of performing its functions. The withdrawal of calcium ions from calmodulin restores it to its inactive state. The different enzymes that work after being excited by calmodulin include adenylyl cyclase, calcium magnesium ATPase, nitric oxide synthase, phosphorylase kinase, calcium dependent protein kinases and calcium phospholipid dependent protein kinase. It also possesses the function of acting on certain receptors equivalent NMDA-type glutamate receptor as well as on ion movement pathways which include L-type calcium channels. Calmodulin also has an effect on other cellular mechanisms. The contractility of smooth massiveness is one such functi on. In cells that are non-contracting, calmodulin has an effect on the motile activity of the cells and other processes like mitosis. The wide ranges of functions that can be performed by calmodulin intelligibly explain the importance of this protein in the living organisms. Its malfunctioning can result in hampering the activity of many enzymes, ion pathways and affect other regulatory processes (Champe et al 2005 Murray et al