| Calmodulin-1 (CaM) | |
|---|---|
| Gene | CALM1 |
| UniProt | P0DP23 |
| PDB | 1CLL, 1PRW, 4G28 |
| Mol. Weight | 16.7 kDa |
| Localization | Cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, calcium channels |
| Family | Calmodulin family, EF-hand calcium binding proteins |
| Diseases | Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, Epilepsy |
Calmodulin 1 (Cam) is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Calmodulin-1 (CaM) is a ubiquitous calcium-binding messenger protein that transduces calcium signals into a wide range of cellular responses[1]. As a primary calcium sensor, calmodulin regulates numerous target proteins involved in crucial cellular processes including metabolism, cytoskeleton, memory, and cell death[2].
Calmodulin is a small (149 amino acids) acidic protein with a dumbbell-like structure:
Each EF-hand motif binds one Ca²⁺ ion. The protein undergoes conformational changes upon calcium binding, exposing hydrophobic patches that mediate interactions with target proteins[3].
Calmodulin acts as a major calcium sensor in all eukaryotic cells:
In neurons, calmodulin regulates:
The study of Calmodulin 1 (Cam) has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
[1]: Clapham DE. Calcium signaling. Cell. 2007;131(6):1047-1058. PMID:18083096
[2]: Berridge MJ, Bootman MD, Roderick HL. Calcium signalling: dynamics, homeostasis and remodelling. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2003;4(7):517-529. PMID:12838335
[3]: Tidow H, Nissen P. Structural diversity of calmodulin binding to its target sites. FEBS J. 2013;280(21):5551-5565. PMID:23551987