Calcium biological function

Although it is being found that vitamin D metaboUtes play a role ia many different biological functions, metaboHsm primarily occurs to maintain the calcium homeostasis of the body. When calcium semm levels fall below the normal range, 1 a,25-dihydroxy-vitainin is made when calcium levels are at or above this level, 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol is made, and 1 a-hydroxylase activity is discontiaued. The calcium homeostasis mechanism iavolves a hypocalcemic stimulus, which iaduces the secretion of parathyroid hormone. This causes phosphate diuresis ia the kidney, which stimulates the 1 a-hydroxylase activity and causes the hydroxylation of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D to 1 a,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. Parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol act at the bone site cooperatively to stimulate calcium mobilization from the bone (see Hormones). Calcium blood levels are also iafluenced by the effects of the metaboUte on intestinal absorption and renal resorption. 

The side chains of the 20 different amino acids listed in Panel 1.1 (pp. 6-7) have very different chemical properties and are utilized for a wide variety of biological functions. However, their chemical versatility is not unlimited, and for some functions metal atoms are more suitable and more efficient. Electron-transfer reactions are an important example. Fortunately the side chains of histidine, cysteine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid are excellent metal ligands, and a fairly large number of proteins have recruited metal atoms as intrinsic parts of their structures among the frequently used metals are iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. Several metallo proteins are discussed in detail in later chapters and it suffices here to mention briefly a few examples of iron and zinc proteins. 

Factor IX. This factor is dependent on the presence of vitamin K for its activity as a biologically functional procoagulant glycoprotein. Factor IX is converted to its active form by XIa in the classic scheme of the intrinsic pathway. However, it can also be activated via interaction with Factor Xa or the complex Factor III plus Factor VII in the presence of calcium. 

Ismailov, I.I., Fuller, C.M., Berdiev, B.K., Shlyonsky, V.G., Benos, DJ. and Barrett, K.E., 1996, A biologic function for an orphan messenger D-myo-inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate selectively blocks epithelial calcium-activated chloride channels. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93 10505-10509. 

Below we will present how different extracellular calcium proteins carry out their unique biological functions. 

Calcium is arguably involved in more biological functions than any other mineral. From bone health to muscle movement to our beating heart, calcium is critical on the cellular level. Calcium is also one of the most misrepresented and... 

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