Calcium waves

Abstract

Waves through living systems are best characterized by their speeds at 20°C. These speeds vary from those of calcium action potentials to those of ultraslow ones which move at 1–10 and/or 10–20 nm s−1. All such waves are known or inferred to be calcium waves. The two classes of calcium waves which include ones with important morphogenetic effects are slow waves that move at 0.2–2 μm s−1and ultraslow ones. Both may be propagated by cycles in which the entry of calcium through the plasma membrane induces subsurface contraction. This contraction opens nearby stretch-sensitive calcium channels. Calcium entry through these channels propagates the calcium wave. Many slow waves are seen as waves of indentation. Some are considered to act via cellular peristalsis; for example, those which seem to drive the germ plasm to the vegetal pole of theXenopusegg. Other good examples of morphogenetic slow waves are ones through fertilizing maize eggs, through developing barnacle eggs and through axolotl embryos during neural induction. Good examples of ultraslow morphogenetic waves are ones during inversion in developingVolvoxembryos and across developingDrosophilaeye discs. Morphogenetic waves may be best pursued by imaging their calcium with aequorins.