Physiological carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and pH sensing

Pflugers Arch. 2010 Nov;460(6):953-64. doi: 10.1007/s00424-010-0865-6. Epub 2010 Aug 4.

Abstract

In biological systems, carbon dioxide exists in equilibrium with bicarbonate and protons. The individual components of this equilibrium (i.e., CO₂, HCO₃⁻, and H(+)), which must be sensed to be able to maintain cellular and organismal pH, also function as signals to modulate multiple physiological functions. Yet, the molecular sensors for CO₂/HCO₃⁻/pH remained unknown until recently. Here, we review recent progress in delineating molecular and cellular mechanisms for sensing CO₂, HCO₃⁻, and pH.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acid-Base Equilibrium
  • Adenylyl Cyclases / physiology
  • Animals
  • Bicarbonates / metabolism*
  • Calcium Channels / physiology
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
  • Carbonic Anhydrases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger 3
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / physiology
  • Solubility

Substances

  • Bicarbonates
  • Calcium Channels
  • GPR4 protein, human
  • GPR65 protein, mouse
  • GPR68 protein, human
  • PKD2L1 protein, human
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger 3
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Carbonic Anhydrases
  • Adenylyl Cyclases