During oocyte maturation, the calcium-signaling machinery undergoes a dramatic remodeling resulting in distinctly different calcium-release patterns on all organizational scales from puffs to waves. The dynamics of the Ca(2+) release wave in mature as compared to immature oocytes are defined by a slower propagation speed and longer duration of the high Ca(2+) plateau. In this chapter, we use computational modeling to identify the changes in the signaling machinery, which contribute most significantly to the alterations observed in Ca(2+) wave propagation during Xenopus oocyte maturation. In addition to loss of store-operated calcium entry and internalization of plasma membrane pumps, we propose that spatial reorganization of the IP3 receptors in the plane of the ER membrane is a key factor for the observed signaling changes in Ca(2+) wave propagation.
Keywords: Calcium channels; Calcium signaling; Calcium wave; Inositol 1,4,5, triphosphate receptors; Oocyte maturation.
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