| Theme |
Topics in calcium and phosphate transport |
| Title |
Role of caveolae in calcium and phosphate transport |
| Author |
Yutaka Taketani |
Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Tokushima School of Medicine |
| Author |
Kunitaka Nashiki |
Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Tokushima School of Medicine |
| Author |
Masashi Isshiki |
Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Eiji Takeda |
Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Tokushima School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Caveolae are flask-shaped membrane microstructures that are enriched by cholesterol and sphingolipids. Caveolins are structural molecules and essential for the formation of the flask-shape of caveolae. Caveolae are thought to be platforms for signal transducing events on the plasma membrane, because a number of signal transducing molecules are localized in caveolae. On the other hand, caveolae are involved in endocytosis and molecular transport with in epithelial cells. Recently, several reports have suggested that calcium channels associated with capacitative calcium entry and type II sodium-dependent phosphate transporters are localized in the caveolae. Here in we discuss the role of caveolae in intestinal calcium absorption and renal inorganic phosphate reabsorption. |