A new superhero in town
Calcium means much more than strong bones and teeth. Without this element, our bodies simply couldn't function.
Dr. Jonathan Lytton (L) and Dr. Jaideep Bains
Often, when we think of calcium, we think of strong bones and teeth. Many of us might think of dietary calcium, and ask ourselves where we get enough milk, almonds, and other calcium-rich foods in our daily food regimen. Some might even think of concrete buildings and sidewalks, as calcium from limestone is an important ingredient in the kind of cement used for concrete. Still others might know about the part that calcium plays in manufacturing rocket propellant, fireworks, paints, fertilizer, deodorant, and metail alloys.
The role of calcium
Very much out of the public eye, however, is calcium's essential role in signalling (triggering) many body functions. Nerve impulses, heart rhythm, muscle contractions, even cell division, are all regulated by the transport of calcium into and out of cells. A signalling superhero, calcium has a functional role common to all living organisms.
AHFMR has supported Dr. Jonathan Lytton's study of calcium since 1995, when he returned to the University of Calgary from Brigham and Women's Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School. The Heritage Scientist explains why calcium is so important: "Without calcium, our muscles wouldn't contract, our hearts wouldn't beat, our brains wouldn't work, our immune cells wouldn't respond to infection-the list goes on and on. Calcium is needed from the moment of fertilization that creates a new life, to the moment of death."
Calcium in the cell
And how do cells deal with all this calcium? A family of proteins on the surface of cells plays a part in its transport. These proteins, known as sodium/calcium exchangers (Na+/Ca2+ exchangers), are vital to a cell's ability to properly handle calcium. Dr. Lytton studies the transport of calcium into and out of cells, particularly the role played by this protein family. The presence and proper functioning of these exchangers ensure that just the right amount of calcium is received at just the right time. When the system controlling calcium works, changes in calcium levels occur in a cyclical fashion, signalling the beginning and end of a heartbeat, or the beginning and end of a signal between two neurons. But when the system fails or becomes impaired, damage can result-in the form of cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, stroke, or dementia.
Dr. Lytton uses the techniques of molecular biology, genetic engineering, biochemistry, cell biology, and physiology in his efforts to understand how sodium/calcium exchangers work, how their function is regulated under normal conditions, and what happens when their function is impaired. Although his work is mostly concerned with fundamental principles and mechanisms, a detailed understanding of how these proteins work will provide a foundation of new knowledge, from which it will be possible to develop important new clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic tools.
Collaborations
Some of Dr. Lytton's discoveries have led his work down new and unexpected pathways, often requiring the development of new experimental approaches and new equipment. Such innovations do not happen in isolation. The highly collaborative environment at the University of Calgary has presented many opportunities. In particular, the collaboration of AHFMR researchers Dr. Ray Turner, Dr. Jaideep Bains (see Stress story), and Dr. Derrick Rancourt, as well as trainees and researchers at the doctoral and post-doctoral levels, has greatly benefited Dr. Lytton's research. "Having excellent collaborators has allowed my lab to make rapid progress, which would have been much more difficult, if not impossible, in other environments," says Dr. Lytton.
Soon, with the help of AHFMR, Dr. Lytton's research will advance further, thanks to the arrival of a customized $90,000 Zeiss Axioskop (see Cool tools)-the best equipment of its kind-to help reveal the secrets of calcium's superpowers. Once this microscope is in place, only one more ingredient will be needed before Dr. Lytton and his team can start to unlock these molecular mysteries: a highly skilled electrophysiologist to operate the Axioskop.
With a strong supporting cast of researchers and collaborators, plus a lab equipped with specialized tools, Dr. Lytton's study of calcium transport is well positioned to make extraordinary leaps and bounds into the future.