DECODING OF INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM SPIKE TRAINS

Cells respond to external signals, such as hormonal stimuli, by genera ting repetitive spikes in the intracellular free-calcium concentration ([Ca2+](i)). These [Ca2+](i) spikes, which can be modulated in their frequency and amplitude, regulate diverse cellular processes. Experime ntally [Ca2+](i) can be assessed continuously in contrast to cellular responses represented by the activation of proteins. We propose a math ematical model that allows for the on-line decoding of [Ca2+](i) spike trains into cellular responses represented by the activation of prote ins.