Electrophysiological activity to cell metabolism signal transduction: Possible feedback regulatory biochemical pathway

Intracellular free calcium concentration [Ca2+](IN) has been extensively st udied as a major feedback element, transducing endogenous levels of electri cal activity into an intracellular signal, in the context of modeling activ ity-dependent changes of ionic conductances of a neuronal membrane patch th rough slow biochemical subcellular mechanisms. However, distinct patterns o f activity may induce similar mean levels in [Ca2+](IN) so that a multiple sensing mechanism, integrating and matching the features of calcium tempora l dynamics over various time scales, is needed to overcome such ambiguous s ituations. In the present research, we investigate the possible role of a m etabolic sensor, related to the power dissipated by the passive ion transpo rt through channels, as an alternative candidate in intracellular calcium i ndependent signal transduction of the electrophysiological activity. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.