Hypo-osmotic stress shifts transcription of circadian genes.

Cells respond to hypo-osmotic stress by initial swelling followed by intracellular increases in the number of osmolytes and initiation of gene transcription that allow cells to adapt to the stress. Here, we have studied the genes that change expression under mild hypo-osmotic stress for 12 and 24 hours in rat cultured smooth muscle cells (WKO-3M22). We find shifts in the transcription of many genes, several of which are associated with circadian rhythm, such as per1, nr1d1, per2, dbp, and Ciart.

The role of calcium in neuronal membrane tension and synaptic plasticity.

Calcium is a primary second messenger that plays a role in cellular functions including growth, movement and responses to drugs. The role that calcium plays in mediating communication between neurons by synaptic vesicle release is well established. This review focuses on the dependence of the physical properties of neuronal plasma membranes on calcium levels.