Compose a 250 words assignment on calmodulin. Needs to be plagiarism free! Calmodulin Calmodulin is a protein which is referred to as a “calcium binding protein” and thisprotein is known to be present

Compose a 250 words assignment on calmodulin. Needs to be plagiarism free! Calmodulin Calmodulin is a protein which is referred to as a “calcium binding protein” and thisprotein is known to be present in both animals and the plants. The protein comprises of 148 amino acids and it possesses four sites which are referred to as “domains” where calcium can attach. A structural quality that differentiates calmodulin from other proteins is the trimethylation of its 115th amino acid (Ganong 2005). The atomic mass of calmodulin is 17 kDa and another striking quality of this protein is its abundance in the living organisms and its presence in most of the cells of the living organisms (Champe et al 2005. Murray et al 2009).

Calmodulin possesses a very important function of stimulating the functioning of different enzymes as well as the mediation of ion channels. The activity of calmodulin is only brought about by the attachment of four calcium ions. This attachment brings about a change in the structure of calmodulin and makes it capable of performing its functions. The withdrawal of calcium ions from calmodulin restores it to its inactive state. The different enzymes that work after being activated by calmodulin include adenylyl cyclase, calcium magnesium ATPase, nitric oxide synthase, phosphorylase kinase, calcium dependent protein kinases and calcium phospholipid dependent protein kinase. It also possesses the function of acting on certain receptors like NMDA-type glutamate receptor as well as on ion movement pathways which include L-type calcium channels. Calmodulin also has an effect on other cellular mechanisms. The contractility of smooth muscle is one such function. In cells that are non-contracting, calmodulin has an effect on the motile activity of the cells and other processes like mitosis. The wide ranges of functions that can be performed by calmodulin clearly explain the importance of this protein in the living organisms. Its malfunctioning can result in hampering the activity of many enzymes, ion pathways and affect other regulatory processes (Champe et al 2005. Murray et al 2009).

Works Cited

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Champe, Pamela C, Richard A. Harvey, and Denise R. Ferrier. Biochemistry. Philadelphia: Lippincott/Williams & Wilkins, 2005. Print.

Ganong, William F.&nbsp.Review of Medical Physiology. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical, 2005. Print.

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Murray, Robert K, David A. Bender, Kathleen M. Botham, Peter J. Kennelly, Vicotr W. Rodwell and P. Anthony Weil.&nbsp.Harpers Illustrated Biochemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical, 2009. Print.