ER/SR Calcium Pump: Function

The sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ ATPase (SERCA) utilizes ATP for active transport of cytosolic Ca 2+ into membrane-bound intracellular compartments. The catalytic and transport cycle of SERCA includes formation of a phosphorylated enzyme intermediate and protein conformational changes, leading to vectorial translocation of Ca 2+ across the membrane. Intracellular storing of Ca 2+ by SERCA is an integral part of signaling mechanisms for a large number of cellular functions. Ca 2+ signaling and excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle offer a prominent example of SERCA involvement in physiology and pathology.