Sodium/calcium exchanger Calx

UniProtKB accession:  Q9VDG5

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UniProtKB description:  Na(+)/Ca(2+) antiporter that couples the energy of a Na(+) electrochemical gradient to the movement of Ca(2+) against an electrochemical gradient across a membrane, which contributes to the regulation of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) levels (PubMed:9252464, PubMed:8817385). Mediates Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange in photoreceptor cells and involved in controlling Ca(2+) levels during phototransduction, affecting magnitude of the photoresponse, activation kinetics, signal amplification, response termination, and light adaptation (PubMed:15694324). Light induced depolarization of photoreceptor cells, resulting in Na(+) and Ca(2+) entry through trp/transient receptor potential protein channels, is essential for photoreceptor cell function but may result in toxic levels of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) (PubMed:15694324). Na(+)/Ca(2+) antiporter regulation of Ca(2+) levels protects photoreceptor cells from light-dependent retinal degeneration (PubMed:15694324).