The ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are found on intracellular Ca²⁺ storage/release organelles. The family of RyR genes encodes three highly related Ca²⁺ release channels: RyR1, RyR2 and RyR3, which assemble as large tetrameric structures. These RyR channels are ubiquitously expressed in many types of cells and participate in a variety of important Ca²⁺ signaling phenomena (neurotransmission, secretion, etc.). In addition to the three mammalian isoforms described below, various nonmammalian isoforms of the ryanodine receptor have been identified and these are discussed in [2]. The function of the ryanodine receptor channels may also be influenced by closely associated proteins such as the tacrolimus (FK506)-binding protein, calmodulin [3], triadin, calsequestrin, junctin and sorcin, and by protein kinases and phosphatases.

The modulators of channel function included in this table are those most commonly used to identify ryanodine-sensitive Ca²⁺ release pathways. Numerous other modulators of ryanodine receptor/channel function can be found in the reviews listed below. The absence of a modulator of a particular isoform of receptor indicates that the action of that modulator has not been determined, not that it is without effect. The potential role of cyclic ADP ribose as an endogenous regulator of ryanodine receptor channels is controversial. A region of RyR likely to be involved in ion translocation and selection has been identified [1,4].

Berridge, MJ; Bootman, MD; Roderick, HL. (2003) Calcium signalling: dynamics, homeostasis and remodelling. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol., 4 (7): 517-29. [PMID:12838335]

Berridge, MJ; Lipp, P; Bootman, MD. (2000) The versatility and universality of calcium signalling. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol., 1 (1): 11-21. [PMID:11413485]

Betzenhauser, MJ; Marks, AR. (2010) Ryanodine receptor channelopathies. Pflugers Arch., 460 (2): 467-80. [PMID:20179962]

Bolton, TB. (2006) Calcium events in smooth muscles and their interstitial cells; physiological roles of sparks. J. Physiol. (Lond.), 570 (Pt 1): 5-11. [PMID:16195319]

Bouchard, R; Pattarini, R; Geiger, JD. (2003) Presence and functional significance of presynaptic ryanodine receptors. Prog. Neurobiol., 69 (6): 391-418. [PMID:12880633]

Collin, T; Marty, A; Llano, I. (2005) Presynaptic calcium stores and synaptic transmission. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol., 15 (3): 275-81. [PMID:15919193]

Dulhunty, AF; Beard, NA; Pouliquin, P; Casarotto, MG. (2007) Agonists and antagonists of the cardiac ryanodine receptor: potential therapeutic agents?. Pharmacol. Ther., 113 (2): 247-63. [PMID:17055586]

Eisner, DA; Díaz, ME; O'Neill, SC; Trafford, AW. (2004) Physiological and pathological modulation of ryanodine receptor function in cardiac muscle. Cell Calcium, 35 (6): 583-9. [PMID:15110148]

Endo, M. (2009) Calcium-induced calcium release in skeletal muscle. Physiol. Rev., 89 (4): 1153-76. [PMID:19789379]

Fill, M; Copello, JA. (2002) Ryanodine receptor calcium release channels. Physiol. Rev., 82 (4): 893-922. [PMID:12270947]

Hamilton, SL; Serysheva, II. (2009) Ryanodine receptor structure: progress and challenges. J. Biol. Chem., 284 (7): 4047-51. [PMID:18927076]

Kushnir, A; Marks, AR. (2010) The ryanodine receptor in cardiac physiology and disease. Adv. Pharmacol., 59: 1-30. [PMID:20933197]

Lanner, JT; Georgiou, DK; Joshi, AD; Hamilton, SL. (2010) Ryanodine receptors: structure, expression, molecular details, and function in calcium release. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol, 2 (11): a003996. [PMID:20961976]

Meissner, G. (2004) Molecular regulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor ion channel. Cell Calcium, 35 (6): 621-8. [PMID:15110152]

Nahorski, SR. (2006) Pharmacology of intracellular signalling pathways. Br. J. Pharmacol., 147 Suppl 1: S38-45. [PMID:16402119]

Rossi, D; Sorrentino, V. (2002) Molecular genetics of ryanodine receptors Ca2+-release channels. Cell Calcium, 32 (5-6): 307-19. [PMID:12543091]

Shoshan-Barmatz, V; Ashley, RH. (1998) The structure, function, and cellular regulation of ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channels. Int. Rev. Cytol., 183: 185-270. [PMID:9666568]

Sitsapesan, R; Williams, AJ. (1998) . in The Structure and Function of Ryanodine Receptors Edited by Sitsapesan, R; Williams, AJ. Imperial College Press. [ISBN:9781860941450]

Sutko, JL; Airey, JA. (1996) Ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channels: does diversity in form equal diversity in function?. Physiol. Rev., 76 (4): 1027-71. [PMID:8874493]

Sutko, JL; Airey, JA; Welch, W; Ruest, L. (1997) The pharmacology of ryanodine and related compounds. Pharmacol. Rev., 49 (1): 53-98. [PMID:9085309]

Taur, Y; Frishman, WH. (2005) The cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) and its role in heart disease. Cardiol Rev, 13 (3): 142-6. [PMID:15831148]

Verkhratsky, A. (2005) Physiology and pathophysiology of the calcium store in the endoplasmic reticulum of neurons. Physiol. Rev., 85 (1): 201-79. [PMID:15618481]

Zucchi, R; Ronca-Testoni, S. (1997) The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ channel/ryanodine receptor: modulation by endogenous effectors, drugs and disease states. Pharmacol. Rev., 49 (1): 1-51. [PMID:9085308]

1. Gao, L; Balshaw, D; Xu, L; Tripathy, A; Xin, C; Meissner, G. (2000) Evidence for a role of the lumenal M3-M4 loop in skeletal muscle Ca(2+) release channel (ryanodine receptor) activity and conductance. Biophys. J., 79 (2): 828-40. [PMID:10920015]

2. Sutko, JL; Airey, JA. (1996) Ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channels: does diversity in form equal diversity in function?. Physiol. Rev., 76 (4): 1027-71. [PMID:8874493]

3. Yamaguchi, N; Xu, L; Pasek, DA; Evans, KE; Meissner, G. (2003) Molecular basis of calmodulin binding to cardiac muscle Ca(2+) release channel (ryanodine receptor). J. Biol. Chem., 278 (26): 23480-6. [PMID:12707260]

4. Zhao, M; Li, P; Li, X; Zhang, L; Winkfein, RJ; Chen, SR. (1999) Molecular identification of the ryanodine receptor pore-forming segment. J. Biol. Chem., 274 (37): 25971-4. [PMID:10473538]