( Thus ( ( these CBPs ) ( likely ( ( ( ( function ( in ( ( mediating ( ion transport ) ) ( across ( the ( plasma membrane ) ) ) ) ) ) and ) ( ( , ( ( like ( the ( CNG channels ) ) ) , ) ) ( may ( ( function ( ( ( as ( components ( of ( non-selective ( calcium-permeable ( ion channels ) ) ) ) ) ) and ) ( as ( a ( junction point ) ) ) ) ) ( where ( ( ( calcium and ) ( cyclic ( nucleotide ( second ( messenger systems ) ) ) ) ) interact ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Thus)) (NP (DT these) (NNPS CBPs)) (ADVP (RB likely)) (VP (VP (VBP function) (PP (IN in) (S (VP (VBG mediating) (NP (NN ion) (NN transport)) (PP (IN across) (NP (DT the) (NN plasma) (NN membrane))))))) (CC and) (VP (PRN (, ,) (PP (IN like) (NP (DT the) (NNP CNG) (NNS channels))) (, ,)) (MD may) (VP (VB function) (PP (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (NNS components)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ non-selective) (JJ calcium-permeable) (NN ion) (NNS channels))))) (CC and) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT a) (NN junction) (NN point)))) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB where)) (S (NP (NP (NN calcium)) (CC and) (NP (JJ cyclic) (JJ nucleotide) (JJ second) (NN messenger) (NNS systems))) (VP (VBP interact))))))) (. .)))
Thus these CBPs likely function in mediating ion transport across the plasma membrane and, like the CNG channels, may function as components of non-selective calcium-permeable ion channels and as a junction point where calcium and cyclic nucleotide second messenger systems interact.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Calcium) (NNP ion)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN example)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT a) (JJ second) (NN messenger))))) (. .)))
Calcium ion is an example of a second messenger.