Nuclear calcium signaling: a cell within a cell

Calcium (Ca2+) is a versatile second messenger that regulates a wide range of cellular functions. Although it is not established how a single second messenger coordinates diverse effects within a cell, there is increasing evidence that the spatial patterns of Ca2+ signals may determine their specificity. Ca2+ signaling patterns can vary in different regions of the cell and Ca2+ signals in nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments have been reported to occur independently. No general paradigm has been established yet to explain whether, how, or when Ca2+ signals are initiated within the nucleus or their function. Here we highlight that receptor tyrosine kinases rapidly translocate to the nucleus. Ca2+ signals that are induced by growth factors result from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation within the nucleus rather than within the cytoplasm. This novel signaling mechanism may be responsible for growth factor effects on cell proliferation.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rodrigues,M.A., Gomes,D.A., Nathanson,M.H., Leite,M.F.
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 2009
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2009000100004
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