NFAT signaling: choreographing the social lives of cells.
Calcium signaling activates the phosphatase calcineurin and induces movement of NFATc proteins into the nucleus, where they cooperate with other proteins to form complexes on DNA. Nuclear import is opposed by kinases such as GSK3, thereby rendering transcription continuously responsive to receptor occupancy. Disruptions of the genes involved in NFAT signaling are implicating this pathway as a regulator of developmental cell-cell interactions.
Crabtree
Gerald R
GR
Department of Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. crabtree@cmgm.stanford.edu
Olson
Eric N
EN
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D041641:Musculoskeletal Development; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019703:Calcineurin