title: Evolution of calcium homeostasis: from birth of the first cell to an omnipresent signalling system.
abstract: Specific Ca(2+) homeostatic system appeared very early in the history of the cell, as a survival system preventing Ca(2+)-mediated cell damage. This homeostatic system produced a steep ( approximately 20,000 times) concentration gradient between extracellular and intracellular compartments, which has both survival importance (even relatively short increases in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations higher then 100 nM are incompatible with life) and signalling function. Evolution utilised this gradient together with an ability of Ca(2+) to interact with many biological molecules to create the most widespread and versatile signalling system, controlling the majority of cellular processes and executing complex routines of intercellular communications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: R Maynard
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Case
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eisner
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurney
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muallem
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verkhratsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity; D006706:Homeostasis
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium