A new role for an old friend: NFAT and stem cell quiescence.
NFAT proteins are calcium-regulated transcription factors that play a critical role during the timing and activation of many vertebrate tissues. A recent paper in Cell (Horsley et al., 2008) demonstrates a role of the calcineurin-NFAT-CDK4 pathway in maintaining hair follicle stem cell quiescence.
Oro
Anthony E
AE
Program in Epithelial Biology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, CCSR 2145, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. oro@stanford.edu
D000818:Animals; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D019703:Calcineurin