An update on nuclear calcium signalling.
Over the past 15 years or so, numerous studies have sought to characterise how nuclear calcium (Ca2+) signals are generated and reversed, and to understand how events that occur in the nucleoplasm influence cellular Ca2+ activity, and vice versa. In this Commentary, we describe mechanisms of nuclear Ca2+ signalling and discuss what is known about the origin and physiological significance of nuclear Ca2+ transients. In particular, we focus on the idea that the nucleus has an autonomous Ca2+ signalling system that can generate its own Ca2+ transients that modulate processes such as gene transcription. We also discuss the role of nuclear pores and the nuclear envelope in controlling ion flux into the nucleoplasm.
Bootman
Martin D
MD
Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, The Babraham Institute, Babraham, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK. martin.bootman@bbsrc.ac.uk
Fearnley
Claire
C
Smyrnias
Ioannis
I
MacDonald
Fraser
F
Roderick
H Llewelyn
HL
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D015220:Calcium Channels; D002118:Calcium