Abstract
Cell signaling is an essential process in which a variety of external signals, defined as first messengers, are translated inside the cells into specific responses, which are mediated by a less numerous group of second messengers. The exchange of signals became a necessity when the transition from monocellular to pericellular life brought with it the division of labor among the cells of the organisms: unicellular organisms do not depend on the mutual exchange of signals, as they essentially only compete with each other for nutrients. Calcium (Ca2+) was selected during evolution as second messenger, because its chemistry made it a much more flexible ligand than the other abundant cations in the primordial environment (Na+, K +, Mg2+). Ca2+ can accept binding sites of irregular geometries and is thus ideally suited to be a carrier of biological information. The Ca2+ signal has properties that set it apart from those of all other biological messengers: they will be reviewed in this contribution. Among them, the ambivalent character of the Ca2+ signal is the most important: while essential to the viability of the cells, it can also easily become a conveyor of doom.
Lingua originale | Inglese |
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pagine (da-a) | 175-180 |
Numero di pagine | 6 |
Rivista | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education |
Volume | 36 |
Numero di pubblicazione | 3 |
DOI | |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - mag 2008 |
Pubblicato esternamente | Sì |