Calcium and signal transduction

Laura Fedrizzi, Dmitry Lim, Ernesto Carafoli

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo su rivistaArticolo di reviewpeer review

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 originaleInglese
pagine (da-a)175-180
Numero di pagine6
RivistaBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Education
Volume36
Numero di pubblicazione3
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - mag 2008
Pubblicato esternamente

Fingerprint

Entra nei temi di ricerca di 'Calcium and signal transduction'. Insieme formano una fingerprint unica.

Cita questo