Calcium, Calcineurin, and the Control of Transcription

Gerald R Crabtree

doi:10.1074/jbc.r000024200

Abstract

Calcium, Calcineurin, and the Control of Transcription

Highlights

The Ca2ϩ, calcineurin/NF-AT signaling pathway was defined about 10 years ago [1,2,3,4] and was one of the first signaling pathways to bridge the cell membrane with the nucleus
Calcineurin functions in this pathway by directly dephosphorylating the cytoplasmic subunits of the NF-AT1 transcription complex [12,13,14], which are encoded by four genes (NF-ATc1– 4) [15] and which undergo cytoplasmic to nuclear translocation as originally described [2]
NF-ATc family members move into the nucleus where they are maintained by persistent elevation of intracellular Ca2ϩ and the continuous activity of calcineurin [11]

Summary

Introduction

The Ca2ϩ, calcineurin/NF-AT signaling pathway was defined about 10 years ago [1,2,3,4] and was one of the first signaling pathways to bridge the cell membrane with the nucleus. NF-ATc family members move into the nucleus where they are maintained by persistent elevation of intracellular Ca2ϩ and the continuous activity of calcineurin [11]. The persistent activation of calcineurin necessary to maintain NF-ATc family members in the nucleus requires the CRAC channel, which is known to provide a sustained high level of Ca2ϩ [21].

Results

Conclusion