The role of calcium in aggregation and development of Dictyostelium

• Published in: Experientia Vol. 51; no. 12; p. 1155
• Main Authors: Newell, P C, Malchow, D, Gross, J D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 18-12-1995
• Subjects: Animals; Calcium - physiology; Calcium-Transporting ATPases - physiology; Chemotaxis; Cyclic GMP - physiology; Cytoskeleton - physiology; Dictyostelium - growth & development
• ISSN: 0014-4754
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01944733

Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ play an important role in a wide array of cell types and the control of its concentration depends upon the interplay of many cellular constituents. Resting cells maintain cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) at a low level in the face of steep gradients of extracellular and sequestered Ca2+. Many different signals can provoke the opening of calcium channels in the plasma membrane or in intracellular compartments and cause rapid influx of Ca2+ into the cytosol and elevation of [Ca2+]i. After such stimulation Ca2+ ATPases located in the plasma membrane and in the membranes of intracellular stores rapidly return [Ca2+]i to its basal level. Such responses to elevation of [Ca2+]i are a part of an important signal transduction mechanism that uses calcium (often via the binding protein calmodulin) to mediate a variety of cellular actions responsive to outside influences.