Open AccessCalcium signaling in physiology and pathophysiology
Author(s) -
CHENG Heping,
WEI Sheng,
WEI Liping,
VERKHRATSKY Alexei
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta pharmacologica sinica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.514
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1745-7254
pISSN - 1671-4083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2006.00399.x
Subject(s) - calcium , calcium signaling , effector , cell signaling , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chemistry , computational biology , organic chemistry
Calcium ions are the most ubiquitous and pluripotent cellular signaling molecules that control a wide variety of cellular processes. The calcium signaling system is represented by a relatively limited number of highly conserved transporters and channels, which execute Ca 2+ movements across biological membranes and by many thousands of Ca 2+ ‐sensitive effectors. Molecular cascades, responsible for the generation of calcium signals, are tightly controlled by Ca 2+ ions themselves and by genetic factors, which tune the expression of different Ca 2+ ‐handling molecules according to adaptational requirements. Ca 2+ ions determine normal physiological reactions and the development of many pathological processes.