First published online January 10, 2008
Journal of Cell Science 121, 203e (2008)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Nuclear Ca2+ declares independence
In cardiac muscle cells, the level of calcium in the cytoplasm oscillates repeatedly, causing muscle contraction and heartbeat. In addition, Ca2+ plays a key role in the nucleus, where it regulates gene expression. Nuclear Ca2+ levels depend – at least in part – on Ca2+ transients (CaTs) in the cytosol, but it is not known whether nuclear Ca2+ concentration can also be independently controlled. Now, Burkert Pieske and colleagues (p. 186) report that low levels of the vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 increase the amplitude of nuclear CaTs selectively in cardiac myocytes. The authors show that endothelin-1 increases CaTs in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm when used at higher concentrations, but nuclear CaTs still increase when cytoplasmic CaTs are blocked. By using specific inhibitors, the authors demonstrate that phospholipase C and inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate mediate the increase in nuclear Ca2+. Moreover, they show that endothelin-1 promotes Ca2+ release from perinuclear stores. Thus, nuclear Ca2+ can be independently regulated, shedding light on how Ca2+ controls diverse processes within a single cell.

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Related articles in JCS:
- Endothelin-1 enhances nuclear Ca2+ transients in atrial myocytes through Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent Ca2+ release from perinuclear Ca2+ stores
- Jens Kockskämper, Lea Seidlmayer, Stefanie Walther, Kristian Hellenkamp, Lars S. Maier, and Burkert Pieske
JCS 2008 121: 186-195.
[Abstract]
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