Calmodulin and cell cycle control

Previous studies have indicated a role for the calcium receptor calmodulin in the control of eukaryotic cell proliferation. Using a molecular genetic approach in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans we have shown that CaM is required for cell cycle progression at multiple points in the cell cycle. Construction of an A nidulans strain conditional for calmodulin expression reveals that this protein is required during G1/S and for the initiation of mitosis. A lack of calmodulin results in cell cycle arrest, and a failure in polar growth that accompanies germination of A nidulans spores. In addition, increased expression of calmodulin in this organism permits growth at suboptimal calcium concentrations, indicating that cell growth is coordinately regulated by calcium and calmodulin. Together these results indicate that calmodulin-dependent processes may be conserved between A nidulans and vertebrate cells, and suggest that this approach may allow us to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying calmodulin-regulated control of cell proliferation.