Role of the nuclear envelope in calcium signalling

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the major Ca(2+) store inside the cell. Its organisation in specialised subdomains allows the local delivery of Ca(2+) to specific cell areas on stimulation. The nuclear envelope (NE), which is continuous with the ER, has a double role: it insulates the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm and it stores Ca(2+) around the nucleus. Furthermore, all the constituents of the signalling cascade leading to Ca(2+) mobilisation are found in the NE; this allows the nuclear Ca(2+) to be regulated autonomously. On the other hand, cytosolic Ca(2+) transients can propagate within the nucleus via the nuclear pore complex. The variations in nuclear Ca(2+) concentration are important for controlling gene transcription and progression in the cell cycle. Recent data suggest that invaginations of the NE modify the morphology of the nucleus and may affect Ca(2+) dynamics in the nucleus and regulate transcriptional activity.