Intracellular Ca(2+) signaling: A novel player in the canonical mTOR-controlled autophagy pathway

Functional intracellular Ca(2+) signaling is essential for the upregulation of the canonical mTOR-controlled autophagy pathway triggered by rapamycin or by nutrient deprivation. Moreover, modifications in the Ca(2+)-signaling machinery coincide with autophagy stimulation. This results in enhanced intracellular Ca(2+) signaling essential for driving the autophagy process. Yet, the mechanisms upstream (the players causing the changes in Ca(2+) signaling) and downstream (the targets of the altered Ca(2+) signals) of this Ca(2+)-dependent autophagy pathway remain elusive. Here, we speculate about these mechanisms based on our current knowledge.