Calcium ionophore A23187 as a regulator of gene expression in mammalian cells

The calcium ionophore A23187 can reversibly induce the expression of two glucose-regulated genes, p3C5 and p4A3. This induction requires a continuous presence of the ionophore for over 2 h. Although extracellular Ca2+ is important for the optimal effect of A23187, it is not necessary for the induction, since a similar response with a lower magnitude can be triggered in cells cultured in low Ca2+ medium buffered with EGTA. Both the basal and induced levels of p3C5 and p4A3 transcripts can be modulated by the calmodulin antagonist W-7, indicating the involvement of Ca2+/calmodulin-associated pathways. In addition, the sensitivity of the A23187 induction to cycloheximide suggests that the induction process is dependent on de novo protein synthesis.