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The chloride anion as a signalling effector
Ángel G Valdivieso1,2, Tomás A Santa-Coloma1,2
1Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute for Biomedical Research (BIOMED), School of Medical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires 1107, Argentina.
Abstract:
The specific role of the chloride anion (Cl- ) as a signalling effector or second messenger has been increasingly recognized in recent years. It could represent a key factor in the regulation of cellular homeostasis. Changes in intracellular Cl- concentration affect diverse cellular functions such as gene and protein expression and activities, post-translational modifications of proteins, cellular volume, cell cycle, cell proliferation and differentiation, membrane potential, reactive oxygen species levels, and intracellular/extracellular pH. Cl- also modulates functions in different organelles, including endosomes, phagosomes, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. A better knowledge of Cl- signalling could help in understanding the molecular and metabolic changes seen in pathologies with altered Cl- transport or under physiological conditions. Here we review relevant evidence supporting the role of Cl- as a signalling effector.
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