Regulation of nuclear calcium concentration

Transient increases in nuclear calcium concentration have been shown to activate gene expression and other nuclear processes. It has been suggested that nuclear calcium signals are controlled by a mechanism that is independent of calcium signalling in the cytosol. This would be possible if calcium diffusion is slow and a separate calcium release mechanism is localized to the nuclear region. Alternatively, the nuclear envelope could act as a diffusion barrier for calcium ions released either inside or outside the nucleus. It has also been proposed that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) can be generated inside the nucleus and that there are calcium release channels in the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope. Most of the experimental evidence supporting these hypotheses is based on the calibration of nuclear and cytosolic calcium concentrations. However, recent studies suggest that the local calibration of calcium indicators may not be accurate. We propose that nuclear calcium signals can be investigated by a different approach that does not rely on accurate calibration of indicators. We have developed calcium indicators that minimize facilitated calcium diffusion and are localized to either the nucleus or the cytosol. Using the diffusion coefficient of calcium ions, and measuring the delay between cytosolic and nuclear calcium increases, we show that the nuclear envelope is not a substantial barrier for calcium ions in PC12 (phaeochromocytoma) cells. This suggests that nuclear and cytosolic calcium signals equilibrate rapidly in these cells.