The role of calcium in aggregation and development of Dictyostelium

Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ play an important role in a wide array of cell types and the control of its concentration depends upon the interplay of many cellular constituents. Resting cells maintain cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) at a low level in the face of steep gradients of extracellular and sequestered Ca2+. Many different signals can provoke the opening of calcium channels in the plasma membrane or in intracellular compartments and cause rapid influx of Ca2+ into the cytosol and elevation of [Ca2+]i. After such stimulation Ca2+ ATPases located in the plasma membrane and in the membranes of intracellular stores rapidly return [Ca2+]i to its basal level. Such responses to elevation of [Ca2+]i are a part of an important signal transduction mechanism that uses calcium (often via the binding protein calmodulin) to mediate a variety of cellular actions responsive to outside influences.