Related Experiment Videos
Calcium oscillations increase the efficiency and specificity of gene expression
R E Dolmetsch1, K Xu, R S Lewis
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305, USA.
Nature
|May 15, 1998
Summary
Calcium ([Ca2+]) oscillations enhance cellular signaling efficiency and specificity. This study reveals how oscillation frequency and amplitude regulate gene expression, impacting cell differentiation and immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Molecular Signaling
- Immunology
Background:
- Cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) oscillations are a widespread signaling mechanism.
- The precise roles of these oscillations in signal efficiency and specificity remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how calcium oscillation amplitude and frequency regulate gene expression.
- To determine the impact of calcium signaling on transcription factors like NF-AT, Oct/OAP, and NF-kappaB.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel calcium (Ca2+) clamp technique.
- Analysis of gene expression patterns in response to controlled Ca2+ oscillations.
Main Results:
- Calcium oscillations lower the threshold for transcription factor activation, improving low-level signal detection.
- Oscillation frequency dictates specificity: rapid oscillations activate multiple factors, while infrequent ones activate only NF-kappaB.
- Frequency-dependent regulation observed for interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-8 gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Calcium ([Ca2+]i) oscillations enhance both the efficacy and information content of calcium signals.
- These oscillations play a critical role in gene expression and cell differentiation processes.