ISSN:
1572-8773
Keywords:
calcium
;
CREB
;
gene expression
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Through the evolution of multicellular organisms, calcium has emerged as the preferred ion for intracel-lular signalling. It now occupies a pivotal role in many cell types and nowhere is it more important than in neurons, where it mediates both the relaying and long-term storage of information. The latter is a process that enables learning and memory to be formed and requires the activation of gene expression by calcium signals. Evidence from a number of diverse organisms shows that transcription mediated by the transcrip-tion factor CREB is critical for learning and memory. Here we review the features of CREB activation by calcium signals in mammalian cells. In contrast to other transcription factors, its regulation is dependent on an elevation of nuclear calcium concentration, potentially placing this spatially distinct pool of calcium as an important mediator of information storage.© Kluwer Academic Publishers
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009257909785
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