Calcium signaling

<p>Calcium signaling is the use of <a href="/facts/Calcium_in_biology/wgUxKej5">calcium ions</a> (Ca2+) to communicate and drive <a href="/facts/Glossary_of_biology/UEPUhSN8">intracellular</a> processes often as a step in <a href="/facts/Signal_transduction/1bs0Me6w">signal transduction</a>. Ca2+ is important for a wide variety of <a href="/facts/Cell_signaling/6oYAVP9I">cellular signaling pathways</a>. Once Ca2+ enters the <a href="/facts/Cytosol/VyXgygWm">cytosol</a> of the <a href="/facts/Cytoplasm/Wa0sE6xf">cytoplasm</a> it exerts <a href="/facts/Allosteric/alMRuyt9">allosteric</a> regulatory effects on many <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a> and <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">proteins</a>. Ca2+ signaling can activate certain <a href="/facts/Ion_channels/A46LARFH">ion channels</a> for short term changes (like changes to <a href="/facts/Electrochemical_gradient/IEfjjoIL">electrochemical gradients</a>) in the cell. For longer-term changes (like changes in <a href="/facts/Gene_transcription/bDgp9HDN">gene transcription</a>), Ca2+ can act as a <a href="/facts/Second_messenger_system/J0eEENxQ">second messenger</a> through indirect signal transduction pathways, such as in <a href="/facts/G_protein-coupled_receptors/0arUMkQc">G protein-coupled receptor pathways</a>.
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Calcium signaling open-in-new

Calcium signaling