On Ca2+ signalling research

As a highly versatile intracellular signal, calcium (Ca 2+ ) regulates many different cellular processes in both animal and plant systems.Disruption of Ca 2+ homeostasis contributes to several human diseases.Owing to the importance of Ca 2+ signalling, its research is now an active field in life science.There are numerous Ca 2+ signalling systems, consisting of a diverse array of signalling units that deliver Ca 2+ signals with different spatial and temporal properties [1,2], playing roles in ubiquitous biological processes including gene regulation, fuel generation, substance transport, hormone and neurotransmitter secretion, cell motility and muscle contraction [3].Consequently, exquisite homeostasis of Ca 2+ cycling is the key for health of humans, the disruption of which is related to many human diseases such as heart failure, neuron-degeneration, and diabetes [46].Many remarkable achievements have greatly enhanced our understanding of Ca 2+ signaling, including those from Chinese scientists [710].The 17th International Symposium on Ca 2+ -binding Proteins and Ca 2+ Function in Health and Disease was held in Beijing, China, on July 16-20, 2011 [11], accompany which, a special issue of Science China Life Sciences was published for transducing Ca 2+ signals to effectors.The first part focused on the mechanisms in maintaining a low cytosolic level of Ca 2+ , with two articles reviewing the properties of the plasma membrane calcium ATPases (PMCA) in ejecting Ca 2+ into the extracellular space.First, Carafoli [12] reviewed the role of the plasma membrane calcium pump, PMCA2, in the hearing process.As an im-