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Calcium orchestrates apoptosis

Nature Cell Biology volume 5, pages 1041–1043 (2003)Cite this article

Apoptosis is a feature of many diseases and is critical for the sculpting and maintenance of tissues. New work demonstrates that calcium released from the endoplasmic reticulum synchronizes the mass exodus of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, a phenomenon that coordinates apoptosis.

One unresolved problem in cell biology has been to explain how a cell dies rapidly while maintaining its energy levels, preserving the structure of its mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, and not adversely affecting its neighbours. Research over the past decade has filled in some pieces of this puzzle by establishing the functions of several proteins — including Bcl-2 family members, cytochrome c and caspases — in an evolutionarily conserved form of programmed cell death called apoptosis1. During development, apoptosis is necessary for tissues and organs to acquire their unique structures and functions. By eliminating 'worn out' cells, apoptosis also serves adaptive functions in self-renewing tissues of the adult, with bone marrow or blood and epithelia being well-studied examples2. Beyond its importance for understanding development and tissue homeostasis, the molecular regulation of apoptosis has moved to the forefront of biomedical research: it is an important factor in prominent diseases, including cancers (in which tumour cells are resistant to apoptosis) and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (where unwanted apoptosis of neurons occurs)3.

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Figure 1: The roles of calcium and cytochrome c as inter-organellar messengers in apoptosis.

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  1. the Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, 21224, MD, USA

    Mark P. Mattson & Sic L. Chan

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  1. Mark P. Mattson
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  2. Sic L. Chan
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Mattson, M., Chan, S. Calcium orchestrates apoptosis. Nat Cell Biol 5, 1041–1043 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1203-1041

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