Biochemistry of calcium oscillations

Cytosolic calcium (Ca(2+)) oscillations are vastly flexible cell signals that convey information regulating numerous cellular processes. The frequency and amplitude of the oscillating signal can be varied infinitely by concerted actions of Ca(2+) transporters and Ca(2+)-binding proteins to encode specific messages that trigger downstream molecular events. High frequency cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations regulate fast responses, such as synaptic transmission and secretion, whereas low frequency oscillations regulate slow processes, such as fertilization and gene transcription. Thus, the cell exploits Ca(2+) oscillations as a signalling carrier to transduce vital information that controls its behaviour. Here, we review the underlying biochemical mechanisms responsible for generating and discriminating cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.