MEF2: A calcium-dependent regulator of cell division, differentiation and death

Timothy A. McKinsey; Chun Li Zhang; Eric N. Olson

doi:10.1016/S0968-0004(01)02031-X

MEF2: A calcium-dependent regulator of cell division, differentiation and death

Timothy A. McKinsey, Chun Li Zhang, Eric N. Olson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

605 Scopus citations

Abstract

The decision of a cell to divide, differentiate or die is dependent on the coupling of cytoplasmic signals to the activation and repression of specific sets of genes in the nucleus. Many of the signal transduction pathways that control these cellular decisions are activated by elevation of intracellular calcium. Recent studies have revealed a central role for the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors in linking calcium-dependent signaling pathways to the genes responsible for cell division, differentiation and death. This article describes the post-translational mechanisms that confer calcium-sensitivity to MEF2 and its downstream target genes, and considers how this transcription factor can control diverse and mutually exclusive cellular decisions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	40-47
Number of pages	8
Journal	Trends in biochemical sciences
Volume	27
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-0004(01)02031-X
State	Published - Jan 1 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

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10.1016/S0968-0004(01)02031-X

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title = "MEF2: A calcium-dependent regulator of cell division, differentiation and death",

abstract = "The decision of a cell to divide, differentiate or die is dependent on the coupling of cytoplasmic signals to the activation and repression of specific sets of genes in the nucleus. Many of the signal transduction pathways that control these cellular decisions are activated by elevation of intracellular calcium. Recent studies have revealed a central role for the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors in linking calcium-dependent signaling pathways to the genes responsible for cell division, differentiation and death. This article describes the post-translational mechanisms that confer calcium-sensitivity to MEF2 and its downstream target genes, and considers how this transcription factor can control diverse and mutually exclusive cellular decisions.",

author = "McKinsey, {Timothy A.} and Zhang, {Chun Li} and Olson, {Eric N.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank J. Page and S. Johnson for editorial assistance and A. Tizenor for graphics. Work in our laboratory is supported by The National Institutes of Health, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Robert A. Welch Foundation and The D.W. Reynolds Foundation for Clinical Cardiovascular Research. T.A.M. is a Pfizer Fellow of the Life Sciences Research Foundation.",

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AU - McKinsey, Timothy A.

AU - Zhang, Chun Li

AU - Olson, Eric N.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank J. Page and S. Johnson for editorial assistance and A. Tizenor for graphics. Work in our laboratory is supported by The National Institutes of Health, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Robert A. Welch Foundation and The D.W. Reynolds Foundation for Clinical Cardiovascular Research. T.A.M. is a Pfizer Fellow of the Life Sciences Research Foundation.

PY - 2002/1/1

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N2 - The decision of a cell to divide, differentiate or die is dependent on the coupling of cytoplasmic signals to the activation and repression of specific sets of genes in the nucleus. Many of the signal transduction pathways that control these cellular decisions are activated by elevation of intracellular calcium. Recent studies have revealed a central role for the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors in linking calcium-dependent signaling pathways to the genes responsible for cell division, differentiation and death. This article describes the post-translational mechanisms that confer calcium-sensitivity to MEF2 and its downstream target genes, and considers how this transcription factor can control diverse and mutually exclusive cellular decisions.

AB - The decision of a cell to divide, differentiate or die is dependent on the coupling of cytoplasmic signals to the activation and repression of specific sets of genes in the nucleus. Many of the signal transduction pathways that control these cellular decisions are activated by elevation of intracellular calcium. Recent studies have revealed a central role for the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors in linking calcium-dependent signaling pathways to the genes responsible for cell division, differentiation and death. This article describes the post-translational mechanisms that confer calcium-sensitivity to MEF2 and its downstream target genes, and considers how this transcription factor can control diverse and mutually exclusive cellular decisions.

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MEF2: A calcium-dependent regulator of cell division, differentiation and death

Abstract

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