The role of calcium in intracellular trafficking

Abstract

The molecular mechanism of membrane fusion essential to vital cellular activities such as intracellular transport, hormone secretion, enzyme release, or neurotransmission, involve the assembly and disassembly of a specialized set of proteins in opposing bilayers. Recent evidences shed new light on the role Ca(2+) has in the regulation of this mechanism in which the Golgi apparatus works as a central station; from here, Ca(2+) ions are released into and recovered from the cytosol during the different steps of the cargo progression. In fact, transient cytosolic Ca(2+) fluctuations take a crucial role to recruit proteins and enzymes Ca(2+)-sensitive on Golgi membranes where they are involved in membranes remodelling which is fundamental process for the fusion events that allow protein trafficking. Here I provide an overview of the role Ca(2+) plays in intra-Golgi trafficking underlying some interesting aspects to clarify the mechanisms of cargo progression.