The Role of Calcium in Cell Division

Calcium ions (Ca2+) appear to participate in the regulation of several aspects of cell division. Evidence is accumulating that transients or local gradients in the [Ca2+] contribute to different events including nuclear envelope breakdown and reformation, cleavage furrow formation and growth, and cell plate formation. At present there is little direct evidence that Ca2+ transients trigger the onset of anaphase. However, studies with exogenously applied Ca2+ indicate that spindle fibers and the movement of chromosomes at anaphase are exquisitely sensitive to the ion at physiological levels. Although Ca2+ is involved with many processes there are many gaps in our understanding, particularly pertaining to exactly when and where the ion concentration changes are expressed, which events and macromolecules are targeted, and what the processes are that control Ca2+.