The role of calcium in apoptosis

In this chapter various aspects of apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) influenced by calcium as a mediator of signal transduction have been reviewed. Attention has been focused on recently described calcium-binding proteins such as ALG-2 or on a new calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase, the death associated protein kinase or DAP-kinase. Both play a central role in apoptotic processes. Calcineurin, which normally is involved in the regulation of T-cell proliferation, is reported to interact with the apoptosis protection protein bcl-2. Its possible involvement in the decision process whether T-cell activation leads to proliferation or apoptosis is discussed.