Calcium-binding proteins and development

The known roles for calcium-binding proteins in developmental signaling pat hways are reviewed. Current information on the calcium-binding characterist ics of three classes of cell-surface developmental signaling proteins (EGF- domain proteins, cadherins and integrins) is presented together with an ove rview of the intracellular pathways downstream of these surface receptors. The developmental roles delineated to date for the universal intracellular calcium sensor, calmodulin, and its targets, and for calcium-binding regula tors of the cytoskeleton are also reviewed.