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 revie wed. Attention hits been focused on recently described calcium-binding prot eins such as ALG-2 or on a new calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase, the dea th associated protein kinase or DAP-kinase. Both play a central role in apo ptotic processes. Calcineurin, which normally is involved in the regulation of T-cell proliferation, is reported to interact with the apoptosis protec tion protein bcl-2, Its possible involvement in the decision process whethe r T-cell activation leads to proliferation or apoptosis is discussed.