Molecular genetics of Ca2+ stores and intracellular Ca2+ signalling

An increasing number of studies based on recombinant cells and on mouse mod els that express an altered repertoire of some of the key components of the intracellular Ca2+ release stores are becoming available as a result of mo lecular genetics techniques. Information from these studies, together with results from studies of human diseases caused by mutations in genes that en code proteins of the intracellular Ca2+ stores, are providing a significant advancement in understanding the interactive nature of the molecular machi nery that underlies intracellular Ca2+ signalling and how the different com ponents of the Ca2+ stores contribute to the regulation of cellular functio ns.