Mechanisms of Ca(2+)-dependent transcription.

Ca(2+) has a central role in coupling synaptic activity and transcriptional responses. Recent studies have focused on Ca(2+)-dependent nuclear mechanisms that bring to the nucleosomal level cascades of events initiated in the submembranous space at the synapse. In addition, a new Ca(2+)-dependent interaction between a calcium sensor and DNA has been shown to regulate transcription directly.