Calcium/NFAT signalling promotes early nephrogenesis

► No β-catenin activity can be detected in the early nephrogenic mesenchyme. ► Expressional and functional data implicate Ca2+/NFAT Wnt signalling in nephrogenesis. ► Disruption of the Ca2+/NFAT pathway disrupts kidney morphogenesis. ► Increased Ca2+ signalling partially rescues nephrogenesis in Wnt4 knockout mice. ► We propose Ca2+/NFAT signalling as a novel regulator of nephrogenesis.