Functional interactions between calmodulin and estrogen receptor-α

The effects of estrogen in breast epithelial cells are mediated primarily via estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β (ERα and ERβ). Accumulating evidence implicates a role for Ca2+ and calmodulin in breast carcinoma, as well as in the function of ERα. Calmodulin contributes to the regulation of both ERα degradation and ERα-mediated transcriptional activation. Recent data will be summarized in this review. Models to explain the molecular mechanisms by which calmodulin modulates ERα function are proposed.