Channeling to the Nucleus

L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (LTCs) may control neuronal gene expression by increasing nuclear Ca2+ levels or regulating Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent transcription factors. In the November 3 issue of Cell, Gomez-Ospina et al. demonstrate another signaling mechanism, in which a C-terminal fragment of LTC translocates to the nucleus in a calcium-dependent manner and directly regulates transcription.