Signaling by the B cell receptor and the T cell receptor stimulate transcription by NFAT factors via calcium (reviewed in Gwack et al. 2007). Cytosolic calcium from intracellular stores and extracellular sources binds calmodulin and activates the protein phosphatase calcineurin. Activated calcineurin dephosphorylates NFATs in the cytosol, exposing nuclear localization sequences on the NFATs and causing the NFATs to be imported into the nucleus where they regulate transcription of target genes in complexes with other transcription factors such as AP-1 and JUN. Calcineurin in the target of the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin A and FK-506 (reviewed in Lee and Park 2006).
