Interplay between calcium and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Cellular homeostasis is crucial for the healthy functioning of the organism. Disruption of cellular homeostasis activates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress coping responses including the unfolded protein response (UPR). There are three ER resident stress sensors responsible for UPR activation - IRE1α, PERK and ATF6. Ca2+ signaling plays an important role in stress responses including the UPR and the ER is the main Ca2+ storage organelle and a source of Ca2+ for cell signaling. The ER contains many proteins involved in Ca2+ import/export/ storage, Ca2+ movement between different cellular organelles and ER Ca2+ stores refilling. Here we focus on selected aspects of ER Ca2+ homeostasis and its role in activation of the ER stress coping responses.