ALG-2: a Ca2+ -binding modulator protein involved in cell proliferation and in cell death

During the development of an organism, cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death are tightly balanced, and are controlled by a number of different regulators. Alterations in this balance are often observed in a variety of human diseases. The role of Ca(2+) as one of the key regulators of the cell is discussed with respect to a recently discovered Ca(2+)-binding protein, ALG-2, which is highly upregulated in cancerous tissues of different origins. The role of ALG-2 as a possible clinical marker and, molecularly, as a possible modulator at the interface between cell proliferation and cell death is discussed.