Emerging roles of the single EF-hand Ca2+ sensor tescalcin in the regulation of gene expression, cell growth and differentiation.

Tescalcin (TESC, also known as calcineurin-homologous protein 3, CHP3) is a 24-kDa EF-hand Ca-binding protein that has recently emerged as a regulator of cell differentiation and growth. The TESC gene has also been linked to human brain abnormalities, and high expression of tescalcin has been found in several cancers. The expression level of tescalcin changes dramatically during development and upon signal-induced cell differentiation.