The Genes That Control Calcium Homeostasis

Abstract

Application of the techniques of molecular biology is having a dramatic impact upon endocrinology (for a review, see Hendy & Kronenberg, 1982). This is specifically illustrated here by considering the use of recombinant DNA technology to study some of the main factors that are involved in calcium homeostasis, including parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and vitamin D‐dependent calcium‐binding protein. To varying degrees for these proteins, it has been possible to elucidate the sequence of nucleotides in the appropriate messenger RNA and measure the concentration of specific mRNA in the parathyroid, thyroid or intestine. It has also been possible in some cases to begin to establish the number and the structure of the genes that are involved and to assign a particular gene to a specific chromosome.