Skin cells prefer a slower calcium pump

Naturally occurring mutations of a calcium ion transporter can cause a skin condition known as Darier's disease. In this issue of JBC, Mikkelsen et al. describe a particularly interesting Darier's mutation that alters calcium transport by disrupting a kinetic braking mechanism that is unique to the SERCA2b calcium pump isoform. The study provides new insight into the intrinsic regulation of this transporter and reveals how disruption of regulation can lead to disease in Darier's patients.