For many years now, it has been known that Ca2+ is an important signaling molecule in the cytosol of the cell, but emerging evidence suggests that Ca2+ might also play a signaling role in the endoplasmic reticulum. For example, agonist-induced fluctuations in free Ca2+ concentration in the endoplasmic reticulum can affect many functions of the endoplasmic reticulum, including protein synthesis and modification, and interchaperone interactions.