Physiological platelet activation and thrombus formation are essential to stop bleeding in
case of vascular injury, whereas inadequate triggering of the same process in diseased
vessels can lead to fatal thromboembolism and tissue ischemia of vital organs. A central
step in platelet activation is agonist-induced elevation of the intracellular Ca2+
concentration. This happens on the one hand through the release of Ca2+ from intracellular
stores and on the other hand through Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space. In platelets …