Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) current, structure, and function

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2012 Dec;69(24):4163-76. doi: 10.1007/s00018-012-1072-8. Epub 2012 Jul 17.

Abstract

Store-operated Ca(2+) entry describes the phenomenon that connects a depletion of internal Ca(2+) stores to an activation of plasma membrane-located Ca(2+) selective ion channels. Tremendous progress towards the underlying molecular mechanism came with the discovery of the two respective limiting components, STIM and Orai. STIM1 represents the ER-located Ca(2+) sensor and transmits the signal of store depletion to the plasma membrane. Here it couples to and activates Orai, the highly Ca(2+)-selective pore-forming subunit of Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) channels. In this review, we focus on the molecular steps that these two proteins undergo from store-depletion to their coupling, the activation, and regulation of Ca(2+) currents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / chemistry
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Channels / chemistry
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels / physiology*
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
  • ORAI1 Protein
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • ORAI1 Protein
  • ORAI1 protein, human
  • STIM1 protein, human
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1
  • Calcium