title: CIF and other mysteries of the store-operated Ca2+-entry pathway.
abstract: The molecular mechanism of the store-operated Ca2+-entry (SOCE) pathway remains one of the most intriguing and long lasting mysteries of Ca2+ signaling. The elusive calcium influx factor (CIF) that is produced upon depletion of Ca2+ stores has attracted growing attention, triggered by new discoveries that filled the gap in the chain of reactions leading to activation of store-operated channels and Ca2+ entry. Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 emerged as a target of CIF, and a major determinant of the SOCE mechanism. Here, we present our viewpoint on CIF and conformational-coupling models of SOCE from a historical perspective, trying to resolve some of the problem areas, and summarizing our present knowledge on how depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores signals to plasma membrane channels to open and provide Ca2+ influx that is required for many important physiological functions.
authors.affiliation: Ion Channel and Calcium Unit, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. vbolotina@medicine.bu.edu
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Bolotina
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Csutora
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002118:Calcium