title: ROCs and SOCs: what's in a name?
abstract: There is currently a great deal of interest in the relative contributions of external and internally sequestered Ca(2+) in various physiological responses. However, this field is losing clarity due to inattentive use of terms. In particular, the terms "receptor-operated channels" and "store-operated channels" (ROCs and SOCs, respectively) are becoming ambiguous through over-use. In this paper, we will first consider basic principles of channel gating in order to set the stage for defining criteria which can be used to distinguish precisely between different channel-related functions. We will then focus on recurring examples of adventurous use of terminology, or of blurring of the distinctions between channel types, and propose solutions to this quandary.
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph's Hospital, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. janssenl@mcmaster.ca <janssenl@mcmaster.ca>
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kwan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D006801:Humans; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels