title: STIM proteins, Orai1 and gene expression.
abstract: Cytoplasmic Ca(2+) is an universal intracellular messenger that activates cellular responses over a broad temporal range, from neurotransmitter release to cell growth and proliferation. Inherent to the use of the multifarious Ca(2+) signal is the question of specificity: how can some Ca(2+)-dependent responses be activated in a cell and not others? A rise in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) can evoke a response either by binding directly to the target (as occurs with certain Ca(2+)-activated K(+) and Cl(-) channels, for example) or through recruitment of intermediary proteins, such as calmodulin and troponin C. A substantial body of evidence has now established that Ca(2+)-binding proteins differ both in their affinities for Ca(2+) and in their on- and off-rates for Ca(2+) binding/unbinding. Furthermore, different Ca(2+)-binding proteins often occupy distinct locations within the cell. Therefore, the size, kinetics and spatial profile of a cytoplasmic Ca(2+) signal are all important in determining which Ca(2+)-dependent response will be activated, when and for how long.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics; University of Oxford; Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Pulak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics; University of Oxford; Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Anant
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parekh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071740:ORAI1 Protein; D000071737:Stromal Interaction Molecule 1; D000071738:Stromal Interaction Molecule 2
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000071740:ORAI1 Protein; C510746:ORAI1 protein, human; C103530:STIM1 protein, human; C513279:STIM2 protein, human; D000071737:Stromal Interaction Molecule 1; D000071738:Stromal Interaction Molecule 2
keywords: NFAT; calcium signaling; gene expression; store-operated channels; transcription factor