title: The functions of store-operated calcium channels.
abstract: Store-operated calcium channels provide calcium signals to the cytoplasm of a wide variety of cell types. The basic components of this signaling mechanism include a mechanism for discharging Ca2+stores (commonly but not exclusively phospholipase C and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate), a sensor in the endoplasmic reticulum that also serves as an activator of the plasma membrane channel (STIM1 and STIM2), and the store-operated channel (Orai1, 2 or 3). The advent of mice genetically altered to reduce store-operated calcium entry globally or in specific cell types has provided important tools to understand the functions of these widely encountered channels in specific and clinically important physiological systems. This review briefly discusses the history and cellular properties of store-operated calcium channels, and summarizes selected studies of their physiological functions in specific physiological or pathological contexts. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: ECS Meeting edited by Claus Heizmann, Joachim Krebs and Jacques Haiech.
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. Electronic address: putney@niehs.nih.gov.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Putney
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steinckwich-Besançon
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Numaga-Tomita
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Felicity M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Pooja N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: D'Agostin
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Shilan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bird
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Calcium signaling; Exocrine glands; Keratinocytes; Mouse models; Neutrophils; Store-operated calcium channels