title: Ca2+influx at the ER/PM junctions.
abstract: Ca2+influx across the plasma membrane is a key component of the receptor-evoked Ca2+signaling that mediate numerous cell functions and reload the ER after partial or full ER Ca2+store depletion. Ca2+influx is activated in response to Ca2+release from the ER, a concept developed by Jim Putney, and the channels mediating the influx are thus called store-operated Ca2+influx channels, or SOCs. The molecular identity of the SOCs has been determined with the identification of the TRPC channels, STIM1 and the Orai channels. These channels are targeted to, operate and are regulated when at the ER/PM junctions. ER/PM junctions are a form of membrane contact sites (MCSs) that are present in all parts of the cells, where the ER makes contacts with cellular membranes and organelles. MCSs have many cellular functions, and are the sites of lipid and Ca2+transport and delivery between organelles. This short review discusses aspects of MCSs in the context of Ca2+transport.
authors.affiliation: From the Epithelial Signaling and Transport Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, United States.
authors.forename: Woo Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: From the Epithelial Signaling and Transport Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, United States.
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.affiliation: From the Epithelial Signaling and Transport Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, United States.
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.affiliation: From the Epithelial Signaling and Transport Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, United States. Electronic address: shmuel.muallem@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muallem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Ca(2+) influx; ER/PM junctions; Orais; SOCs; STIM1; TRPCs