Store-operated Ca entry signals are critical for cellular regulation. This intricate signaling pathway involves coupling of proteins in two different membranes: the ER-resident Ca-sensing STIM proteins and the highly Ca-selective PM Orai channels. The molecular nature of the STIM-Orai coupling interface in ER-PM junctions and consequent Orai channel gating, are processes under intense study. We describe recent developments in determining the mechanism of Orai activation through the key STIM-Orai Activating Region (SOAR) of STIM1. We describe the unexpected unimolecular coupling of STIM with Orai and explain the observed variable stoichiometry of STIM-Orai interactions. We also define the discrete C-terminal regions in Orai channels that initially latch onto STIM proteins and mediate allosteric activation of the channel. A critical "nexus" region closely associated with the STIM-activated C-terminus of Orai1, propagates the STIM-binding signal through the four tightly-associated transmembrane helices of Orai1, finally to modify the pore-forming helices and effect channel opening.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2020.07.018 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
January 2025
Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Data Analysis, Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Khlopina St. 11, St. Petersburg, Russia, 194021.
One of the mechanisms of calcium signalling in neurons is store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), which is activated when the calcium concentration in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) decreases and its protein-calcium sensor STIM (stromal interacting molecule) relocate to the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane junctions, forms clusters and induces calcium entry. In electrically non-excitable cells, STIM1 is coupled with the positive end of a tubulin microtubule through interaction with EB1 (end-binding) protein, which controls its oligomerization, SOCE and participates in ER movement. STIM2 homologue, which is specific for mature hippocampal dendritic spines, is known to interact with EB3 protein, however, not much is known about the role of this interaction in STIM2 clustering or ER trafficking in neurons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContact (Thousand Oaks)
December 2024
Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are specialized regions where two or more organelle membranes come into close apposition, typically separated by only 10-30 nm, while remaining distinct and unfused. These sites play crucial roles in cellular homeostasis, signaling, and metabolism. This review focuses on ion channels, transporters, and receptors localized to MCSs, with particular emphasis on those associated with the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cell Infect Microbiol
December 2024
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widespread for over four years and has progressed to an endemic stage. Accordingly, the evaluation of host immunity in infected patients and the development of markers for prognostic prediction in the early stages have been emphasized. Soluble immune checkpoints (sICs), which regulate T cell activity, have been reported as promising biomarkers of viral infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanoscale
January 2025
Faculty of Science, University of Split, Ruđera Boškovića 33, 21000 Split, Croatia.
This study focuses on the modulatory effects of gold nanoclusters with 25 gold atoms and 18 acetyl cysteines (AuAcCys) in human microglia, human iPSC-derived neurons and SH-SY5Y differentiated human neuronal cells. The combination of chemical, biological, and computational methods shows the well-retained viability of these human cells treated with AuAcCys, interactions between AuAcCys and transcription factor TFEB (computational approach), interactions between TFEB and HMGB1 (proximity ligation assay and molecular modeling using AlphaFold), modulation of the abundance and location of acHMGB1 by AuAcCys (immunocytochemistry), and the reduction of ROS in cells treated with AuAcCys (CellROX live imaging). These novel findings in human neural cells, particularly neurons, encourage further studies in experimental animal models of neurological disorders and/or human organoids to exploit the unique structural and photophysical properties of gold nanoclusters and to better understand their ability to modulate molecular mechanisms in human cells.
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