The family of stromal interaction molecules (STIM) includes two widely expressed single-pass endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane proteins and additional splice variants that act as precise ER-luminal Ca2+ sensors. STIM proteins mainly function as one of the two essential components of the so-called Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel. The second CRAC channel component is constituted by pore-forming Orai proteins in the plasma membrane. STIM and Orai physically interact with each other to enable CRAC channel opening, which is a critical prerequisite for various downstream signalling pathways such as gene transcription or proliferation. Their activation commonly requires the emptying of the intracellular ER Ca2+ store. Using their Ca2+ sensing capabilities, STIM proteins confer this Ca2+ content-dependent signal to Orai, thereby linking Ca2+ store depletion to CRAC channel opening. Here we review the conformational dynamics occurring along the entire STIM protein upon store depletion, involving the transition from the quiescent, compactly folded structure into an active, extended state, modulation by a variety of accessory components in the cell as well as the impairment of individual steps of the STIM activation cascade associated with disease.
The initial activation step in the gating of ubiquitously expressed Orai1 calcium (Ca2+) ion channels represents the activation of the Ca2+-sensor protein STIM1 upon Ca2+ store depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum. Previous studies using constitutively active Orai1 mutants gave rise to, but did not directly test, the hypothesis that STIM1-mediated Orai1 pore opening is accompanied by a global conformational change of all Orai transmembrane domain (TM) helices within the channel complex. We prove that a local conformational change spreads omnidirectionally within the Orai1 complex. Our results demonstrate that these locally induced global, opening-permissive TM motions are indispensable for pore opening and require clearance of a series of Orai1 gating checkpoints. We discovered these gating checkpoints in the middle and cytosolic extended TM domain regions. Our findings are based on a library of double point mutants that contain each one loss-of-function with one gain-of-function point mutation in a series of possible combinations. We demonstrated that an array of loss-of-function mutations are dominant over most gain-of-function mutations within the same as well as of an adjacent Orai subunit. We further identified inter- and intramolecular salt-bridge interactions of Orai subunits as a core element of an opening-permissive Orai channel architecture. Collectively, clearance and synergistic action of all these gating checkpoints are required to allow STIM1 coupling and Orai1 pore opening. Our results unravel novel insights in the preconditions of the unique fingerprint of CRAC channel activation, provide a valuable source for future structural resolutions, and help to understand the molecular basis of disease-causing mutations.
- MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fosfatidylcholiny chemie metabolismus MeSH
- gating iontového kanálu genetika MeSH
- genetické vektory chemie metabolismus MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- interakční proteinové domény a motivy MeSH
- konformace proteinů, alfa-helix MeSH
- konformace proteinů, beta-řetězec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- liposomy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- luminescentní proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- metoda terčíkového zámku MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- nádorové proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- protein ORAI1 chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- protein STIM1 chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- reportérové geny MeSH
- simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
- substituce aminokyselin MeSH
- vápník metabolismus MeSH
- vápníková signalizace * MeSH
- vazba proteinů MeSH
- vazebná místa MeSH
- zelené fluorescenční proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
