Ca2+ signaling and STIM1

An increase in the intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]) impacts a diverse range of cell functions, including adhesion, motility, gene expression and proliferation. Elevation of intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) regulates various cellular events after the stimulation of cells. Initial increase in Ca2+ comes from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), intracellular storage space. However, the continuous influx of extracellular Ca2+ is required to maintain the increased level of Ca2+ inside cells. Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) manages this process, and STIM1, a newly discovered molecule, has a unique and essential role in SOCE. STIM1 can sense the exhaustion of Ca2+ in the ER, and activate the SOC channel in the plasma membrane, leading to the continuous influx of extracellular Ca2+. STIM1 senses the status of the intracellular Ca2+ stores via a lumina! N-terminal Ca2+-binding EF-hand domain. Dissociation of Ca2+ from this domain induces the clustering of STIM1 to regions of the ER that lie close to the plasma membrane, where it regulates the activity of the store-operated Ca2+ channels/entry (calcium-release-activated calcium channels/entry). In this review, we summarize the mechanism by which STIM1 regulates SOCE, and also its role in the control of mast cell functions and allergic responses. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.