Local Ca²+ entry via Orai1 regulates plasma membrane recruitment of TRPC1 and controls cytosolic Ca²+ signals required for specific cell functions

PLoS Biol. 2011 Mar;9(3):e1001025. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001025. Epub 2011 Mar 8.

Abstract

Store-operated Ca²+ entry (SOCE) has been associated with two types of channels: CRAC channels that require Orai1 and STIM1 and SOC channels that involve TRPC1, Orai1, and STIM1. While TRPC1 significantly contributes to SOCE and SOC channel activity, abrogation of Orai1 function eliminates SOCE and activation of TRPC1. The critical role of Orai1 in activation of TRPC1-SOC channels following Ca²+ store depletion has not yet been established. Herein we report that TRPC1 and Orai1 are components of distinct channels. We show that TRPC1/Orai1/STIM1-dependent I(SOC), activated in response to Ca²+ store depletion, is composed of TRPC1/STIM1-mediated non-selective cation current and Orai1/STIM1-mediated I(CRAC); the latter is detected when TRPC1 function is suppressed by expression of shTRPC1 or a STIM1 mutant that lacks TRPC1 gating, STIM1(⁶⁸⁴EE⁶⁸⁵). In addition to gating TRPC1 and Orai1, STIM1 mediates the recruitment and association of the channels within ER/PM junctional domains, a critical step in TRPC1 activation. Importantly, we show that Ca²+ entry via Orai1 triggers plasma membrane insertion of TRPC1, which is prevented by blocking SOCE with 1 µM Gd³+, removal of extracellular Ca²+, knockdown of Orai1, or expression of dominant negative mutant Orai1 lacking a functional pore, Orai1-E106Q. In cells expressing another pore mutant of Orai1, Orai1-E106D, TRPC1 trafficking is supported in Ca²+-containing, but not Ca²+-free, medium. Consistent with this, I(CRAC) is activated in cells pretreated with thapsigargin in Ca²+-free medium while I(SOC) is activated in cells pretreated in Ca²+-containing medium. Significantly, TRPC1 function is required for sustained K(Ca) activity and contributes to NFκB activation while Orai1 is sufficient for NFAT activation. Together, these findings reveal an as-yet unidentified function for Orai1 that explains the critical requirement of the channel in the activation of TRPC1 following Ca²+ store depletion. We suggest that coordinated regulation of the surface expression of TRPC1 by Orai1 and gating by STIM1 provides a mechanism for rapidly modulating and maintaining SOCE-generated Ca²+ signals. By recruiting ion channels and other signaling pathways, Orai1 and STIM1 concertedly impact a variety of critical cell functions that are initiated by SOCE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Calcium Channels / analysis
  • Calcium Channels / genetics
  • Calcium Channels / physiology*
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cytosol / chemistry
  • Cytosol / metabolism*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
  • ORAI1 Protein
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1
  • TRPC Cation Channels / analysis
  • TRPC Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPC Cation Channels / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • ORAI1 Protein
  • ORAI1 protein, human
  • STIM1 protein, human
  • Stromal Interaction Molecule 1
  • TRPC Cation Channels
  • transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 1
  • Calcium