Requirement of the Inositol Trisphosphate Receptor for Activation of Store-Operated Ca 2+ Channels

Abstract

The coupling mechanism between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium ion (Ca 2+ ) stores and plasma membrane (PM) store-operated channels (SOCs) is crucial to Ca 2+ signaling but has eluded detection. SOCs may be functionally related to the TRP family of receptor-operated channels. Direct comparison of endogenous SOCs with stably expressed TRP3 channels in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells revealed that TRP3 channels differ in being store independent. However, condensed cortical F-actin prevented activation of both SOC and TRP3 channels, which suggests that ER-PM interactions underlie coupling of both channels. A cell-permeant inhibitor of inositol trisphosphate receptor (InsP 3 R) function, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, prevented both receptor-induced TRP3 activation and store-induced SOC activation. It is concluded that InsP 3 Rs mediate both SOC and TRP channel opening and that the InsP 3 R is essential for maintaining coupling between store emptying and physiological activation of SOCs.