Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
15:29
Whole-Cell Recording of Calcium Release-Activated Calcium (CRAC) Currents in Human T Lymphocytes
Published on: December 21, 2010
Functional consequences of activating store-operated CRAC channels
1Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, Parks Road, Oxford, UK. anant.parekh@physiol.ox.ac.uk
Cell Calcium
|April 21, 2007
Summary
Store-operated calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels are crucial for cellular calcium regulation. These channels trigger both immediate and long-term cellular responses, demonstrating their versatile role in cell signaling.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Store-operated calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels are a primary pathway for regulating cytoplasmic calcium levels.
- CRAC channels are activated upon depletion of calcium stores in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the diverse cellular responses mediated by calcium influx through CRAC channels.
- To highlight the temporal dynamics of cellular events triggered by CRAC channel activation.
Main Methods:
- Investigated cellular responses to CRAC channel activation.
- Analyzed both short-term and long-term cellular effects.
Main Results:
- CRAC channel activation leads to safeguarding endoplasmic reticulum calcium content.
- CRAC channels are involved in maintaining cytoplasmic calcium oscillations, enzyme activation, and secretion.
- CRAC channel activity also influences long-term gene expression.
Conclusions:
- CRAC channels orchestrate a spectrum of cellular responses with distinct temporal profiles.
- The ubiquitous nature of CRAC channels underscores their significant role in cellular physiology.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
01:27Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
01:21G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision. The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory organs,...
Sensory organs,...
01:19The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
01:22Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high affinity and are together...
01:16Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...