Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Whole-Cell Recording of Calcium Release-Activated Calcium CRAC Currents in Human T Lymphocytes
Published on: December 21, 2010
Review: Structure and Activation Mechanisms of CRAC Channels
Carmen Butorac1, Adéla Krizova1, Isabella Derler2
1Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Linz, Austria.
Abstract:
Ca2+ release activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels represent a primary pathway for Ca2+ to enter non-excitable cells. The two key players in this process are the stromal interaction molecule (STIM), a Ca2+ sensor embedded in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, and Orai, a highly Ca2+ selective ion channel located in the plasma membrane. Upon depletion of the internal Ca2+ stores, STIM is activated, oligomerizes, couples to and activates Orai. This review provides an overview of novel findings about the CRAC channel activation mechanisms, structure and gating. In addition, it highlights, among diverse STIM and Orai mutants, also the disease-related mutants and their implications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several...
Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that...
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

