Redox Enzymes P4HB and PDIA3 Interact with STIM1 to Fine-Tune Its Calcium Sensitivity and Activation

Sensing the lowering of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium (Ca²⁺), STIM1 mediates a ubiquitous Ca²⁺ influx process called the store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE). Dysregulated STIM1 function or abnormal SOCE is strongly associated with autoimmune disorders, atherosclerosis, and various forms of cancers. Therefore, uncovering the molecular intricacies of post-translational modifications, such as oxidation, on STIM1 function is of paramount importance. In a recent proteomic screening, we identified three protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs)-Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit beta (P4HB), protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3), and thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5)-as the ER-luminal interactors of STIM1. Here, we demonstrated that these PDIs dynamically associate with STIM1 and STIM2. The mutation of the two conserved cysteine residues of STIM1 (STIM1-2CA) decreased its Ca²⁺ affinity both in cellulo and in situ. Knockdown of PDIA3 or P4HB increased the Ca²⁺ affinity of wild-type STIM1 while showing no impact on the STIM1-2CA mutant, indicating that PDIA3 and P4HB regulate STIM1's Ca²⁺ affinity by acting on ER-luminal cysteine residues. This modulation of STIM1's Ca²⁺ sensitivity was further confirmed by Ca²⁺ imaging experiments, which showed that knockdown of these two PDIs does not affect STIM1-mediated SOCE upon full store depletion but leads to enhanced SOCE amplitudes upon partial store depletion. Thus, P4HB and PDIA3 dynamically modulate STIM1 activation by fine-tuning its Ca²⁺ binding affinity, adjusting the level of activated STIM1 in response to physiological cues. The coordination between STIM1-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling and redox responses reported herein may have implications for cell physiology and pathology.