A GTP-dependent step in the activation mechanism of capacitative calcium influx

Calcium influx in electrically non-excitable cells is regulated by the filling state of intracellular calcium stores. Depletion of stores activates plasma membrane channels that are voltage-independent and highly selective for Ca2+ ions. We report here that the activation of plasma membrane Ca2+ currents induced by depletion of Ca2+ stores requires a diffusible cytosolic factor that washes out with time when dialyzing cells in the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. The activation of calcium release-activated calcium current (ICRAC) by ionomycin- or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced store depletion is blocked by guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) and guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, non-hydrolyzable analogs of GTP, suggesting the involvement of a GTP-binding protein. The inhibition by GTP gamma S occurs at a step prior to the activation of ICRAC and is prevented by the addition of GTP. We conclude that the activation mechanism of depletion-induced Ca2+ influx encompasses a GTP-dependent step, possibly involving an as yet unidentified small GTP-binding protein.