Omnitemporal choreographies of IP3R and all five STIM/Orai underlie the complexity of mammalian Ca2+signaling

Summary Invertebrates express one endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident Ca 2+ -sensing stromal-interaction molecule (Stim) and one Orai plasma membrane channel protein. Stim conveys store depletion to Orai, mediating the evolutionarily conserved Ca 2+ release-activated Ca 2+ (CRAC) current. The crucial role of their vertebrate homologues, STIM1 and Orai1 in mediating CRAC activity in mammals is well-established. However, mammals possess two STIM and three Orai isoforms and the choreography of their interactions under physiological receptor activation is unknown. We show that the five mammalian STIM1/2 and Orai1/2/3 isoforms have non-redundant functions. Yet, all five isoforms are always required together to ensure the graded diversity of mammalian Ca 2+ signaling events in response to the full spectrum of agonist strengths. Receptor-activated Ca 2+ signaling across the range of stimulus intensities requires functional interactions between not only STIM1/2 and Orai1/2/3, but also IP 3 R, ensuring that receptor-mediated Ca 2+ release is precisely tailored to Ca 2+ entry and activation of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT). This is orchestrated by two interdependent and counterbalancing paradigms: the N-termini Ca 2+ -binding ER-luminal domains of unactivated STIM1/2 inhibit IP 3 R-evoked Ca 2+ release. Gradual increase in agonist intensity leads to gradual STIM1/2 activation and relief of IP 3 R inhibition. Concomitantly, the cytosolic C-termini of activated STIM1/2 differentially interact with Orai1/2/3 proteins as agonist intensity increases. Thus, coordinated and omnitemporal functions of all five STIM/Orai proteins and IP 3 Rs at the ER-lumen and cytosol translate the strength of agonist stimulation to precise levels of Ca 2+ release, Ca 2+ entry and NFAT induction, ensuring the diversity and fidelity of complex mammalian Ca 2+ signaling. Highlights All five STIM/Orai and IP 3 R are always required together in mammalian Ca 2+ signalling Unactivated STIM1/2 inhibit IP 3 R and activated STIM1/2 cooperatively activate Orai1/2/3 STIM1 contribution increases and that of STIM2 decreases as agonist intensifies Graded IP 3 R disinhibition and Orai activation tailor receptor activity to NFAT induction