Shank is a recently described family of postsynaptic proteins that function as part of the NMDA receptor-associated PSD-95 complex (Naisbitt et al., 1999 [this issue of Neuron]). Here, we report that Shank proteins also bind to Homer. Homer proteins form multivalent complexes that bind proline-rich motifs in group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors and inositol trisphosphate receptors, thereby coupling these receptors in a signaling complex. A single Homer-binding site is identified in Shank, and Shank and Homer coimmunoprecipitate from brain and colocalize at postsynaptic densities. Moreover, Shank clusters mGluR5 in heterologous cells in the presence of Homer and mediates the coclustering of Homer with PSD-95/GKAP. Thus, Shank may cross-link Homer and PSD-95 complexes in the PSD and play a role in the signaling mechanisms of both mGluRs and NMDA receptors.

Store-operated Ca2+ influx is mediated by store002Doperated Ca2+ channels (SOCs) and is a central component of receptor-evoked Ca2+ signals1. The Orai channels mediate SOCs2–4 and STIM1 is the ER-resident Ca2+ sensor that gates the channels5, 6. How STIM1 gates and regulates the Orai channels is unknown. Here, we report the molecular basis for gating of Orais by STIM1. All Orai channels are fully activated by the conserved STIM1(344–442), which we termed SOAR (the STIM1 Orai Activating Region). SOAR acts in combination with STIM1(450–485) to regulate the strength of interaction with Orai1. Orai1 activated by SOAR recapitulates all the entire kinetic properties of Orai1 activated by STIM1. Mutations of STIM1 within SOAR prevent activation of Orai1 without preventing co-clustering of STIM1 and Orai1 in response to Ca2+ store depletion, indicating that STIM1-Orai1 co-clustering is not sufficient for Orai1 activation. An intact C-terminus α-helicial region of Orai is required for activation by SOAR. Deleting most of Orai1 N terminus impaired Orai1 activation by STIM1, but (Δ1–73)Orai1 interacts with and is fully activated by SOAR. Accordingly, the characteristic inward rectification of Orai is mediated by an interaction between the polybasic STIM1(672–685) and a proline-rich region in the N terminus of Orai1. Hence, the essential properties of Orai1 function can be rationalized by interactions with discrete regions of STIM1.

Homer is a neuronal immediate early gene (IEG) that is enriched at excitatory synapses and binds group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Here, we characterize a family of Homer-related proteins derived from three distinct genes. Like Homer IEG (now termed Homer 1a), all new members bind group 1 mGluRs. In contrast to Homer 1a, new members are constitutively expressed and encode a C-terminal coiled-coil (CC) domain that mediates self-multimerization. CC-Homers form natural complexes that cross-link mGluRs and are enriched at the postsynaptic density. Homer 1a does not multimerize and blocks the association of mGluRs with CC-Homer complexes. These observations support a model in which the dynamic expression of Homer 1a competes with constitutively expressed CC-Homers to modify synaptic mGluR properties.

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) activate PI turnover and thereby trigger intracellular calcium release. Previously, we demonstrated that mGluRs form natural complexes with members of a family of Homer-related synaptic proteins. Here, we present evidence that Homer proteins form a physical tether linking mGluRs with the inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3R). A novel proline-rich "Homer ligand" (PPXXFr) is identified in group 1 mGluRs and IP3R, and these receptors coimmunoprecipitate as a complex with Homer from brain. Expression of the IEG form of Homer, which lacks the ability to cross-link, modulates mGluR-induced intracellular calcium release. These studies identify a novel mechanism in calcium signaling and provide evidence that an IEG, whose expression is driven by synaptic activity, can directly modify a specific synaptic function.

Receptor-evoked Ca2+ signalling involves Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, followed by Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. Ca2+ influx is essential for many cellular functions, from secretion to transcription, and is mediated by Ca2+-release activated Ca2+ (I(crac)) channels and store-operated calcium entry (SOC) channels. Although the molecular identity and regulation of I(crac) and SOC channels have not been precisely determined, notable recent findings are the identification of STIM1, which has been indicated to regulate SOC and I(crac) channels by functioning as an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor, and ORAI1 (ref. 7) or CRACM1 (ref. 8)--both of which may function as I(crac) channels or as an I(crac) subunit. How STIM1 activates the Ca2+ influx channels and whether STIM1 contributes to the channel pore remains unknown. Here, we identify the structural features that are essential for STIM1-dependent activation of SOC and I(crac) channels, and demonstrate that they are identical to those involved in the binding and activation of TRPC1. Notably, the cytosolic carboxyl terminus of STIM1 is sufficient to activate SOC, I(crac) and TRPC1 channels even when native STIM1 is depleted by small interfering RNA. Activity of STIM1 requires an ERM domain, which mediates the selective binding of STIM1 to TRPC1, 2 and 4, but not to TRPC3, 6 or 7, and a cationic lysine-rich region, which is essential for gating of TRPC1. Deletion of either region in the constitutively active STIM1(D76A) yields dominant-negative mutants that block native SOC channels, expressed TRPC1 in HEK293 cells and I(crac) in Jurkat cells. These observations implicate STIM1 as a key regulator of activity rather than a channel component, and reveal similar regulation of SOC, I(crac) and TRPC channel activation by STIM1.

Stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1) is a Ca 2+ sensor that conveys the Ca 2+ load of the endoplasmic reticulum to store-operated channels (SOCs) at the plasma membrane. Here, we report that STIM1 binds TRPC1, TRPC4 and TRPC5 and determines their function as SOCs. Inhibition of STIM1 function inhibits activation of TRPC5 by receptor stimulation, but not by La 3+ , suggesting that STIM1 is obligatory for activation of TRPC channels by agonists, but STIM1 is not essential for channel function. Through a distinct mechanism, STIM1 also regulates TRPC3 and TRPC6. STIM1 does not bind TRPC3 and TRPC6, and regulates their function indirectly by mediating the heteromultimerization of TRPC3 with TRPC1 and TRPC6 with TRPC4. TRPC7 is not regulated by STIM1. We propose a new definition of SOCs, as channels that are regulated by STIM1 and require the store depletion-mediated clustering of STIM1. By this definition, all TRPC channels, except TRPC7, function as SOCs.A key component of the receptor-evoked Ca 2+ signal is activation of a Ca 2+ -influx channel at the plasma membrane in response to depletion of Ca 2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum, the so-called store-operated Ca 2+ channels (SOCs) 1 . Ca 2+ influx through SOCs mediates numerous physiological functions 1,2 . At least two types of SOCs can be distinguished electrophysiologically and now molecularly. The first type of SOCs are the highly Ca 2+ -selective I crac currents 1 that recently were shown to be mediated by the Orai family of proteins 3-8 , and the second type of SOCs are the non-selective, Ca 2+ permeable TRPC channels 1,9 .Very little is known about the Orais. The three Orais are four trans-membrane-span proteins 3,7,8 , with Orai1 the most prominent I crac channel 6,10 . Much more information is available on the TRP family of ion channels (recently reviewed in ref. 11 ). The TRP superfamily is grouped into seven subfamilies and mediates many cellular functions 1,9,11 . All 5Correspondence should be addressed to S.M. or P.F.W. (e-mail: E-mail: Shmuel.muallem@utsouthwestern.edu; pworley.edu; E-mail: pworley@jhmi.edu). 4 These authors contributed equally to this work.Note: Supplementary Information is available on the Nature Cell Biology website. AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONSJ.P.Y, W.Z and G.N.H performed and analysed the experiments. PF.W. and S.M. planned and analysed the experiments. All authors contributed to writing the manuscript. COMPETING FINANCIAL INTERESTSThe authors declare that they have no competing financial interests. Here, we show that STIM1 regulates directly or indirectly all TRPC channels, except TRPC7. However, although STIM1 directly regulates TRPC1, TRPC4 and TRPC5, the regulation of TRPC3 and TRPC6 by STIM1 is mediated by STIM1-dependent heteromultimerization of TRPC3 with TRPC1 and of TRPC6 with TRPC4. STIM1 is required for activation of all TRPC channels by agonist stimulation, but it is not essential for channel function. These findings clarify fundamental aspect of TRPC channels function by showing that under physiological conditio...

Receptor signaling at the plasma membrane often releases calcium from intracellular stores. For example, inositol triphosphate (IP3) produced by receptor-coupled phospholipase C activates an intracellular store calcium channel, the IP(3)R. Conversely, stores can induce extracellular calcium to enter the cell through plasma membrane channels, too. How this "reverse" coupling works was unclear, but store IP(3)Rs were proposed to bind and regulate plasma membrane TRP cation channels. Here, we demonstrate that the adaptor protein, termed Homer, facilitates a physical association between TRPC1 and the IP(3)R that is required for the TRP channel to respond to signals. The TRPC1-Homer-IP(3)R complex is dynamic and its disassembly parallels TRPC1 channel activation. Homer's action depends on its ability to crosslink and is blocked by the dominant-negative immediate early gene form, H1a. Since H1a is transcriptionally regulated by cellular activity, this mechanism can affect both short and long-term regulation of TRPC1 function.

The changes in variables of interest (for example, IC) should be assessed for stability properties, such as resistance 15 . Our results show that this method is a rigorous and effective way to analyse food-web structure and provide the initial steps in understanding the relationship between compartments and stability [1][2][3][4][5] . A MethodsInteractions were weighted by interaction frequency, by carbon flow or by interaction strength. Interaction frequency was estimated as acts of predation per hectare per day 26