Lymphocytic ionchannels

Immune cells are tightly regulated by changes in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration.
The major influx pathway is through ORAI proteins in the plasmamembrane which are directly activated by interaction with the ER Ca²⁺-sensor, STIM1, upon ER Ca²⁺ depletion.
We want to investigate how ORAI and STIM proteins are regulated in primary T cells by posttranslational mechanisms and by interacting proteins and analyze the role of STIM1 localized to the plasmamembrane.
Analyses of the molecular mechanism will shed light on the physiological and pathophysiological functions of Ca²⁺ signals.