Antigen stimulation of immune cells triggers Ca++ entry t hrough Ca++ release-activated Ca++ (CRAC) channels. ORAI3 is one of two mammalian homologs to ORAI1, a recently identified four-transmembrane spanning protein that is an essential component of CRAC. All three homologs have been shown to function as Ca++ plasma membrane channels gated through interactions with STIM1, the store-activated endoplasmic reticulum Ca++ sensor. However, ORAI3 channels failed to produce detectable Ca++ selective currents in cells co-transfected with ORAI3 and STIM1, indicating that ORAI3 channels undergo a lesser degree of depotentiation than ORAI1 or ORAI2. Na+ currents through ORAI1, 2 and 3 channels were equally inhibited by extracellular Ca++, indicating that each have similar affinities for Ca++ within the selectivity filter. This antibody is predicted to have no cross-reactivity to ORAI1 or ORAI2. Larger molecular weight bands are sometimes seen in SDS-PAGE; these may represent post-translationally modified ORAI 3.
