cAMP Induces Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) Puncta but neither Orai1 Protein Clustering nor Store-operated Ca2+ Entry (SOCE) in Islet Cells

The events leading to the activation of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) involve Ca2+ depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resulting in translocation of the transmembrane Ca2+ sensor protein, stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), to the junctions between ER and the plasma membrane where it binds to the Ca2+ channel protein Orai1 to activate Ca2+ influx. Using confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we studied redistribution kinetics of fluorescence-tagged STIM1 and Orai1 as well as SOCE in insulin-releasing beta-cells and glucagon-secreting alpha-cells within intact mouse and human pancreatic islets. ER Ca2+ depletion triggered accumulation of STIM1 puncta in the subplasmalemmal ER where they co-clustered with Orai1 in the plasma membrane and activated SOCE. Glucose, which promotes Ca2+ store filling and inhibits SOCE, stimulated retranslocation of STIM1 to the bulk ER. This effect was evident at much lower glucose concentrations in alpha-than in beta-cells consistent with involvement of SOCE in the regulation of glucagon secretion. Epinephrine stimulated subplasmalemmal translocation of STIM1 in beta-cells and retranslocation in beta-cells involving raising and lowering of cAMP, respectively. The cAMP effect was mediated both by protein kinase A and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP. However, the cAMP-induced STIM1 puncta did not co-cluster with Orai1, and there was no activation of SOCE. STIM1 translocation can consequently occur independently of Orai1 clustering and SOCE