Methods of modulating and identifying agents that modulate intracellular calcium

1. A method of identifying an agent that modulates calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store, comprising:

(a) contacting a recombinant cell that expresses a recombinant polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of a human, mouse or rat STIM 1 protein (SEQ ID NOS:4, 10 and 52, respectively), with (i) an exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store, the reagent selected from the group consisting of: an antagonist of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase pump, an agonist of a G-protein coupled receptor that activates phospholipase C, IP3 (inositol triphosohate), an agonist of a ryanodine receptor, phospholipase C, an ionophore, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), 1,2-bis(2-amino-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA); or a substantially calcium-free extracellular solution; and (ii) a test agent; and

(b) identifying the test agent as an agent that modulates intracellular calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store if refilling of intracellular calcium stores in the presence of the test agent is greater than or lower than refilling of intracellular calcium stores in the absence of the test agent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the recombinant polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the recombinant polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the recombinant polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store comprises IP3, thapsigargin, or cyclic ADP ribose, ionomycin, caffeine, ryanodine, cyclopiazonic acid, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), or di-tert-butyl-hydroquinone.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store comprises thapsigargin, caffeine or ryanodine.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store comprises thapsigargin.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store comprises ryanodine.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the recombinant cell is a human recombinant cell, a rodent recombinant cell, an insect recombinant cell, or a xenopus recombinant cell.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the recombinant cell is a mammalian recombinant cell.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the recombinant cell is a human recombinant cell.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the test agent as an agent that modulates intracellular calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store comprises performing fluorescence imaging, patch clamping, reporter gene assays, 45 Ca uptake assays, NFAT (Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells) phosphorylation assays, calcineurin assays, or beta-hexosaminidase assays.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein identifying the test agent as an agent that modulates intracellular calcium levels in an intracellular store comprises performing fluorescence imaging with a fluorescent calcium indicator.