Introduction and Objectives The influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ is essential for the IgE-dependent release of both preformed mediators and newly-generated autacoids and cytokines from human lung mast cells (HLMC). Members of the recently discovered CRACM (also known as Orai) ion channel family may be responsible for this influx. These channels carry Ca²⁺ selective currents (I_CRAC) that are activated when endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ stores are emptied. The major K⁺ selective conductance in HLMC is generated by the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel K_Ca3.1. There appears to be a close functional relationship between CRACM and K_Ca3.1 channels. K_Ca3.1 channels activated by the influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ act to hyperpolarise the cell membrane, thus maintaining the driving force on CRACM channels. Here we investigate whether CRACM and K_Ca3.1 channels physically interact.

Methods Vectors were assembled directing the expression of either CRACM1 or CRACM2 channels tagged at their N-terminus with the c-Myc epitope and human K_Ca3.1 tagged at its C-terminus with the FLAG epitope. HEK293 cells were transiently transfected to express either a single epitope tagged channel or both a CRACM-myc channel and K_Ca3.1-FLAG. Cell lysates were prepared and potential interactions between CRACM and K_Ca3.1 proteins tested by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting.

Results Expression of CRACM1-myc, CRACM2-myc and K_Ca3.1-FLAG proteins was confirmed by immunoblotting of lysates of HEK293 cells transiently transfected with the appropriate vector(s). Using an anti c-myc antibody to immunoprecipitate CRACM1-myc protein, K_Ca3.1-FLAG was found to be co-immunoprecipitated. Co-immunoprecipitation of K_Ca3.1-FLAG was observed only when it was co-expressed with CRACM1-myc. Similarly, using an anti-FLAG antibody to immunoprecipitate K_Ca3.1-FLAG protein, CRACM1-myc was co-immunoprecipitated. Again co-immunoprecipitation was dependent on both the CRACM1-myc and K_Ca3.1-FLAG proteins being expressed together. In contrast, under identical reaction conditions, no co-immunoprecipitation of K_Ca3.1-FLAG was observed when co-expressed with CRACM2-myc.

Conclusions The co-immunoprecipitation of K_Ca3.1-FLAG with CRACM1-myc and vice versa provides evidence that these channels do physically interact. Such an interaction in HLMC would make both channels a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of asthma and would allow K_Ca3.1 to be added to the growing list of CRACM1 protein binding partners.