The coupling between Ca2+ pools and store-operated Ca2+ entry channels (SOC
s) remains an unresolved question. Recently, we revealed that Ca2+ entry co
uld be activated in response to S-nitrosylation and that this process was s
timulated by Ca2+ pool emptying (Favre, C. J., Ufret-Vincenty, C. A., Stone
, M. R., Ma, H-T., and Gill, D. L. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 30855-30858).
In DDT,MF-S smooth muscle cells and DC-3F fibroblasts, Ca2+ entry activate
d by the lipophilic NO donor, GEA3162 (5-amino-3- (3,4-dichlorophenyl) 1,2,
3,4-oxatriazolium), or the alkylator, N-ethylnaleimide, was observed to be
strongly activated by transient external Ca2+ removal, closely resembling a
ctivation of SOC activity in the same cells. The nonadditivity of SOC and N
O donor-activated Ca2+ entry suggested a single entry mechanism. Calyculin
A-induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton prevented SOC but had no
effect on GEA3162-induced Ca2+ entry. However, a single entry mechanism co
uld account for both SOC and NO donor-activated entry if the latter reflect
ed direct modification of the entry channel by S-nitrosylation, bypassing t
he normal coupling process between channels and pools. Small differences be
tween SOC and GEA3162-activated Ba2+ entry and sensitivity to blockade by L
a3+ were observed, and in HEK293 cells SOC activity was observed without a
response to thiol modification. It is concluded that in some cells, S-nitro
sylation modifies an entry mechanism closely related to SOC and/or part of
the regulatory machinery for SOC-mediated Ca2+ entry.