Abstract
Maintaining a precise calcium (Ca(2+)) balance is vital for cellular survival. The most prominent pathway to shuttle Ca(2+) into cells is the Ca(2+) release activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channel. Orai proteins are indispensable players in this central mechanism of Ca(2+) entry. This short review traces the latest articles published in the field of CRAC channel signalling with a focus on the structure of the pore-forming Orai proteins, the propagation of the binding signal from STIM1 through the channel to the central pore and their role in human health and disease.