Effect of oscillating and non-oscillating Ca2+ signal on gene expression in RBL-2H3 cells

Oscillations of Ca2+ signal are generated in all cell types, seen throughout the life of a cell, and are indispensable for diverse biological processes ranging from fertilization to cell death. Here we report that Ca2+ nanodomains near Ca2+ channels at the cell surface and not cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations are central to gene expression. Ca2+ nanodomains activate Ca2+-dependent transcription factors to the same extent as Ca2+ oscillations, at the same average cytosolic Ca2+, leading to equivalent activation of a range of intracellular pathways. Our results establish that the fundamental unit of excitation-transcription coupling is the Ca2+ channel nanodomain at the cell surface. Overall design: RNAseq transcriptomic profiling of RBL-2H3 cells after treatment with IgE, 2uM thapsigargin, or 20nM thapsigargin.