Patent ID: 7645588

Claim:
A composition for an intracellular calcium modulator assay, comprising: a recombinant cell that expresses an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of a human or rodent Stromal Interacting Molecule (STIM) 1 protein of SEQ ID NO:4, 10, or 52, wherein the recombinant protein retains human or rodent STIM 1 intracellular calcium-modulating activity; and an exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular store, wherein the exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular store is in contact with the recombinant cell, and is 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, phospholipase C, an agonist of a ryanodine receptor, 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).