SOCE in the cardiomyocyte: the secret is in the chambers

Store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) is an ancient and ubiquitous Ca(2+) signaling pathway that is present in virtually every cell type. Over the last two decades, many studies have implicated this non-voltage dependent Ca(2+) entry pathway in cardiac physiology. The relevance of the SOCE pathway in cardiomyocytes is often questioned given the well-established role for excitation contraction coupling. In this review, we consider the evidence that STIM1 and SOCE contribute to Ca(2+) dynamics in cardiomyocytes. We discuss the relevance of this pathway to cardiac growth in response to developmental and pathologic cues. We also address whether STIM1 contributes to Ca(2+) store refilling that likely impacts cardiac pacemaking and arrhythmogenesis in cardiomyocytes.