Mitochondria are the energy-generating batteries of cells, but they also perform other critical functions, including protecting cells against calcium overload, a significant cause of cell death in certain cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Underlying this safety mechanism is a protein complex known as the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU).
In the new study, published in the journal Cell Reports, researchers show that MCUR1, a uniporter regulator, acts a scaffold for the MCU complex, binding to both MCU and a protein known as essential MCU regulator (EMRE). Researchers protect cells from calcium overload--which they could not do without the coordinating role of MCUR 1.
Mice lacking MCUR1 exhibited impairments in mitochondrial calcium uptake, resulting in a mitochondrial bioenergetic crisis, in which cellular energy production was reduced. In vascular endothelial cells, the researchers were able to show that MCUR1 loss leads specifically to reduced cell migration and increased autophagy. Endothelial cell migration is necessary for the growth of new blood vessels.
"MCUR1 functions as a choreographer, bringing together the structural components of the MCU complex," author explained. "This role for MCUR1 likely has important implications for improving our understanding of diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction is a central feature."
Calcium overload and mitochondrial malfunction are major causes of cell damage sustained during heart attack and stroke, and they are significant factors in cell injury in neurodegenerative disease. Whether mutations that affect MCUR1 function are involved in the mitochondrial disruptions observed in these diseases is unknown.
http://www.templehealth.org/content/news.htm?view=34&inCtx5news_id=1873&inCtx4pg=0&news=2
Key factor in mitochondrial calcium uptake and bioenergetics identified
- 1,984 views
- Added
Edited
Latest News
Metabolic rewiring promotes…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
A drug to prevent flu-induc…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
New origin of deep brain waves
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Starving cells hijack prote…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Miniature battery-free epid…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Other Top Stories
Memories of mitosis control cell proliferation
Read more
Enhanced melanoma vaccine offers improved survival for men
Read more
Combination therapy to treat glioma
Read more
A distinct bacterial clade dominates the colorectal cancer niche
Read more
Adaptation tactics of pancreatic cancer
Read more
Protocols
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Modular dual-color BiAD sen…
By newseditor
Posted 31 Mar
Publications
How does the microbiota con…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The integrated stress respo…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The immunobiology of herpes…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Circulating microbiome DNA…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Spindle oscillations in com…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar