Abstract
Mitochondria — the cell's power plants — increase their energy production in response to calcium signals in the cytoplasm. A regulator of the elusive mitochondrial calcium channel has now been identified. Uptake of calcium by mitochondria is crucial for many aspects of cellular function, and an imbalance can trigger cell death. Despite this, none of the proteins mediating mitochondrial uptake and buffering of calcium was known. Now one such protein — named 'mitochondrial calcium uptake 1' or MICU1 — has been identified. MICU1 is localized to the mitochondrion and is specifically required for calcium uptake. Genetic disruption of the MICU1 gene interrupts metabolic coupling between mitochondrial metabolism and calcium signalling. This work should facilitate the molecular characterization of mitochondrial calcium-uptake machinery and its role in normal physiology and diseases.
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