Abstract 17188: Cryoem Analysis in Cardiac Isolated Mitochondria Reveals New Insights for CsA and mPTP Activation

Abstract

Excessive Ca 2+ accumulation is the main source of cardiac tissue and cell death during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IR injury) and myocardial infarction. Calcium dysregulation and overload leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, catastrophic energy failure, and opening of the cyclosporine A-sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Mitochondrial Ca 2+ accumulation also results in the formation of amorphous Ca 2+ -phosphate granules localized in the mitochondrial matrix. These amorphous electron-dense granules are main components of the mitochondrial Ca 2+ sequestration and buffering system by mechanisms not yet well understood. The two aims of the present study are to test the relationship of Ca 2+ -phosphate granule size and number in cardiac mitochondria 1) exposed to a bolus calcium sufficient to elicit permeabilization and 2) whether CsA-treated mitochondria alters granule formation and size. A time course series of CryoEM images was analyzed to follow the permeabilization process. CryoEM results showed that mitochondrial incubated for longer time-courses have increased number of small granules (40 - 110 nm), swelling, membrane rupture and induction of mPTP opening. Conversely, shorter incubation time resulted in less granules per mitochondrion yet of similar size (35 - 90 nm). CsA- treated mitochondria, on the other hand, showed bigger phosphate granules (120 - 160 nm), and both lower granules per mitochondria and mPTP opening susceptibility. These results suggest a novel mechanism for CsA in which Ca 2+ -phosphate granule sizes are enhanced while maintaining fewer per mitochondrion. This effect may explain why CsA-treated mitochondria have higher calcium tolerance, delayed Ca 2+ -dependent opening of the mPTP, and protects against reperfusion-induced myocardial necrosis.