Balancing Ca2+ pools in mitotic cells

Abstract

Calcium Signaling Cell proliferation is an energetically demanding process. During the cell cycle, mitochondrial fusion and calcium (Ca2+) uptake increase, both of which correlate with increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Koval et al. found that the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) was required to balance Ca2+ concentrations in the cytosol and mitochondria. Without the MCU, the excess cytosolic Ca2+ resulted in increased mitochondrial fission, reduced ATP output, and decreased cellular proliferation. The MCU thus enables ATP production to match energy demands during the cell cycle. Sci. Signal. 12 , eaav1439 (2019).