Mitochondrial N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activation enhances bioenergetics by calcium-dependent and –Independent mechanisms

Abstract

Our laboratory has demonstrated that functional N-methyl-d-aspartate-like receptors are present on neuronal mitochondria (NMDAm). This novel site gates the influx of Ca2+ and causes a several-fold increase in ATP levels. Although elevations in ATP in other cell types have been linked to increases in mitochondrial Ca2+, it has not been established whether the same holds true for calcium uptake via NMDAm. In this study, we have investigated the effect of NMDAm activation on a variety of bioenergetic parameters. Our findings suggest that mitochondrial bioenergetics are not only modulated by NMDAm activation in a Ca2+-dependent but also in a Ca2+-independent manner.