title: Mitochondrial calcium channels.
abstract: Mitochondrial Ca(2+) handling plays an important role in energy production and various cellular signaling processes. Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake is regulated by the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter (MCU), at least one non-MCU Ca(2+) channel and possibly a mitochondrial ryanodine receptor. Two distinct mechanisms mediate Ca(2+) outward transport, the Na(+)-dependent (mNCX) and the Na(+)-independent Ca(2+) efflux. In recent years we gained more insight into the regulation and function of these different Ca(2+) transport mechanisms. However, the precise physiological role and the molecular structure of all mitochondrial Ca(2+) transporters and channels still has to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. uta.hoppe@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Uta C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Hoppe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002118:Calcium