title: The gatekeepers of mitochondrial calcium influx: MICU1 and MICU2.
abstract: The receptor-evoked Ca(2+) signal is sensed and translated by mitochondria. Physiological cytoplasmic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]c) oscillations result in mitochondrial Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]m) oscillations, while large and sustained [Ca(2+)]c increase results in a pathologic increase in basal [Ca(2+)]m and in Ca(2+) accumulation. The physiological [Ca(2+)]m signal regulates [Ca(2+)]c and stimulates oxidative metabolism, while excess Ca(2+) accumulation causes cell stress leading to cell death. [Ca(2+)]m is determined by Ca(2+) uptake mediated by the mitochondria Ca(2+) uniporter (MCU) channel and by Na(+)- and H(+)-coupled Ca(2+) extrusion.
authors: Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch NIDCR NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Malini
authors: M
authors: Ahuja
authors: Shmuel
authors: S
authors: Muallem
mesh_terms: D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; C116241:MICU1 protein, human; C582650:MICU2 protein, human; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; C034703:mitochondrial calcium uniporter