Mitochondrial calcium uniporter channel gatekeeping in cardiovascular disease

Nat Cardiovasc Res. 2024 May;3(5):500-514. doi: 10.1038/s44161-024-00463-7. Epub 2024 May 1.

Abstract

The mitochondrial calcium (mCa2+) uniporter channel (mtCU) resides at the inner mitochondrial membrane and is required for Ca2+ to enter the mitochondrial matrix. The mtCU is essential for cellular function, as mCa2+ regulates metabolism, bioenergetics, signaling pathways and cell death. mCa2+ uptake is primarily regulated by the MICU family (MICU1, MICU2, MICU3), EF-hand-containing Ca2+-sensing proteins, which respond to cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations to modulate mtCU activity. Considering that mitochondrial function and Ca2+ signaling are ubiquitously disrupted in cardiovascular disease, mtCU function has been a hot area of investigation for the last decade. Here we provide an in-depth review of MICU-mediated regulation of mtCU structure and function, as well as potential mtCU-independent functions of these proteins. We detail their role in cardiac physiology and cardiovascular disease by highlighting the phenotypes of different mutant animal models, with an emphasis on therapeutic potential and targets of interest in this pathway.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels* / genetics
  • Calcium Channels* / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Mitochondria, Heart / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • mitochondrial calcium uniporter
  • Calcium