Open AccessThe renaissance of mitochondrial calcium transport
Author(s) -
Pozzan Tullio,
Rizzuto Rosario
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01567.x
Subject(s) - mitochondrion , mitochondrial matrix , transporter , microbiology and biotechnology , calcium , cytosol , stimulation , biophysics , mitochondrial respiratory chain , calcium signaling , biology , respiratory chain , chemistry , biochemistry , neuroscience , signal transduction , enzyme , organic chemistry , gene
Although the capacity of mitochondria for accumulating Ca 2+ down the electrical gradient generated by the respiratory chain has been known for over three decades, the physiological significance of this phenomenon has been re‐evaluated only recently. Indeed, it was long believed that the low affinity of the mitochondrial Ca 2+ transporters would allow significant uptake only in conditions of cellular Ca 2+ overload. Conversely, the direct measurement of [Ca 2+ ] in the mitochondrial matrix revealed major [Ca 2+ ] increases upon agonist stimulation. In this review, we will summarize: (a) the mechanisms that allow this large response, reconciling the biochemical properties of the transporters and the large amplitude of the mitochondrial [Ca 2+ ] rises, and (b) the biological role of mitochondrial Ca 2+ signalling, that encompasses the regulation of mitochondrial function and the modulation of the spatio‐temporal pattern of cytosolic [Ca 2+ ] increases.