The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human Diseases
Calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) ions act as a second messenger, regulating several cell functions. Mitochondria are critical organelles for the regulation of intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Mitochondrial calcium (mtCa<sup>2+</sup>) uptake is ensured by the presence in th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/9/1304 |
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| author | Donato D’Angelo Rosario Rizzuto |
| author_facet | Donato D’Angelo Rosario Rizzuto |
| author_sort | Donato D’Angelo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) ions act as a second messenger, regulating several cell functions. Mitochondria are critical organelles for the regulation of intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Mitochondrial calcium (mtCa<sup>2+</sup>) uptake is ensured by the presence in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex, a macromolecular structure composed of pore-forming and regulatory subunits. MtCa<sup>2+</sup> uptake plays a crucial role in the regulation of oxidative metabolism and cell death. A lot of evidence demonstrates that the dysregulation of mtCa<sup>2+</sup> homeostasis can have serious pathological outcomes. In this review, we briefly discuss the molecular structure and the function of the MCU complex and then we focus our attention on human diseases in which a dysfunction in mtCa<sup>2+</sup> has been shown. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:59:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7251f7219c8c4497aef3566a2f3ae381 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:59:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-7251f7219c8c4497aef3566a2f3ae3812023-11-19T09:45:05ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2023-08-01139130410.3390/biom13091304The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human DiseasesDonato D’Angelo0Rosario Rizzuto1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, ItalyCalcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) ions act as a second messenger, regulating several cell functions. Mitochondria are critical organelles for the regulation of intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Mitochondrial calcium (mtCa<sup>2+</sup>) uptake is ensured by the presence in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) complex, a macromolecular structure composed of pore-forming and regulatory subunits. MtCa<sup>2+</sup> uptake plays a crucial role in the regulation of oxidative metabolism and cell death. A lot of evidence demonstrates that the dysregulation of mtCa<sup>2+</sup> homeostasis can have serious pathological outcomes. In this review, we briefly discuss the molecular structure and the function of the MCU complex and then we focus our attention on human diseases in which a dysfunction in mtCa<sup>2+</sup> has been shown.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/9/1304MCUmitochondrial Ca<sup>2+</sup> signalingcancercardiovascular diseasesmetabolic diseasesskeletal muscle diseases |
| spellingShingle | Donato D’Angelo Rosario Rizzuto The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human Diseases Biomolecules MCU mitochondrial Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling cancer cardiovascular diseases metabolic diseases skeletal muscle diseases |
| title | The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human Diseases |
| title_full | The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human Diseases |
| title_fullStr | The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human Diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human Diseases |
| title_short | The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU): Molecular Identity and Role in Human Diseases |
| title_sort | mitochondrial calcium uniporter mcu molecular identity and role in human diseases |
| topic | MCU mitochondrial Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling cancer cardiovascular diseases metabolic diseases skeletal muscle diseases |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/9/1304 |
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