Mechanisms of EMRE-Dependent MCU Opening in the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Complex. 2020

Anna M Van Keuren, and Chen-Wei Tsai, and Enrique Balderas, and Madison X Rodriguez, and Dipayan Chaudhuri, and Ming-Feng Tsai
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter is a multi-subunit Ca2+-activated Ca2+ channel, made up of the pore-forming MCU protein, a metazoan-specific EMRE subunit, and MICU1/MICU2, which mediate Ca2+ activation. It has been established that metazoan MCU requires EMRE binding to conduct Ca2+, but how EMRE promotes MCU opening remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that EMRE controls MCU activity via its transmembrane helix, while using an N-terminal PKP motif to strengthen binding with MCU. Opening of MCU requires hydrophobic interactions mediated by MCU residues near the pore's luminal end. Enhancing these interactions by single mutation allows human MCU to transport Ca2+ without EMRE. We further show that EMRE may facilitate MCU opening by stabilizing the open state in a conserved MCU gating mechanism, present also in non-metazoan MCU homologs. These results provide insights into the evolution of the uniporter machinery and elucidate the mechanism underlying the physiologically crucial EMRE-dependent MCU activation process.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008928 Mitochondria Semiautonomous, self-reproducing organelles that occur in the cytoplasm of all cells of most, but not all, eukaryotes. Each mitochondrion is surrounded by a double limiting membrane. The inner membrane is highly invaginated, and its projections are called cristae. Mitochondria are the sites of the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, which result in the formation of ATP. They contain distinctive RIBOSOMES, transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER); AMINO ACYL T RNA SYNTHETASES; and elongation and termination factors. Mitochondria depend upon genes within the nucleus of the cells in which they reside for many essential messenger RNAs (RNA, MESSENGER). Mitochondria are believed to have arisen from aerobic bacteria that established a symbiotic relationship with primitive protoeukaryotes. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Mitochondrial Contraction,Mitochondrion,Contraction, Mitochondrial,Contractions, Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Contractions
D002118 Calcium A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002135 Calcium-Binding Proteins Proteins to which calcium ions are bound. They can act as transport proteins, regulator proteins, or activator proteins. They typically contain EF HAND MOTIFS. Calcium Binding Protein,Calcium-Binding Protein,Calcium Binding Proteins,Binding Protein, Calcium,Binding Proteins, Calcium,Protein, Calcium Binding,Protein, Calcium-Binding
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015220 Calcium Channels Voltage-dependent cell membrane glycoproteins selectively permeable to calcium ions. They are categorized as L-, T-, N-, P-, Q-, and R-types based on the activation and inactivation kinetics, ion specificity, and sensitivity to drugs and toxins. The L- and T-types are present throughout the cardiovascular and central nervous systems and the N-, P-, Q-, & R-types are located in neuronal tissue. Ion Channels, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Blocker,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptor,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptors,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptor,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptors,Ion Channel, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Antagonist,VDCC,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels,Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Channels, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Ion Channel,Calcium Ion Channels,Channel, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Channels, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channel,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels
D051336 Mitochondrial Membranes The two lipoprotein layers in the MITOCHONDRION. The outer membrane encloses the entire mitochondrion and contains channels with TRANSPORT PROTEINS to move molecules and ions in and out of the organelle. The inner membrane folds into cristae and contains many ENZYMES important to cell METABOLISM and energy production (MITOCHONDRIAL ATP SYNTHASE). Inner Mitochondrial Membrane,Mitochondrial Membrane, Inner,Mitochondrial Membrane, Outer,Outer Mitochondrial Membrane,Inner Mitochondrial Membranes,Membrane, Inner Mitochondrial,Membrane, Mitochondrial,Membrane, Outer Mitochondrial,Membranes, Inner Mitochondrial,Membranes, Mitochondrial,Membranes, Outer Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Membrane,Mitochondrial Membranes, Inner,Mitochondrial Membranes, Outer,Outer Mitochondrial Membranes
D057809 HEK293 Cells A cell line generated from human embryonic kidney cells that were transformed with human adenovirus type 5. 293T Cells,HEK 293 Cell Line,HEK 293 Cells,Human Embryonic Kidney Cell Line 293,Human Kidney Cell Line 293,293 Cell, HEK,293 Cells, HEK,293T Cell,Cell, 293T,Cell, HEK 293,Cell, HEK293,Cells, 293T,Cells, HEK 293,Cells, HEK293,HEK 293 Cell,HEK293 Cell
D027682 Cation Transport Proteins Membrane proteins whose primary function is to facilitate the transport of positively charged molecules (cations) across a biological membrane. Cation Pumps,Cation Pump,Pump, Cation,Pumps, Cation
D033681 Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins Proteins involved in the transport of specific substances across the membranes of the MITOCHONDRIA. Membrane Transport Proteins, Mitochondrial,Mitochondrial Carrier Proteins,Mitochondrial Carriers,Mitochondrial Transport Proteins,Carrier Proteins, Mitochondrial,Transport Proteins, Mitochondrial

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