Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8294827 | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications | 2018 | 22 Pages |
Abstract
Mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is the pore-forming subunit of the entire uniporter complex and plays an important role in mitochondrial calcium uptake. However, the single channel recording of MCU remains controversial. Here, we expressed and purified different MCU proteins and then reconstituted them into planar lipid bilayers for single channel recording. We showed that MCU alone from Pyronema omphalodes (pMCU) is active with prominent single channel Ca2+ currents. In sharp contrast, MCU alone from Homo sapiens (hMCU) is inactive. The essential MCU regulator (EMRE) activates hMCU, and therefore, the complex (hMCU-hEMRE) shows prominent single channel Ca2+ currents. These single channel currents are sensitive to the specific MCU inhibitor Ruthenium Red. Our results clearly demonstrate that active MCU can conduct large amounts of calcium into the mitochondria.
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Authors
Guangyan Wu, Shunjin Li, Guangning Zong, Xiaofen Liu, Shuang Fei, Linda Shen, Xiangchen Guan, Xue Yang, Yuequan Shen,