Mitochondrial calcium transport in trypanosomes.

Roberto Docampo, Anibal E Vercesi, Guozhong Huang

Journal: Molecular and biochemical parasitology 2015;196(2):108-16

PMID: 25218432

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Abstract

The biochemical peculiarities of trypanosomes were fundamental for the recent molecular identification of the long-sought channel involved in mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter or MCU. This discovery led to the finding of numerous regulators of the channel, which form a high molecular weight complex with MCU. Some of these regulators have been bioinformatically identified in trypanosomes, which are the first eukaryotic organisms described for which MCU is essential. In trypanosomes MCU is important for buffering cytosolic Ca(2+) changes and for activation of the bioenergetics of the cells. Future work on this pathway in trypanosomes promises further insight into the biology of these fascinating eukaryotes, as well as the potential for novel target discovery.

Address: Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Departamento de Patologia Clínica, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].; Departamento de Patologia Clínica, State University of Campinas, Campinas 13083, SP, Brazil.; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.09.001