Inorganic polyphosphate is required for sustained free mitochondrial calcium elevation, following calcium uptake

Maria E. Solesio, Luis C. Garcia del Molino, Pia A. Elustondo, Catherine Diao, Joshua C. Chang, Evgeny V. Pavlov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Mitochondrial free calcium is critically linked to the regulation of cellular metabolism. Free ionic calcium concentration within these organelles is determined by the interplay between two processes: exchange across the mitochondrial inner membrane and calcium-buffering within the matrix. During stimulated calcium uptake, calcium is primarily buffered by orthophosphate, preventing calcium toxicity while allowing for well-regulated yet elevated calcium loads. However, if limited to orthophosphates only, this buffering system is expected to lead to the irreversible formation of insoluble precipitates, which are not observed in living cells, under physiological conditions. Here, we demonstrate that the regulation of free mitochondrial calcium requires the presence of free inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) within the organelle. We found that the overexpression of a mitochondrial-targeted enzyme hydrolyzing polyP leads to the loss of the cellular ability to maintain elevated calcium concentrations within the organelle, following stimulated cytoplasmic signal. We hypothesize that the presence of polyP prevents the formation of calcium-phosphate insoluble clusters, allowing for the maintenance of elevated free calcium levels, during stimulated calcium uptake.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number102127
JournalCell Calcium
Volume86
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Calcium homeostasis
  • Free calcium
  • Inorganic polyphosphate
  • Mitochondria
  • Orthophosphate
  • polyP

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Inorganic polyphosphate is required for sustained free mitochondrial calcium elevation, following calcium uptake'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this