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PMID: 19285982 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Controlling metabolism and cell death: at the heart of mitochondrial calcium signalling.

Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology ·Vol. 46 ·No. 6 ·2009-06-00 ·Pages 781-8

Murgia M, Giorgi C, Pinton P, Rizzuto R

Abstract

Transient increases in intracellular calcium concentration activate and coordinate a wide variety of cellular processes in virtually every cell type. This review describes the main homeostatic mechanisms that control Ca(2+) transients, focusing on the mitochondrial checkpoint. We subsequently extend this paradigm to the cardiomyocyte and to the interplay between cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria that occurs beat-to-beat in excitation-contraction coupling. The mechanisms whereby mitochondria decode fast cytosolic calcium spikes are discussed in the light of the results obtained with recombinant photoproteins targeted to the mitochondrial matrix of contracting cardiomyocytes. Mitochondrial calcium homeostasis is then highlighted as a crucial point of convergence of the environmental signals that mediate cardiac cell death, both by necrosis and by apoptosis. Altogether we point to a role of the mitochondrion as an integrator of calcium signalling and a fundamental decision maker in cardiomyocyte metabolism and survival.

MeSH Terms
Animals Apoptosis/physiology Calcium/metabolism Calcium Signaling/physiology Cell Death/physiology Humans Mitochondria/metabolism Models, Biological
Chemicals
Calcium
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Murgia Marta
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
Giorgi Carlotta
Pinton Paolo
Rizzuto Rosario
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology
Abbr.
J Mol Cell Cardiol
ISSN
1095-8584
DOI
10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.03.003
Published
2009-06-00
Epub
2009-00-12
Pages
781-8
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0262322
PMCID
PMC2851099
Subset
IM
Grants
Telethon · GGP05284 · Italy
NIA NIH HHS · P01 AG025532 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · P01 AG025532-01A1 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · #1P01AG025532-01A1 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.03.003 PMC Full Text View journal details
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