Calcium trafficking integrates endoplasmic reticulum function with mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Calcium homeostasis is central to all cellular functions and has been studied for decades. Calcium acts as a critical second messenger for both extracellular and intracellular signaling and is fundamental in cell life and death decisions (Berridge et al., 2000) [1]. The calcium gradient in the cell is coupled with an inherent ability of the divalent cation to reversibly bind multiple target biological molecules to generate an extremely versatile signaling system [2]. Calcium signals are used by the cell to control diverse processes such as development, neurotransmitter release, muscle contraction, metabolism, autophagy and cell death. "Cellular calcium overload" is detrimental to cellular health, resulting in massive activation of proteases and phospholipases leading to cell death (Pinton et al., 2008) [3]. Historically, cell death associated with calcium ion perturbations has been primarily recognized as necrosis. Recent evidence clearly associates changes in calcium ion concentrations with more sophisticated forms of cellular demise, including apoptosis (Kruman et al., 1998; Tombal et al., 1999; Lynch et al., 2000; Orrenius et al., 2003) [4-7]. Although the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) serves as the primary calcium store in the metazoan cell, dynamic calcium release to the cytosol, mitochondria, nuclei and other organelles orchestrate diverse coordinated responses. Most evidence supports that calcium transport from the ER to mitochondria plays a significant role in regulating cellular bioenergetics, production of reactive oxygen species, induction of autophagy and apoptosis. Recently, molecular identities that mediate calcium traffic between the ER and mitochondria have been discovered (Mallilankaraman et al., 2012a; Mallilankaraman et al., 2012b; Sancak et al., 2013)[8-10]. The next questions are how they are regulated for exquisite tight control of ER-mitochondrial calcium dynamics. This review attempts to summarize recent advances in the role of calcium in regulation of ER and mitochondrial function. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium signaling in health and disease. Guest Editors: Geert Bultynck, Jacques Haiech, Claus W. Heizmann, Joachim Krebs, and Marc Moreau.

Antioxidants reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress and improve protein secretion.

Protein misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contributes to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Although oxidative stress can disrupt protein folding, how protein misfolding and oxidative stress impact each other has not been explored. We have analyzed expression of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), the protein deficient in hemophilia A, to elucidate the relationship between protein misfolding and oxidative stress. Newly synthesized FVIII misfolds in the ER lumen, activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), causes oxidative stress, and induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo in mice. Strikingly, antioxidant treatment reduces UPR activation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, and increases FVIII secretion in vitro and in vivo. The findings indicate that reactive oxygen species are a signal generated by misfolded protein in the ER that cause UPR activation and cell death. Genetic or chemical intervention to reduce reactive oxygen species improves protein folding and cell survival and may provide an avenue to treat and/or prevent diseases of protein misfolding.

Open-channel block by the cytoplasmic tail of sodium channel beta4 as a mechanism for resurgent sodium current.

Voltage-gated sodium channels with "resurgent" kinetics are specialized for high-frequency firing. The alpha subunits interact with a blocking protein that binds open channels upon depolarization and unbinds upon repolarization, producing resurgent sodium current. By limiting classical inactivation, the cycle of block and unblock shortens refractory periods. To characterize the blocker in Purkinje neurons, we briefly exposed inside-out patches to substrate-specific proteases. Trypsin and chymotrypsin each removed resurgent current, consistent with established roles for positively charged and hydrophobic/aromatic groups in blocking sodium channels. In Purkinje cells, the only known sodium channel-associated subunit that has a cytoplasmic sequence with several positive charges and clustered hydrophobic/aromatic residues is beta4 (KKLITFILKKTREK; beta4(154-167)). After enzymatic removal of block, beta4(154-167) fully reconstituted resurgent current, whereas scrambled or point-mutated peptides were ineffective. In CA3 pyramidal neurons, which lack beta4 and endogenous block, beta4(154-167) generated resurgent current. Thus, beta4 may be the endogenous open-channel blocker responsible for resurgent kinetics.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress: a vicious cycle or a double-edged sword?

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a well-orchestrated protein-folding machine composed of protein chaperones, proteins that catalyze protein folding, and sensors that detect the presence of misfolded or unfolded proteins. A sensitive surveillance mechanism exists to prevent misfolded proteins from transiting the secretory pathway and ensures that persistently misfolded proteins are directed toward a degradative pathway. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an intracellular signaling pathway that coordinates ER protein-folding demand with protein-folding capacity and is essential to adapt to homeostatic alterations that cause protein misfolding. These include changes in intraluminal calcium, altered glycosylation, nutrient deprivation, pathogen infection, expression of folding-defective proteins, and changes in redox status. The ER provides a unique oxidizing folding-environment that favors the formation of the disulfide bonds. Accumulating evidence suggests that protein folding and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a byproduct of protein oxidation in the ER are closely linked events. It has also become apparent that activation of the UPR on exposure to oxidative stress is an adaptive mechanism to preserve cell function and survival. Persistent oxidative stress and protein misfolding initiate apoptotic cascades and are now known to play predominant roles in the pathogenesis of multiple human diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Detection of oxidative damage in response to protein misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Disulfide bond formation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) requires the sequential transfer of electrons from thiol residues to protein disulfide isomerase and ER oxidase 1, with the final reduction of molecular oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide. Conditions that perturb correct protein folding lead to accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, which induce ER stress and oxidative stress. Oxidative damage of cellular macromolecules is a common marker of aging and various pathological conditions including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. As accumulating evidence suggests a tight connection between the ER stress and oxidative stress, analysis of appropriate markers becomes particularly important. Here, we describe methods to analyze markers of oxidative damage associated with ER stress.

ER stress and its functional link to mitochondria: role in cell survival and death.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the primary site for synthesis and folding of secreted and membrane-bound proteins. Proteins are translocated into ER lumen in an unfolded state and require protein chaperones and catalysts of protein folding to assist in proper folding. Properly folded proteins traffic from the ER to the Golgi apparatus; misfolded proteins are targeted to degradation. Unfolded protein response (UPR) is a highly regulated intracellular signaling pathway that prevents accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER lumen. UPR provides an adaptive mechanism by which cells can augment protein folding and processing capacities of the ER. If protein misfolding is not resolved, the UPR triggers apoptotic cascades. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying ER stress-induced apoptosis are not completely understood, increasing evidence suggests that ER and mitochondria cooperate to signal cell death. Mitochondria and ER form structural and functional networks (mitochondria-associated ER membranes [MAMs]) essential to maintain cellular homeostasis and determine cell fate under various pathophysiological conditions. Regulated Ca(2+) transfer from the ER to the mitochondria is important in maintaining control of prosurvival/prodeath pathways. We discuss the signaling/communication between the ER and mitochondria and focus on the role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in these complex processes.

The endoplasmic reticulum and the unfolded protein response.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site where proteins enter the secretory pathway. Proteins are translocated into the ER lumen in an unfolded state and require protein chaperones and catalysts of protein folding to attain their final appropriate conformation. A sensitive surveillance mechanism exists to prevent misfolded proteins from transiting the secretory pathway and ensures that persistently misfolded proteins are directed towards a degradative pathway. In addition, those processes that prevent accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER lumen are highly regulated by an intracellular signaling pathway known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR provides a mechanism by which cells can rapidly adapt to alterations in client protein-folding load in the ER lumen by expanding the capacity for protein folding. In addition, a variety of insults that disrupt protein folding in the ER lumen also activate the UPR. These include changes in intralumenal calcium, altered glycosylation, nutrient deprivation, pathogen infection, expression of folding-defective proteins, and changes in redox status. Persistent protein misfolding initiates apoptotic cascades that are now known to play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of multiple human diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases.

Tyrosine-phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated sodium channel beta1 subunits are differentially localized in cardiac myocytes.

Voltage-gated sodium channel alpha and beta subunits expressed in mammalian heart are differentially localized to t-tubules and intercalated disks. Sodium channel beta subunits are multifunctional molecules that participate in channel modulation and cell adhesion. Reversible, receptor-mediated changes in beta1 tyrosine phosphorylation modulate its ability to recruit and associate with ankyrin. The purpose of the present study was to test our hypothesis that tyrosine-phosphorylated beta1 (pYbeta1) and nonphosphorylated beta1 subunits may be differentially localized in heart and thus interact with different cytoskeletal and signaling proteins. We developed an antibody that specifically recognizes pYbeta1 and investigated the differential subcellular localization of beta1 and pYbeta1 in mouse ventricular myocytes. We found that pYbeta1 colocalized with connexin-43, N-cadherin, and Nav1.5 at intercalated disks but was not detected at the t-tubules. Anti-pYbeta1 immunoprecipitates N-cadherin from heart membranes and from cells transfected with beta1 and N-cadherin in the absence of other sodium channel subunits. pYbeta1 does not associate with ankyrinB in heart membranes. N-cadherin and connexin-43 associate with Nav1.5 in heart membranes as assessed by co-immunoprecipitation assays. We propose that sodium channel complexes at intercalated disks of ventricular myocytes are composed of Nav1.5 and pYbeta1 and that these complexes are in close association with both N-cadherin and connexin-43. beta1 phosphorylation appears to regulate its localization to differential subcellular domains.

Structural requirements for interaction of sodium channel beta 1 subunits with ankyrin.

Sodium channel beta subunits modulate channel kinetic properties and cell surface expression levels and function as cell adhesion molecules. beta 1 and beta 2 participate in homophilic cell adhesion resulting in ankyrin recruitment to cell contact sites. We hypothesized that a tyrosine residue in the cytoplasmic domain of beta 1 may be important for ankyrin recruitment and tested our hypothesis using beta 1 mutants replacing Tyr(181) with alanine (beta 1Y181A), phenylalanine (beta 1Y181F), or glutamate (beta 1Y181E), or a truncated construct deleting all residues beyond Tyr(181) (beta 1L182(STOP)). Ankyrin recruitment was observed in beta 1L182(STOP), showing that residues Ile(166)-Tyr(181) contain the major ankyrin recruiting activity of beta 1. Ankyrin recruitment was abolished in beta 1Y181E, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of beta 1 may inhibit beta 1-ankyrin interactions. Ankyrin(G) and beta 1 associate in rat brain membranes and in transfected cells expressing beta 1 and ankyrin(G) in the absence of sodium channel alpha subunits. beta 1 subunits are recognized by anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies following treatment of these cell lines with fibroblast growth factor. beta 1 and ankryin(G) association is not detectable in cells following treatment with fibroblast growth factor. Ankyrin(G) and beta 1Y181E do not associate even in the absence of fibroblast growth factor treatment. beta 1 subunit-mediated cell adhesion and ankyrin recruitment may contribute to sodium channel placement at nodes of Ranvier. The phosphorylation state of beta 1Y181 may be a critical regulatory step in these developmental processes.