Heterogeneity of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store determines colocalization with mitochondria.

Contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria play a pivotal role in cell signaling, and the interaction between these organelles is dynamic and finely regulated. We have studied the role of ER Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]ER) in modulating this association in HeLa and HEK293 cells and human fibroblasts. According to Manders' coefficient, ER-mitochondria colocalization varied depending on the ER marker; it was the highest with ER-Tracker and the lowest with ER Ca2+ indicators (Mag-Fluo-4, erGAP3, and G-CEPIA1er) in both HeLa cells and human fibroblasts. Only GEM-CEPIA1er displayed a high colocalization with elongated mitochondria in HeLa cells, this ER Ca2+ indicator reveals low Ca2+ regions because this ion quenches its fluorescence. On the contrary, the typical rounded and fragmented mitochondria of HEK293 cells colocalized with Mag-Fluo-4 and, to a lesser extent, with GEM-CEPIA1er. The ablation of the three IP3R isoforms in HEK293 cells increased mitochondria-GEM-CEPIA1er colocalization. This pattern of colocalization was inversely correlated with the rate of ER Ca2+ leak evoked by thapsigargin (Tg). Moreover, Tg and Histamine in the absence of external Ca2+ increased mitochondria-ER colocalization. On the contrary, in the presence of external Ca2+, both Bafilomycin A1 and Tg reduced the mitochondria-ER interaction. Notably, knocking down MCU decreased mitochondria-ER colocalization. Overall, our data suggest that the [Ca2+] is not homogenous within the ER lumen and that mitochondria-ER interaction is modulated by the ER Ca2+ leak and the [Ca2+]i.

PKC-Mediated Orai1 Channel Phosphorylation Modulates Ca2+ Signaling in HeLa Cells.

The overexpression of the Orai1 channel inhibits SOCE when using the Ca2+ readdition protocol. However, we found that HeLa cells overexpressing the Orai1 channel displayed enhanced Ca2+ entry and a limited ER depletion in response to the combination of ATP and thapsigargin (TG) in the presence of external Ca2+. As these effects require the combination of an agonist and TG, we decided to study whether the phosphorylation of Orai1 S27/S30 residues had any role using two different mutants: Orai1-S27/30A (O1-AA, phosphorylation-resistant) and Orai1-S27/30D (O1-DD, phosphomimetic). Both O1-wt and O1-AA supported enhanced Ca2+ entry, but this was not the case with O1-E106A (dead-pore mutant), O1-DD, and O1-AA-E106A, while O1-wt, O1-E106A, and O1-DD inhibited the ATP and TG-induced reduction of ER [Ca2+], suggesting that the phosphorylation of O1 S27/30 interferes with the IP3R activity. O1-wt and O1-DD displayed an increased interaction with IP3R in response to ATP and TG; however, the O1-AA channel decreased this interaction. The expression of mCherry-O1-AA increased the frequency of ATP-induced sinusoidal [Ca2+]i oscillations, while mCherry-O1-wt and mCherry-O1-DD decreased this frequency. These data suggest that the combination of ATP and TG stimulates Ca2+ entry, and the phosphorylation of Orai1 S27/30 residues by PKC reduces IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release.

Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Release Model Based on Changes in the Luminal Calcium Content.

The sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) is the main intracellular calcium (Ca2+) pool in muscle and non-muscle eukaryotic cells, respectively. The reticulum accumulates Ca2+ against its electrochemical gradient by the action of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPases (SERCA pumps), and the capacity of this Ca2+ store is increased by the presence of Ca2+ binding proteins in the lumen of the reticulum. A diversity of physical and chemical signals, activate the main Ca2+ release channels, i.e. ryanodine receptors (RyRs) and inositol (1, 4, 5) trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), to produce transient elevations of the cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) while the reticulum is being depleted of Ca2+. This picture is incomplete because it implies that the elements involved in the Ca2+ release process are acting alone and independently of each other. However, it appears that the Ca2+ released by RyRs and IP3Rs is trapped in luminal Ca2+ binding proteins (Ca2+ lattice), which are associated with these release channels, and the activation of these channels appears to facilitate that the trapped Ca2+ ions become available for release. This situation makes the initial stage of the Ca2+ release process a highly efficient one; accordingly, there is a large increase in the [Ca2+]i with minimal reductions in the bulk of the free luminal SR/ER [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]SR/ER). Additionally, it has been shown that active SERCA pumps are required for attaining this highly efficient Ca2+ release process. All these data indicate that Ca2+ release by the SR/ER is a highly regulated event and not just Ca2+ coming down its electrochemical gradient via the open release channels. One obvious advantage of this sophisticated Ca2+ release process is to avoid depletion of the ER Ca2+ store and accordingly, to prevent the activation of ER stress during each Ca2+ release event.

The Trans Golgi Region is a Labile Intracellular Ca2+ Store Sensitive to Emetine.

The Golgi apparatus (GA) is a bona fide Ca2+ store; however, there is a lack of GA-specific Ca2+ mobilizing agents. Here, we report that emetine specifically releases Ca2+ from GA in HeLa and HL-1 atrial myocytes. Additionally, it has become evident that the trans-Golgi is a labile Ca2+ store that requires a continuous source of Ca2+ from either the external milieu or from the ER, to enable it to produce a detectable transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+. Our data indicates that the emetine-sensitive Ca2+ mobilizing mechanism is different from the two classical Ca2+ release mechanisms, i.e. IP3 and ryanodine receptors. This newly discovered ability of emetine to release Ca2+ from the GA may explain why chronic consumption of ipecac syrup has muscle side effects.

Acidic intracellular Ca(2+) stores and caveolae in Ca(2+) signaling and diabetes.

Acidic Ca(2+) stores, particularly lysosomes, are newly discovered players in the well-orchestrated arena of Ca(2+) signaling and we are at the verge of understanding how lysosomes accumulate Ca(2+) and how they release it in response to different chemical, such as NAADP, and physical signals. Additionally, it is now clear that lysosomes play a key role in autophagy, a process that allows cells to recycle components or to eliminate damaged structures to ensure cellular well-being. Moreover, lysosomes are being unraveled as hubs that coordinate both anabolism via insulin signaling and catabolism via AMPK. These acidic vesicles have close contact with the ER and there is a bidirectional movement of information between these two organelles that exquisitely regulates cell survival. Lysosomes also connect with plasma membrane where caveolae are located as specialized regions involved in Ca(2+) and insulin signaling. Alterations of all these signaling pathways are at the core of insulin resistance and diabetes.