Alexander I. Bondarenko

Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake 1 (MICU1) and Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter (MCU) Contribute to Metabolism-Secretion Coupling in Clonal Pancreatic β-Cells

Background: The molecular contributors of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, which is essential for metabolism-secretion coupling in β-cells, are unknown. Results: Knockdown of MICU1 and MCU reduced agonist- and depolarization-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration, ATP production, and d-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Conclusion: MICU1 and MCU are integral to metabolism-secretion coupling in β-cells. Significance: The presented data identify MICU1 and MCU as important contributors to pancreatic β-cell function. In pancreatic β-cells, uptake of Ca2+ into mitochondria facilitates metabolism-secretion coupling by activation of various matrix enzymes, thus facilitating ATP generation by oxidative phosphorylation and, in turn, augmenting insulin release. We employed an siRNA-based approach to evaluate the individual contribution of four proteins that were recently described to be engaged in mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration in clonal INS-1 832/13 pancreatic β-cells: the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake 1 (MICU1), mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), and leucine zipper EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 (LETM1). Using a FRET-based genetically encoded Ca2+ sensor targeted to mitochondria, we show that a transient knockdown of MICU1 or MCU diminished mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake upon both intracellular Ca2+ release and Ca2+ entry via L-type channels. In contrast, knockdown of UCP2 and LETM1 exclusively reduced mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in response to either intracellular Ca2+ release or Ca2+ entry, respectively. Therefore, we further investigated the role of MICU1 and MCU in metabolism-secretion coupling. Diminution of MICU1 or MCU reduced mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in response to d-glucose, whereas d-glucose-triggered cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations remained unaffected. Moreover, d-glucose-evoked increases in cytosolic ATP and d-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were diminished in MICU1- or MCU-silenced cells. Our data highlight the crucial role of MICU1 and MCU in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in pancreatic β-cells and their involvement in the positive feedback required for sustained insulin secretion.

Leucine Zipper EF Hand-containing Transmembrane Protein 1 (Letm1) and Uncoupling Proteins 2 and 3 (UCP2/3) Contribute to Two Distinct Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake Pathways

Cytosolic Ca2+ signals are transferred into mitochondria over a huge concentration range. In our recent work we described uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 (UCP2/3) to be fundamental for mitochondrial uptake of high Ca2+ domains in mitochondria-ER junctions. On the other hand, the leucine zipper EF hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 (Letm1) was identified as a mitochondrial Ca2+/H+ antiporter that achieved mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration at small Ca2+ increases. Thus, the contributions of Letm1 and UCP2/3 to mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake were compared in endothelial cells. Knock-down of Letm1 did not affect the UCP2/3-dependent mitochondrial uptake of intracellularly released Ca2+ but strongly diminished the transfer of entering Ca2+ into mitochondria, subsequently, resulting in a reduction of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Knock-down of Letm1 and UCP2/3 did neither impact on cellular ATP levels nor the membrane potential. The enhanced mitochondrial Ca2+ signals in cells overexpressing UCP2/3 rescued SOCE upon Letm1 knock-down. In digitonin-permeabilized cells, Letm1 exclusively contributed to mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake at low Ca2+ conditions. Neither the Letm1- nor the UCP2/3-dependent mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake was affected by a knock-down of mRNA levels of mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1), a protein that triggers mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in HeLa cells. Our data indicate that Letm1 and UCP2/3 independently contribute to two distinct, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake pathways in intact endothelial cells.

GPR55-dependent and -independent ion signalling in response to lysophosphatidylinositol in endothelial cells.

Background and purpose:  The glycerol‐based lysophospholipid lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) is an endogenous agonist of the G‐protein‐coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) exhibiting cannabinoid receptor‐like properties in endothelial cells. To estimate the contribution of GPR55 to the physiological effects of LPI, the GPR55‐dependent and ‐independent electrical responses in this cell type were investigated.

Studying mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake – A revisit

Highlights ► Mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration was tested by various techniques. ► Kinetics and Ca2+ sensitivity of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake depends on the techniques chosen. ► By electrophysiology, 2 and 3 distinct Ca2+ inward currents were measured in HeLa and endothelial cell mitoplasts. ► Mitoplast Ca2+ inward currents differ in frequency of appearance and conductance ranging from 7.6 to 74.3 pS. ► Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake routes/modes exists and might be cell specific.

Sodium–calcium exchanger contributes to membrane hyperpolarization of intact endothelial cells from rat aorta during acetylcholine stimulation

The role of sodium–calcium exchanger in acetylcholine (Ach)‐induced hyperpolarization of intact endothelial cells was studied in excised rat aorta. The membrane potential was recorded using perforated patch‐clamp technique. The mean resting potential of endothelial cells was −44.1±1.4 mV. A selective inhibitor of sodium–calcium exchanger benzamil (100 μM) had no significant effect on resting membrane potential, but reversibly decreased the amplitude of sustained Ach‐induced endothelial hyperpolarization from 20.9±1.4 to 5.7±1.1 mV when applied during the plateau phase. The blocker of reversed mode of the exchanger KB‐R7943 (2‐[2‐[4‐(4‐nitrobenzyloxy)phenyl]ethyl]isothiourea methanesulfonate, 20 μM) reversibly decreased the amplitude of sustained Ach‐induced hyperpolarization from 20.5±2.9 to 7.5±1.8 mV. Introduction of tetraethylammonium (10 mM) in the continuous presence of Ach decreased the sustained phase of hyperpolarization from 17.9±1.5 by 12.9±0.9 mV. Subsequent addition of 20 μM KB‐R7943 further depolarized endothelial cells by 4.8±1.1 mV. Substituting external sodium with N‐methyl D‐glucamine during the plateau phase of Ach‐evoked hyperpolarization reversibly decreased the hyperpolarization from −61.8±2.7 to −54.2±1.9 mV. In the majority of preparations, the initial response to removal of external sodium was a transient further rise in the membrane potential of several mV. Sodium ionophore monensin hyperpolarized endothelium by 10.3±0.7 mV. The inhibitory effect of benzamil on Ach‐induced endothelial sustained hyperpolarization was observed in endothelium mechanically isolated from smooth muscle. These results suggest that the sodium–calcium exchanger of intact endothelial cells is able to operate in reverse following stimulation by Ach, contributing to sustained hyperpolarization. Myoendothelial electrical communications do not mediate the effect of blockers of sodium–calcium exchanger.

Mitochondrial Ca 2+ uniporter (MCU)-dependent and MCU-independent Ca 2+ channels coexist in the inner mitochondrial membrane

A protein referred to as CCDC109A and then renamed to mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) has recently been shown to accomplish mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in different cell types. In this study, we investigated whole-mitoplast inward cation currents and single Ca2+ channel activities in mitoplasts prepared from stable MCU knockdown HeLa cells using the patch-clamp technique. In whole-mitoplast configuration, diminution of MCU considerably reduced inward Ca2+ and Na+ currents. This was accompanied by a decrease in occurrence of single channel activity of the intermediate conductance mitochondrial Ca2+ current (i-MCC). However, ablation of MCU yielded a compensatory 2.3-fold elevation in the occurrence of the extra large conductance mitochondrial Ca2+ current (xl-MCC), while the occurrence of bursting currents (b-MCC) remained unaltered. These data reveal i-MCC as MCU-dependent current while xl-MCC and b-MCC seem to be rather MCU-independent, thus, pointing to the engagement of at least two molecularly distinct mitochondrial Ca2+ channels.

N-arachidonoyl glycine suppresses Na+/Ca2+ exchanger-mediated Ca2+ entry into endothelial cells and activates BKCa channels independently of GPCRs

N‐arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) is a lipoamino acid with vasorelaxant properties. We aimed to explore the mechanisms of NAGlys action on unstimulated and agonist‐stimulated endothelial cells.

The endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) inhibits store-operated Ca2+ entry by preventing STIM1-Orai1 interaction.

Summary The endocannabiniod anandamide (AEA) and its derivate N-arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) have a broad spectrum of physiological effects, which are induced by both binding to receptors and receptor-independent modulations of ion channels and transporters. The impact of AEA and NAGly on store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), a ubiquitous Ca2+ entry pathway regulating many cellular functions, is unknown. Here we show that NAGly, but not AEA reversibly hinders SOCE in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of NAGly on SOCE was found in the human endothelial cell line EA.hy926, the rat pancreatic &bgr;-cell line INS-1 832/13, and the rat basophilic leukemia cell line RBL-2H3. NAGly diminished SOCE independently from the mode of Ca2+ depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas it had no effect on Ca2+ entry through L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Enhanced Ca2+ entry was effectively hampered by NAGly in cells overexpressing the key molecular constituents of SOCE, stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1) and the pore-forming subunit of SOCE channels, Orai1. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that NAGly did not affect STIM1 oligomerization, STIM1 clustering, or the colocalization of STIM1 with Orai1, which were induced by Ca2+ depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum. In contrast, independently from its slow depolarizing effect on mitochondria, NAGly instantly and strongly diminished the interaction of STIM1 with Orai1, indicating that NAGly inhibits SOCE primarily by uncoupling STIM1 from Orai1. In summary, our findings revealed the STIM1–Orai1-mediated SOCE machinery as a molecular target of NAGly, which might have many implications in cell physiology.

PRMT1-mediated methylation of MICU1 determines the UCP2/3 dependency of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake in immortalized cells.

Recent studies revealed that mitochondrial Ca2+ channels, which control energy flow, cell signalling and death, are macromolecular complexes that basically consist of the pore-forming mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) protein, the essential MCU regulator (EMRE), and the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake 1 (MICU1). MICU1 is a regulatory subunit that shields mitochondria from Ca2+ overload. Before the identification of these core elements, the novel uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 (UCP2/3) have been shown to be fundamental for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Here we clarify the molecular mechanism that determines the UCP2/3 dependency of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Our data demonstrate that mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is controlled by protein arginine methyl transferase 1 (PRMT1) that asymmetrically methylates MICU1, resulting in decreased Ca2+ sensitivity. UCP2/3 normalize Ca2+ sensitivity of methylated MICU1 and, thus, re-establish mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake activity. These data provide novel insights in the complex regulation of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter by PRMT1 and UCP2/3.

Endothelial atypical cannabinoid receptor: do we have enough evidence?

Cannabinoids and their synthetic analogues affect a broad range of physiological functions, including cardiovascular variables. Although direct evidence is still missing, the relaxation of a vast range of vascular beds induced by cannabinoids is believed to involve a still unidentified non‐CB1, non‐CB2 Gi/o protein‐coupled receptor located on endothelial cells, the so called endothelial cannabinoid receptor (eCB receptor). Evidence for the presence of an eCB receptor comes mainly from vascular relaxation studies, which commonly employ pertussis toxin as an indicator for GPCR‐mediated signalling. In addition, a pharmacological approach is widely used to attribute the relaxation to eCB receptors. Recent findings have indicated a number of GPCR‐independent targets for both agonists and antagonists of the presumed eCB receptor, warranting further investigations and cautious interpretation of the vascular relaxation studies. This review will provide a brief historical overview on the proposed novel eCB receptor, drawing attention to the discrepancies between the studies on the pharmacological profile of the eCB receptor and highlighting the Gi/o protein‐independent actions of the eCB receptor inhibitors widely used as selective compounds. As the eCB receptor represents an attractive pharmacological target for a number of cardiovascular abnormalities, defining its molecular identity and the extent of its regulation of vascular function will have important implications for drug discovery. This review highlights the need to re‐evaluate this subject in a thoughtful and rigorous fashion. More studies are needed to differentiate Gi/o protein‐dependent endothelial cannabinoid signalling from that involving the classical CB1 and CB2 receptors as well as its relevance for pathophysiological conditions.