Presenilin mutations are the main cause of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Presenilins also play a key role in Ca 2+ homeostasis, and their FAD-linked mutants affect cellular Ca 2+ handling in several ways. We previously have demonstrated that FAD-linked presenilin 2 (PS2) mutants decrease the Ca 2+ content of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by inhibiting sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase (SERCA) activity and increasing ER Ca 2+ leak. Here we focus on the effect of presenilins on mitochondrial Ca 2+ dynamics. By using genetically encoded Ca 2+ indicators specifically targeted to mitochondria (aequorin-and GFP-based probes) in SH-SY5Y cells and primary neuronal cultures, we show that overexpression or down-regulation of PS2, but not of presenilin 1 (PS1), modulates the Ca 2+ shuttling between ER and mitochondria, with its FAD mutants strongly favoring Ca 2+ transfer between the two organelles. This effect is not caused by a direct PS2 action on mitochondrial Ca 2+ -uptake machinery but rather by an increased physical interaction between ER and mitochondria that augments the frequency of Ca 2+ hot spots generated at the cytoplasmic surface of the outer mitochondrial membrane upon stimulation. This PS2 function adds further complexity to the multifaceted nature of presenilins and to their physiological role within the cell. We also discuss the importance of this additional effect of FAD-linked PS2 mutants for the understanding of FAD pathogenesis.fluorescent Ca 2+ probe | intracellular organelle tethering | fluorescence resonance energy transfer A lzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in developed countries. The pathogenesis of AD is still largely mysterious, and most basic research in the field is concentrated on rare genetic forms of familial AD (FAD). The majority of FAD cases are caused by point mutations in genes for two homologous proteins, presenilin 1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 (PS2), that are essential components of the γ-secretase complex responsible for the production of the amyloid β peptides (Aβ) (1).Evidence has accumulated suggesting that FAD is linked to an imbalance of cellular Ca 2+ homeostasis (see refs. 2 and 3 for recent reviews). In particular, presenilins appear to play a key role in the control of Ca 2+ concentration within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), [Ca 2+ ] ER : (i) Several FAD-linked presenilin mutants altered the expression or sensitivity of ER Ca 2+ release channels [ryanodine receptor (RyR) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP 3 R)] in cell lines, neurons, and brain microsomes (see ref. 4 for a recent review); (ii) the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ ATPase (SERCA) has been proposed as a target of presenilins, although opposite regulatory effects have been reported (5, 6); and (iii) it has been suggested that WT presenilins, but not FAD-linked presenilin mutants, form low-conductance Ca 2+ leak channels in the ER membrane (7,8). This last finding supports the "Ca 2+ overload" hypothesis for FAD, which proposes that the reduced ER Ca 2+ leak c...

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ICRAC (the best characterized Ca2+ current activated by store depletion) was monitored concurrently for the first time with [Ca2+] changes in internal stores. To establish the quantitative and kinetic relationship between these two parameters, we have developed a novel means to clamp [Ca2+] within stores of intact cells at any level. The advantage of this approach, which is based on the membrane-permeant low-affinity Ca2+ chelator N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl)ethylene diamine (TPEN), is that [Ca2+] within the ER can be lowered and restored to its original level within 10–15 s without modifications of Ca2+ pumps or release channels. Using these new tools, we demonstrate here that Ca2+ release–activated Ca2+ current (ICRAC) is activated (a) solely by reduction of free [Ca2+] within the ER and (b) by any measurable decrease in [Ca2+]ER. We also demonstrate that the intrinsic kinetics of inactivation are relatively slow and possibly dependent on soluble factors that are lost during the whole-cell recording.

SummaryMutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP), and presenilin-1 and presenilin-2 (PS1 and PS2) have causally been implicated in Familial Alzheimer's Disease (FAD), but the mechanistic link between the mutations and the early onset of neurodegeneration is still debated. Although no consensus has yet been reached, most data suggest that both FAD-linked PS mutants and endoge-

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Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of membrane currents and Fura-2 measurements of free intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]J) were used to study calcium Influx through receptor-activated cation channels in rat peritoneal mast ceDls. Cation channels were activated by the secretagogue compound 48/80, whereas a possible concomitant Ca2+ entry through pathways activated by depletion of calcium stores was blocked by dialyzing cells with heparin. Heparin effectively suppressed the transient Ca2+ release induced by 48/80 and abrogated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphateinduced calcium influx without affecting activation of 50-pS cation channels. There was a clear correlation between changes in [Ca2+1; and the activity of 50-pS channels. The changes in [Ca2+1 increased with elevation of extracellular Ca2+. At the same time, inward currents through 50-pS channels were diminished as more Ca2+ permeated. This effect was due to a decrease in slope conductance and a reduction in the open probability of the cation channels. In physiological solutions, 3.6% of the total current was carried by Ca2+. The cation channels were not only permeable to Ca2+ but also to Mn2+, as evidenced by the quench of Fura-2 fluorescence. Mn2+ current through 50-pS channels could not be resolved at the singlechannel level. Our results suggest that 50-pS cation channels partially contribute to sustained increases of [Ca2+J1 in mast cells following receptor activation.

We have previously shown that familial Alzheimer’s disease mutants of presenilin-2 (PS2) and, to a lesser extent, of presenilin-1 (PS1) lower the Ca2+ concentration of intracellular stores. We here examined the mechanism by which wild-type and mutant PS2 affect store Ca2+ handling. By using HeLa, SH-SY5Y and MEFs as model cells, and recombinant aequorins as Ca2+ probes, we show evidence that transient expression of either wild-type or mutant PS2 increases the passive Ca2+ leakage: both ryanodine- and IP3-receptors contribute to Ca2+ exit out of the ER, whereas the ribosome translocon complex is not involved. In SH-SY5Y cells and MEFs, wild-type and mutant PS2 potently reduce the uptake of Ca2+ inside the stores, an effect that can be counteracted by over-expression of SERCA-2B. On this line, in wild-type MEFs, lowering the endogenous level of PS2 by RNA interference, increases the Ca2+-loading capability of intracellular stores. Furthermore, we show that in PS double knockout MEFs, reduction of Ca2+ stores is mimicked by the expression of PS2-D366A, a loss-of-function mutant, uncleaved because also devoid of presenilinase activity but not by co-expression of the two catalytic active fragments of PS2. In summary, both physiological and increased levels of wild-type and mutant PS2 reduce the Ca2+ uptake by intracellular stores. To exert this newly described function, PS2 needs to be in its full-length form, even if it can subsequently be cleaved.

The neuroblastoma-like cell line N2A and the pheochromocytoma-like cell line PC12 excrete about 20-25% of the intracellular fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2 during 10 min of incubation at 37 degrees C. The drug probenecid, known to inhibit membrane systems for the transport of organic anions [Cunningham, Israili & Dayton (1981) Clin. Pharmacol. 6, 135-151], inhibited fura-2 excretion in both cell types. However, probenecid also had untoward effects on intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in N2A and PC12 cells. We therefore tested the drug sulphinpyrazone, another known inhibitor of organic-anion transport systems. Sulphinpyrazone fully inhibited excretion of fura-2 at 250 microM, a concentration one order of magnitude lower than that of probenecid. At this concentration and for incubation times up to 20 min, sulphinpyrazone had no untoward effects on cell viability and metabolic functions. Fura-2 was also loaded into the cytoplasm of N2A cells by permeabilization of the plasma membrane with extracellular ATP. In this case as well, the dye was rapidly released from the cells and the efflux was blocked by sulphinpyrazone. These findings suggest that N2A and PC12 cells possess a membrane system for the transport of the free-acid form of fura-2. This transport system is probably responsible for the excretion of fura-2 from these cells. Incubation of N2A and PC12 cells with sulphinpyrazone may help overcome problems arising in the investigation of [Ca2+]i homeostasis in these cell types.