Mechanisms that regulate cellular metabolism are a fundamental requirement of all cells. Most eukaryotic cells rely on aerobic mitochondrial metabolism to generate ATP. Nevertheless, regulation of mitochondrial activity is incompletely understood. Here we identified an unexpected and essential role for constitutive InsP3R-mediated Ca2+ release in maintaining cellular bioenergetics. Macroautophagy provides eukaryotes with an adaptive response to nutrient deprivation that prolongs survival. Constitutive InsP3R Ca2+ signaling is required for macroautophagy suppression in cells in nutrient-replete media. In its absence, cells become metabolically compromised due to diminished mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Mitochondrial uptake of InsP3R released Ca2+ is fundamentally required to provide optimal bioenergetics by providing sufficient reducing equivalents to support oxidative phosphorylation. Absence of this Ca2+ transfer results in enhanced phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase and activation of AMPK, which activates pro-survival macroautophagy. Thus, constitutive InsP3R Ca2+ release to mitochondria is an essential cellular process that is required for efficient mitochondrial respiration and maintenance of normal cell bioenergetics.

Mutations in presenilins (PS) are the major cause of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and have been associated with calcium (Ca2+) signaling abnormalities. Here, we demonstrate that FAD mutant PS1 (M146L)and PS2 (N141I) interact with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) Ca2+ release channel and exert profound stimulatory effects on its gating activity in response to saturating and suboptimal levels of InsP3. These interactions result in exaggerated cellular Ca2+ signaling in response to agonist stimulation as well as enhanced low-level Ca2+signaling in unstimulated cells. Parallel studies in InsP3R-expressing and -deficient cells revealed that enhanced Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum as a result of the specific interaction of PS1-M146L with the InsP3R stimulates amyloid beta processing,an important feature of AD pathology. These observations provide molecular insights into the "Ca2+ dysregulation" hypothesis of AD pathogenesis and suggest novel targets for therapeutic intervention.

Members of the Bcl-2 protein family modulate outer mitochondrial membrane permeability to control apoptosis1 ,2 . However, these proteins also localize to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the functional significance of which is controversial 3, 4. Here we provide evidence that anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins regulate the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP 3 R) ER Ca 2+ release channel resulting in increased cellular apoptotic resistance and enhanced mitochondrial bioenergetics. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-X L interacts with the carboxyl terminus of the InsP 3 R and sensitizes single InsP 3 R channels in ER membranes to low [InsP 3 ], enhancing Ca 2+ and InsP 3 -dependent regulation of channel activity in vitro and in vivo, reducing ER Ca 2+ content and stimulating mitochondrial energetics. The proapoptotic proteins Bax and tBid antagonize this effect by blocking the biochemical interaction of Bcl-X L with the InsP 3 R. These data support a novel model in which Bcl-X L is a direct effector of the InsP 3 R, increasing its sensitivity to InsP 3 and enabling ER Ca 2+ release to be more sensitively coupled to extracellular signals. As a consequence, cells are protected against apoptosis by a more sensitive and dynamic coupling of ER to mitochondria through Ca 2+ -dependent signal transduction that enhances cellular bioenergetics and preserves survival.A central feature of molecular models of apoptosis is the control of outer mitochondrial membrane permeability by Bcl-2-related proteins. The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-related proteins Bax and Bak are required to initiate cytochrome c release from mitochondria in response to diverse apoptotic stimuli 1,5 . Anti-apoptotic properties of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X L have been attributed to their ability to antagonize Bax/Bak by forming heterodimers that prevent their oligomerization and apoptosis initiation 6 . Pro-and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins also localize to the ER 3,7 , and it is now recognized that the ER has an important role in regulating apoptosis 8,9 . The ER is thought to contribute to apoptosis through its role as the principle Ca 2+ storage organelle in cells [8][9][10][11] . At physiological levels, Ca 2+ released from the ER during

Ca2+ flux across the mitochondrial inner membrane regulates bioenergetics, cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals and activation of cell death pathways1–11. Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake occurs at regions of close apposition with intracellular Ca2+ release sites 12–14, driven by the inner membrane voltage generated by oxidative phosphorylation and mediated by a Ca2+ selective ion channel (MiCa15) called the uniporter16–18 whose complete molecular identity remains unknown. Mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) was recently identified as the likely ion-conducting pore19, 20. In addition, MICU1 was identified as a mitochondrial regulator of uniporter-mediated Ca2+ uptake in HeLa cells 21. Here we identified CCDC90A, hereafter referred to as MCUR1 (Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Regulator 1), an integral membrane protein required for MCU-dependent mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. MCUR1 binds to MCU and regulates ruthenium red-sensitive MCU-dependent Ca2+ uptake. MCUR1 knockdown does not alter MCU localization, but abrogates Ca2+ uptake by energized mitochondria in intact and permeabilized cells. Ablation of MCUR1 disrupts oxidative phosphorylation, lowers cellular ATP, and activates AMP kinase-dependent pro-survival autophagy. Thus, MCUR1 is a critical component of a mitochondrial uniporter channel complex required for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and maintenance of normal cellular bioenergetics.

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