Potentiation of mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration by taurine

The effects of taurine (2-aminoethanesulphonic acid) and its analogues, 2-aminoethylarsonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulphonic (isethionic) acid, 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid, 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid, and N,N-dimethyltaurine, were studied on the transport of Ca2+ by mitochondria isolated from rat liver. Taurine enhanced Ca2+ uptake in an apparently saturable process, with a Km value of about 2.63 mM. Taurine behaved as an uncompetitive activator of Ca2+ uptake, increasing both the apparent Km and Vmax values of the process. This effect was not modified in the presence of cyclosporin A (CsA). N,N-Dimethyltaurine also stimulated Ca2+ uptake at higher concentrations, but there was no evidence that the process was saturable over the concentration range used (1-10 mM). Aminoethylarsonate was a weak inhibitor of basal Ca2+ uptake, but inhibited that stimulated by taurine in an apparently competitive fashion (Ki = 0.05 mM). The other analogues had no significant effects on this process. Taurine either in the presence or the absence of CsA had no effect on Ca2+ release induced by 200 nM ruthenium red. Thus, the mechanism of taurine-enhanced Ca2+ accumulation appears to involve stimulation of Ca2+ uptake via the uniport system rather than inhibition of Ca2+ release via the ion (Na+/Ca2+ and/or H+/Ca2+) exchangers or by taurine modulating the permeability transition of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Overall, these findings indicate an interaction of taurine with an as yet unidentified mitochondrial site which might regulate the activity of the uniporter. The unique role of taurine in modulating mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis might be of particular importance under pathological conditions that are characterised by cell Ca2+ overload, such as ischaemia and oxidative stress.