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Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Analyses of Mitochondrial Calcium Influx in Isolated Mitochondria and Cultured Cells
Published on: April 27, 2018
Molecular diversity and pleiotropic role of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter
Marta Murgia1, Rosario Rizzuto1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences and CNR Neuroscience Institute, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Abstract:
The long awaited molecular identification of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in 2011 has opened an exciting phase in the study of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis. On the one hand, MCU proved to be the core of a complex signaling system, composed of a channel moiety (MCU itself and the related MCUb protein) and a family of essential regulators (the MICUs, MCUR, EMRE). On the other hand, the availability of molecular information and tools opened the possibility of directly altering mitochondrial calcium homeostasis in cell cultures or intact organisms, thus obtaining new insight into its role in physiological and pathological events. We will review here these exciting advancements, summarizing the current knowledge of the molecular composition of the MCU complex and of its role in shaping mitochondrial and cytosolic [Ca(2+)] signals.
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