線粒體對鈣的吸收是細胞功能很多方面的關鍵，其不平衡會觸發(fā)細胞死亡,。盡管如此,，過去人們對調(diào)控線粒體對鈣的吸收和緩沖的蛋白一個也不知道?，F(xiàn)在，一種這樣的蛋白（被命名為“線粒體鈣吸收-1”或MICU1）已被識別出來,。
MICU1局限于線粒體上,，是鈣吸收所專門需要的。MICU1 基因的破壞中斷線粒體代謝與鈣信號作用之間的代謝耦合,。這項工作應能有助于對線粒體鈣吸收機制及其在正常生理和疾病中所起作用進行分子定性,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Nature doi:10.1038/nature09358
MICU1 encodes a mitochondrial EF hand protein required for Ca2+ uptake
Fabiana Perocchi,Vishal M. Gohil,Hany S. Girgis,X. Robert Bao,Janet E. McCombs,Amy E. Palmer& Vamsi K. Mootha
Mitochondrial calcium uptake has a central role in cell physiology by stimulating ATP production, shaping cytosolic calcium transients and regulating cell death. The biophysical properties of mitochondrial calcium uptake have been studied in detail, but the underlying proteins remain elusive. Here we use an integrative strategy to predict human genes involved in mitochondrial calcium entry based on clues from comparative physiology, evolutionary genomics and organelle proteomics. RNA interference against 13 top candidates highlighted one gene, CBARA1, that we call hereafter mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1). Silencing MICU1 does not disrupt mitochondrial respiration or membrane potential but abolishes mitochondrial calcium entry in intact and permeabilized cells, and attenuates the metabolic coupling between cytosolic calcium transients and activation of matrix dehydrogenases. MICU1 is associated with the mitochondrial inner membrane and has two canonical EF hands that are essential for its activity, indicating a role in calcium sensing. MICU1 represents the founding member of a set of proteins required for high-capacity mitochondrial calcium uptake. Its discovery may lead to the complete molecular characterization of mitochondrial calcium uptake pathways, and offers genetic strategies for understanding their contribution to normal physiology and disease.
