Temple-Penn researchers identify calcium 'accelerator' to keep cell power supply going

Scientists of Temple University School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania have identified a protein that may help in the understanding of how the flow of calcium into the mitochondria is controlled. Through the process of shutting down the activity of 50 genes, one at a time, the protein MCUR1 has been identified as an accelerator that helps regulate calcium coming into the mitochondria form the cell’s larger reservoir. The protein is found inside the mitochondrial membrane and is part of an elaborate mitochondrial channel pore system. The results were published in an advanced online issue of Nature Cell Biology. It is hoped that through the understanding of how to manipulate MCUR1 that there will be advancement in treatments for disease that involve excessive calcium in the cell such as cardiovascular diseases and strokes.



Co-senior author Doctor Muniswamy Madesh of Temple University tells that, “Calcium is the key to regulate many fundamental processes in cells.” He has detailed the importance of this discovery by stating, "excessive calcium in the cell's mitochondria could lead to heart and neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. This pathway could be contributing to disease conditions during ischemia/reperfusion injury and stroke, and this discovery opens up possible therapeutic interventions."

The question of how calcium entry into the mitochondria is controlled has yet to be answered; however this is an important step into finding it.  By identifying this protein, the flow of calcium into the mitochondria is now being understood better and only more information can be attained from this discovery. I am excited to see where this discovery leads us and if medication will be available in the future that will cure disease and may allow us to use energy more efficiently.