Researchers study cellular processes dependent on calcium ions

Cleaning up? Not without helpers
Molecular structure of the Ca2+-pumps in the plasma membrane, projected onto a neuronal culture (fluorescence in blue; a portion of neurons where expression of the auxiliary proteins Neuroplastin and Basigin has been knocked-down underwent cell death and are colored in red). Credit: Fakler Lab

Calcium-ATPases convey calcium ions (Ca2+) from the cytoplasm to the extracellular space via active transport (using ATP as an energy source), and thus fundamentally contribute to the control of a wide variety of Ca2+-dependent processes in virtually any type of cell in humans and animals. Scientists in the group of Dr. Uwe Schulte and Prof. Dr. Bernd Fakler at the University of Freiburg have successfully unraveled the molecular appearance of this well-known ion pump: Ca2+-pumps of the plasma membrane (PMCAs) are identified as protein complexes that are assembled from two ATP-hydrolyzing transporter proteins and two as-yet unknown subunits, neuroplastin and basigin. These two novel protein subunits are essential for stability and trafficking of the PMCA complexes to the plasma membrane and control the PMCA-mediated Ca2+-transport. The researchers have published their work in Neuron.

A variety of cellular processes such as release of transmitters and hormones, regulation of enzymatic activities and excitability, contraction or cell motility are controlled by intracellular Ca2+. These processes are switched on by Ca2+-influx, mostly through Ca2+-permeable ion channels, and they are switched off by Ca2+-ATPases in the , the PMCAs. The Fakler group has now shown that this switch-off by PMCAs may only take a few tens of milliseconds, in contrast to the seconds-lasting periods assumed previously. Seeking the mechanism behind this unexpectedly high efficiency in Ca2+-transport activity, the researchers identified co-assembly of the ATPase subunits with the auxiliary proteins neuroplastin and basigin, which promote effective integration of the PMCA complexes into the plasma membrane. Deletion of both neuroplastin and basigin in CNS neurons leads to severe disturbance of neuron signal transduction and ultimately to cell death.

Even before their identification as auxiliary subunits of PMCA complexes, neuroplastin and basigin were known by researchers. In fact, investigations by several groups using knock-out animals and tissues demonstrated fundamental involvement of both proteins in quite a variety of including formation, operation and plasticity of synapses in central neurons,spermatogenesis, fertilization, and infection of erythrocytes by plasmodium, the pathogen of malaria. So far, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes have remained unresolved. Based on the newly established results by the Freiburg scientists, it appears reasonable to assume that all these processes share a common mechanism—the PMCA-mediated control of intracellular Ca2+-signaling.

More information: Schmidt N, Kollewe A, Constantin CE, Henrich S, Ritzau-Jost A, Bildl W, Saalbach A, Hallermann S, Kulik A, Fakler B, Schulte U. Neuroplastin and Basigin are essential auxiliary subunits of plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases and key regulators of Ca2+ clearance. Neuron (online on Oct 19th), 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.038

Journal information: Neuron
Citation: Researchers study cellular processes dependent on calcium ions (2017, October 20) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-cellular-calcium-ions.html
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