The relationship between free and total calcium concentrations in the matrix of liver and brain mitochondria

Susan Chalmers, David Nicholls

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

342 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Three sequential phases of mitochondrial calcium accumulation can be distinguished: matrix dehydrogenase regulation, buffering of extramitochondrial free calcium, and finally activation of the permeability transition. Relationships between these phases, free and total matrix calcium concentration, and phosphate concentration are investigated in rat liver and brain mitochondria. Slow, continuous calcium infusion is employed to avoid transient bioenergetic consequences of bolus additions. Liver and brain mitochondria undergo permeability transitions at precise matrix calcium loads that are independent of infusion rate. Cytochrome c release precedes the permeability transition. Cyclosporin A enhances the loading capacity in the presence or absence of acetoacetate. A remarkably constant free matrix calcium concentration, in the range 1-5 microM as monitored by matrix-loaded fura2-FF, was observed when total matrix calcium was increased from 10 to at least 500 nmol of calcium/mg of protein. Increasing phosphate decreased both the free matrix calcium and the matrix calcium-loading capacity. Thus the permeability transition is not triggered by a critical matrix free calcium concentration. The rate of hydrogen peroxide detection by Amplex Red decreased during calcium infusion arguing against a role for oxidative stress in permeability pore activation in this model. A transition between a variable and buffered matrix free calcium concentration occurred at 10 nmol of total matrix calcium/mg protein. The solubility product of amorphous Ca3(PO4)2 is consistent with the observed matrix free calcium concentration, and the matrix pH is proposed to play the major role in maintaining the low matrix free calcium concentration.
Original languageEnglish
Article number12660243
Pages (from-to)19062-19070
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume278
Issue number21
Early online date26 Mar 2003
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 May 2003

Keywords

  • permeability transition pore
  • CA2+
  • redox state
  • rat hippocampus
  • forebrain ischemia
  • dehydrogenase-activity
  • cytochrome-C
  • cyclosporine-A
  • heart-mitochondria
  • free CA-2+ concentration

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