Intracellular Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+ microdomains in the control of cell survival, apoptosis and autophagy. Issue 2 (August 2016) - La Rovere, Rita M.L.
Graphical abstract: Highlights: Various Ca 2+ microdomains exist in living cells. Basal Ca 2+ transfer between ER and mitochondria enhances cellular bioenergetics. Excessive Ca 2+ transfer between ER and mitochondria induces apoptosis. Ca 2+ release from the ER and from the lysosomes regulates autophagy. Ca 2+ microdomains critically control cell survival and cell death decisions. Abstract: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria and lysosomes are physically and/or functionally linked, establishing close contact sites between these organelles. As a consequence, Ca 2+ release events from the ER, the major intracellular Ca 2+ -storage organelle, have an immediate effect on the physiological function of mitochondria and lysosomes. Also, the lysosomes can act as a Ca 2+ source for Ca 2+ release into the cytosol, thereby influencing ER-based Ca 2+ signaling. Given the important role for mitochondria and lysosomes in cell survival, cell death and cell adaptation processes, it has become increasingly clear that Ca 2+ signals from or towards these organelles impact these processes. In this review, we discuss the most recent insights in the emerging role of Ca 2+ signaling in cellular survival by controlling basal mitochondrial bioenergetics and by regulating apoptosis, a mitochondrial process, and autophagy, a lysosomal process, in response to cell damage and cell stress.