Calcium signalling articles within Nature Communications

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• Article
  25 April 2024 | Open Access

  Dietary L-Glu sensing by enteroendocrine cells adjusts food intake via modulating gut PYY/NPF secretion

  Enteroendocrine cells in the gut sense food to regulate feeding behavior. Here, the authors show in Drosophila L-glutamate reduces the frequency of calcium oscillations in enteroendocrine cells and decreases the release of NPF, thereby reducing the activation of a pair of anorexic enteric neurons.

  • Junjun Gao
  • , Song Zhang
  •  & Zheng Guo

• Article
  27 February 2024 | Open Access

  Bicarbonate signalling via G protein-coupled receptor regulates ischaemia-reperfusion injury

  The acid–base balance regulates cellular responses, but little has been known about its molecular mechanism. Here, the authors unveil a bicarbonate-sensing GPCR, GPR30, that underlies cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by regulating blood flow recovery.

  • Airi Jo-Watanabe
  • , Toshiki Inaba
  •  & Takehiko Yokomizo

• Article
  22 February 2024 | Open Access

  Noncanonical function of folate through folate receptor 1 during neural tube formation

  Neural tube defects are common birth defects that have been shown to be reduced through periconceptional folate supplementation, though the mechanism for this effect is unclear. Here they show that FOLR1 is necessary for neural tube formation in human neural organoids and Xenopus laevis embryos, and that this role is independent of its folate transport function.

  • Olga A. Balashova
  • , Alexios A. Panoutsopoulos
  •  & Laura N. Borodinsky

• Comment
  17 February 2024 | Open Access

  DIAPH1-MFN2 interaction decreases the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial distance and promotes cardiac injury following myocardial ischemia

  Contact between organelles such as the mitochondria (Mito) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is crucial to coordinate vital cellular homeostatic processes. Here we discuss recent work showing that Mito-ER proximity is regulated by heterotypic complexes between the F-actin polymerizing protein Diaphanous-1) and the mitochondrial dynamics protein Mitofusin 2, which confers increased susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion injury.

  • Lorrie A. Kirshenbaum
  • , Rimpy Dhingra
  •  & Sergio Lavandero

• Article
  17 February 2024 | Open Access

  Regulation of long-range BMP gradients and embryonic polarity by propagation of local calcium-firing activity

  Identical twins from a single embryo are formed in multiple species, albeit rarely. It is not clear how such twinning is suppressed during early development. Here they show that calcium signalling activity is propagated through the extraembryonic tissue to prevent ectopic primitive streak formation during gastrulation.

  • Hyung Chul Lee
  • , Nidia M. M. Oliveira
  •  & Claudio D. Stern

• Article
  29 January 2024 | Open Access

  CaMK4 controls follicular helper T cell expansion and function during normal and autoimmune T-dependent B cell responses

  Calmodulin-dependent kinase 4 (CaMK4) has been implicated in humoral immunity. Here, the authors demonstrate that CaMK4 expression controls the differentiation of T follicular helper cells, leading to the expansion of pathogenic B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus.

  • Marc Scherlinger
  • , Hao Li
  •  & George C. Tsokos

• Article
  02 January 2024 | Open Access

  Hijacking of internal calcium dynamics by intracellularly residing viral rhodopsins

  Rhodopsins are ubiquitous light-driven membrane proteins that have diverse functions in nature, and value as optogenetics tools. Here the authors characterise type 1 viral channelrhodopsins, showing that they regulate intracellular calcium and can be used for the photocontrol of muscle contraction in vivo.

  • Ana-Sofia Eria-Oliveira
  • , Mathilde Folacci
  •  & Michel Vivaudou

• Article
  30 October 2023 | Open Access

  An apical Phe-His pair defines the Orai1-coupling site and its occlusion within STIM1

  The intermembrane complexes mediating calcium signals are crucial but poorly understood. Here the authors identify a Phe-His pair in the calcium-sensing STIM1 protein that controls both activation and pairing of STIM1 with Orai channels to generate calcium signals

  • Yandong Zhou
  • , Michelle R. Jennette
  •  & Donald L. Gill

• Article
  17 October 2023 | Open Access

  Green leaf volatile sensory calcium transduction in Arabidopsis

  Plants sense volatiles emitted by injured neighboring plants and elicit defense responses to external threats. Here, the authors show that Arabidopsis leaves uptake two green leaf volatiles via stomata and trigger cytosolic Ca²⁺ defense signaling.

  • Yuri Aratani
  • , Takuya Uemura
  •  & Masatsugu Toyota

• Article
  20 September 2023 | Open Access

  Mechanodetection of neighbor plants elicits adaptive leaf movements through calcium dynamics

  Pantazopoulou et al. discovered that leaves sense neighbors by mutual touching of hairs on their surface, called trichomes. Using fluorescent biosensors, they show that this triggers a calcium wave to activate leaf movement away from competitors

  • Chrysoula K. Pantazopoulou
  • , Sara Buti
  •  & Ronald Pierik

• Article
  19 September 2023 | Open Access

  Ser14 phosphorylation of Bcl-xL mediates compensatory cardiac hypertrophy in male mice

  The anti-apoptotic function of Bcl-xL in the heart is diminished by Mst1-mediated phosphorylation of Serine14. Here, the authors show that the Bcl-xL phosphorylation is also promoted by hemodynamic stress, which plays an essential role in mediating compensatory cardiac hypertrophy and contractility.

  • Michinari Nakamura
  • , Mariko Aoyagi Keller
  •  & Junichi Sadoshima

• Article
  07 September 2023 | Open Access

  Astrocyte reactivity and inflammation-induced depression-like behaviors are regulated by Orai1 calcium channels

  Neuroinflammation is a common feature of many neurological disorders. Here, the authors show that the Orai1 calcium channel functions as a signaling hub in astrocytes to control astrocyte-driven brain inflammation and inflammation-induced depression-like behaviors in mice.

  • Michaela M. Novakovic
  • , Kirill S. Korshunov
  •  & Murali Prakriya

• Article
  26 August 2023 | Open Access

  Neuronal ER-plasma membrane junctions couple excitation to Ca²⁺-activated PKA signaling

  A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) target protein kinase A to specific locations within the cell. Here, the authors identify SPHKAP as an AKAP that enriches protein kinase A near ER-plasma membrane contact sites in brain neurons.

  • Nicholas C. Vierra
  • , Luisa Ribeiro-Silva
  •  & James S. Trimmer

• Article
  25 August 2023 | Open Access

  PINK1 and Parkin regulate IP₃R-mediated ER calcium release

  Loss of two PD genes, PINK1 and Parkin, leads to a robust increase in ER calcium release. Here, the authors show that suppression of IP₃R activity via inhibiting CISD1 is sufficient to rescue the PD-related phenotypes in PINK1 or Parkin null animal models.

  • Su Jin Ham
  • , Heesuk Yoo
  •  & Jongkyeong Chung

• Article
  19 July 2023 | Open Access

  Highly specific and non-invasive imaging of Piezo1-dependent activity across scales using GenEPi

  Stretch-activated ion channel Piezo1 contribures to mechanotransduction in many tissues, but its output is mostly measured indirectly. Here, the authors introduce GenEPi, a fluorescent reporter for directly visualizing Piezo1 activation-dependent calcium influx.

  • Sine Yaganoglu
  • , Konstantinos Kalyviotis
  •  & Periklis Pantazis

• Article
  27 June 2023 | Open Access

  Subcellular second messenger networks drive distinct repellent-induced axon behaviors

  Signals from extracellular cues orienting growing axons are thought to be integrated by second messenger molecules. Here, Baudet et al. instead demonstrate that distinct axon guidance cues induce cAMP, cGMP and Ca²⁺ signals restricted to separate cellular nanodomains.

  • Sarah Baudet
  • , Yvrick Zagar
  •  & Xavier Nicol

• Article
  08 June 2023 | Open Access

  SERCA2 phosphorylation at serine 663 is a key regulator of Ca²⁺ homeostasis in heart diseases

  Despite advances in cardioprotection, new therapeutic strategies precluding ischemia-reperfusion injury of patients are still needed. Here, the authors show that preventing serine 663 phosphorylation of SERCA2, significantly increases its activity and protects against cell death, by counteracting cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload.

  • Fabrice Gonnot
  • , Laura Boulogne
  •  & Ludovic Gomez

• Article
  01 June 2023 | Open Access

  Vagus nerve stimulation primes platelets and reduces bleeding in hemophilia A male mice

  Coagulation factor VIII deficiency in hemophilia A disrupts clotting and prolongs bleeding. Here, the authors show that vagus nerve stimulation bypasses this defect and improves hemostasis in hemophilia A mice through a mechanism requiring acetylcholine-secreting ChAT⁺ T lymphocytes in spleen and α7nAChR on circulating platelets.

  • Carlos E. Bravo-Iñiguez
  • , Jason R. Fritz
  •  & Jared M. Huston

• Article
  23 March 2023 | Open Access

  Antigen discrimination by T cells relies on size-constrained microvillar contact

  T cells can use TCR on microvilli to interact with peptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes on antigen presenting cells. Here the authors characterise how T cells use microvilli to interrogate reconstituted membranes for pMHC complexes and how this is regulated by a balance between glycoproteins/glycocalyces that reduce detection, and the small adhesion protein CD2, which enhances detection.

  • Edward Jenkins
  • , Markus Körbel
  •  & David Klenerman

• Article
  22 March 2023 | Open Access

  Rescue of astrocyte activity by the calcium sensor STIM1 restores long-term synaptic plasticity in female mice modelling Alzheimer’s disease

  Altered Ca²⁺ signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, the authors show Ca²⁺ hypoactivity in astrocytes at plaque deposition onset related to reduced expression of the Ca²⁺ sensor STIM1 and impaired synaptic plasticity that was rescued by STIM1 overexpression in astrocytes.

  • Annamaria Lia
  • , Gabriele Sansevero
  •  & Micaela Zonta

• Article
  08 March 2023 | Open Access

  Photocrosslinking-induced CRAC channel-like Orai1 activation independent of STIM1

  The Ca²⁺ ion channel Orai1 is crucial in immune cells. Here, the authors applied genetic code expansion to transfer light-sensitivity to the Orai1 channel and achieved precise control over its function.

  • Lena Maltan
  • , Sarah Weiß
  •  & Isabella Derler

• Article
  14 November 2022 | Open Access

  Calcium-mediated rapid movements defend against herbivorous insects in Mimosa pudica

  Mimosa pudica moves its leaves within seconds of being touched or wounded. Here the authors show that such movements are triggered by rapid changes in Ca²⁺ and action and variation potentials and provide evidence that rapid movements help protect the plant from insect attacks.

  • Takuma Hagihara
  • , Hiroaki Mano
  •  & Masatsugu Toyota

• Article
  09 November 2022 | Open Access

  Capture at the ER-mitochondrial contacts licenses IP₃ receptors to stimulate local Ca²⁺ transfer and oxidative metabolism

  The formation and dissolution of ER-Mitochondria contacts is unclear. Here, authors show that the IP3 receptor traffics in and out of the contacts and, when trapped, improves calcium signaling to stimulate energy metabolism.

  • Máté Katona
  • , Ádám Bartók
  •  & György Hajnóczky

• Article
  29 October 2022 | Open Access

  G_i/o protein-coupled receptor inhibition of beta-cell electrical excitability and insulin secretion depends on Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activation

  G_i/o protein-coupled receptors (G_i/o-GPCRs) limit β-cell insulin secretion by decreasing Ca²⁺ entry; however, the underlying mechanism has not been identified. Here, the authors show that G_i/o-GPCRs hyperpolarize mouse and human β-cell membrane potential by activating Na⁺/K⁺ATPases.

  • Matthew T. Dickerson
  • , Prasanna K. Dadi
  •  & David A. Jacobson

• Article
  17 October 2022 | Open Access

  Brain milieu induces early microglial maturation through the BAX-Notch axis

  The mechanisms by which the brain milieu confers microglial development are not clear. Here, the authors show that the BAX-CaMKII-CREB-Notch signaling axis triggered by the neuronal milieu plays a role in early microglia maturation.

  • Fangying Zhao
  • , Jiangyong He
  •  & Li Li

• Article
  02 August 2022 | Open Access

  Segregated cation flux by TPC2 biases Ca²⁺ signaling through lysosomes

  TPC2 is a lysosomal ion channel permeable to both calcium and sodium ions. Here, the authors show that TPC2 can selectively increase its calcium permeability when simultaneously challenged by both its natural activators- NAADP and PI(3,5)P₂.

  • Yu Yuan
  • , Dawid Jaślan
  •  & Sandip Patel

• Article
  29 July 2022 | Open Access

  Neprilysins regulate muscle contraction and heart function via cleavage of SERCA-inhibitory micropeptides

  Muscle contraction depends on strictly controlled calcium transients within myocytes. Here, the authors show that the endopeptidase Neprilysin 4 represents an essential regulator of these transients and, consequently, of proper heart function.

  • Ronja Schiemann
  • , Annika Buhr
  •  & Heiko Meyer

• Article
  25 July 2022 | Open Access

  The RalGAPα1–RalA signal module protects cardiac function through regulating calcium homeostasis

  Here the authors show that a RalGAPα1-RalA signal nexus regulates calcium homeostasis in cardiomyocytes via the calcium pump SERCA2a, which plays a protective role to maintain cardiac function under pressure overload conditions.

  • Sangsang Zhu
  • , Chao Quan
  •  & Shuai Chen

• Article
  22 July 2022 | Open Access

  A critical role of the mechanosensor PIEZO1 in glucose-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells

  Insulin secretion depends on action potential firing in pancreatic islet beta-cells, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, the authors show that activation of the mechanosensor ion channel PIEZO1 plays a central role in beta-cell electrical activity and insulin release.

  • Yingying Ye
  • , Mohammad Barghouth
  •  & Erik Renström

• Article
  15 July 2022 | Open Access

  MRTF specifies a muscle-like contractile module in Porifera

  Myocytes are a key cell type that enable animal movement, but their evolutionary origins remain unclear. Colgren and Nichols describe molecular and functional similarities between a contractile module in tissues of a sponge and muscle tissues in other animals, indicating a common evolutionary origin.

  • J. Colgren
  •  & S. A. Nichols

• Article
  17 June 2022 | Open Access

  3D structure and in situ arrangements of CatSper channel in the sperm flagellum

  Sperm motility and male fertility requires function of the CatSper calcium channels. Here, using cryo-electron tomography, authors visualize the native in-cell 3D structure and higher-order organization of the CatSper as long zigzag rows along the sperm tail.

  • Yanhe Zhao
  • , Huafeng Wang
  •  & Jean-Ju Chung

• Article
  09 June 2022 | Open Access

  Efferocytosis requires periphagosomal Ca²⁺-signaling and TRPM7-mediated electrical activity

  Efficient removal of apoptotic cells by phagocytosis underlies tissue development, wound repair, host defense and organ homeostasis. Here, authors identify TRPM7 as a regulator of cargo acidification and Ca2+ signaling during apoptotic cell clearance.

  • Michael S. Schappe
  • , Marta E. Stremska
  •  & Bimal N. Desai

• Article
  24 May 2022 | Open Access

  Anoctamin 1 controls bone resorption by coupling Cl⁻ channel activation with RANKL-RANK signaling transduction

  Osteoclast over-activation leads to bone loss and chloride homeostasis is important for osteoclast function. Here, the authors show that Anoctamin 1 controls bone resorption by coupling Cl⁻ channel activation with RANKL-RANK signaling transduction.

  • Weijia Sun
  • , Shuai Guo
  •  & Yingxian Li

• Article
  19 May 2022 | Open Access

  Mitochondrial calcium uniporter stabilization preserves energetic homeostasis during Complex I impairment

  Mitochondrial complex I deficiency is frequent in congenital, neurologic and cardiovascular disease. Here the authors demonstrate that Complex I stimulates the turnover of a mitochondrial calcium channel, which becomes stabilized during Complex I deficiency, preserving energetic homeostasis.

  • Enrique Balderas
  • , David R. Eberhardt
  •  & Dipayan Chaudhuri

• Article
  06 May 2022 | Open Access

  Calcium bursts allow rapid reorganization of EFhD2/Swip-1 cross-linked actin networks in epithelial wound closure

  Calcium serves as an important second messenger in signal transduction to the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we identify EFhD2/Swip-1 as a calcium-dependent actin cross-linker promoting rapid reorganization of actin networks in epithelial wound closure.

  • Franziska Lehne
  • , Thomas Pokrant
  •  & Sven Bogdan

• Article
  21 April 2022 | Open Access

  CMYA5 establishes cardiac dyad architecture and positioning

  Heart muscle cells exhibit exquisitely organized subcellular features that enable efficient and coordinated heart muscle contraction, but little is known about how it is achieved. Here the authors show that CMYA5 organizes cardiomyocyte calcium release units and aligns them to sarcomeres, leading to abnormal calcium release, cardiac dysfunction, and inability to tolerate pressure overload, when absent.

  • Fujian Lu
  • , Qing Ma
  •  & William T. Pu

• Article
  06 April 2022 | Open Access

  Ca²⁺-activated sphingomyelin scrambling and turnover mediate ESCRT-independent lysosomal repair

  Activation of ESCRT prevents potentially lethal outcomes of minor perturbations in lysosomal integrity. Here authors show that Ca2 + -activated scrambling of sphingomyelin and its cytosolic turnover drives lysosomal repair independently of ESCRT.

  • Patrick Niekamp
  • , Felix Scharte
  •  & Joost C. M. Holthuis

• Article
  10 December 2021 | Open Access

  Acute RyR1 Ca²⁺ leak enhances NADH-linked mitochondrial respiratory capacity

  Ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) are involved in skeletal muscle contraction. Here, the authors show that a transient calcium leak in response to exercise-induced post translational modifications of RyR1 causes mitochondrial remodeling to improve respiration.

  • Nadège Zanou
  • , Haikel Dridi
  •  & Nicolas Place

• Article
  11 November 2021 | Open Access

  Insulin-activated store-operated Ca²⁺ entry via Orai1 induces podocyte actin remodeling and causes proteinuria

  Perturbations of Ca²⁺ signaling in podocytes may deteriorate kidney function and eventually lead to proteinuria. Here the authors show that insulin can affect the function of the calcium regulator Ora1 in podocytes, which is critical for maintaining kidney filter integrity.

  • Ji-Hee Kim
  • , Kyu-Hee Hwang
  •  & Seung-Kuy Cha

• Article
  18 October 2021 | Open Access

  Palmitoylation targets the calcineurin phosphatase to the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase complex at the plasma membrane

  Calcineurin — the Ca2+ regulated phosphatase and target of immunosuppressants — regulates GPCR-mediated phospholipid signaling at the plasma membrane. Here the authors show that CNAβ1 (a poorly studied isoform of the calcineurin catalytic subunit) is targeted to the plasma membrane through palmitoylation to dephosphorylate and promote PI4KA complex activity.

  • Idil Ulengin-Talkish
  • , Matthew A. H. Parson
  •  & Martha S. Cyert

• Article
  04 October 2021 | Open Access

  A plastid two-pore channel essential for inter-organelle communication and growth of Toxoplasma gondii

  Two-pore channels (TPCs) are cation channels that localize to acidic organelles to regulate Ca²⁺ dependent events. Here, Li et al. characterize a TPC from Toxoplasma gondii(TgTPC) that localizes to the apicoplast, is critical for maintaining its integrity and relevant for Ca²⁺ uptake from the ER through stabilizing inter-organelle contact.

  • Zhu-Hong Li
  • , Thayer P. King
  •  & Silvia N. J. Moreno

• Article
  23 July 2021 | Open Access

  KRAP tethers IP₃ receptors to actin and licenses them to evoke cytosolic Ca²⁺ signals

  Calcium signals initiated by IP3 receptors in ER membranes regulate most cellular activities. Here, the authors show that KRas-induced actininteracting protein (KRAP) tethers a small subset of IP3 receptors to actin and licenses them to evoke cytosolic calcium signals.

  • Nagendra Babu Thillaiappan
  • , Holly A. Smith
  •  & Colin W. Taylor

• Article
  13 July 2021 | Open Access

  A novel RyR1-selective inhibitor prevents and rescues sudden death in mouse models of malignant hyperthermia and heat stroke

  Mutations in ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1), a Ca2+ release channel in skeletal muscle, cause malignant hyperthermia (MH) and are involved in heat stroke. Here, the authors show that an oxolinic acid-derivative RyR1 inhibitor effectively prevents and treats MH and heat stroke in various MH mouse models.

  • Toshiko Yamazawa
  • , Takuya Kobayashi
  •  & Takashi Murayama

• Article
  01 July 2021 | Open Access

  Fluid flow-induced left-right asymmetric decay of Dand5 mRNA in the mouse embryo requires a Bicc1-Ccr4 RNA degradation complex

  Questioning what regulates left-right asymmetry breaking in the mouse node: the authors identify a 200 bp stretch of the Dand5 3’UTR where Bicc1 binds, and Cnot proteins downstream of calcium flow regulate the post-transcriptional regulation of Dand5 by Bicc1.

  • Katsura Minegishi
  • , Benjamin Rothé
  •  & Hiroshi Hamada

• Article
  07 June 2021 | Open Access

  Tumor suppressor p53 regulates intestinal type 2 immunity

  P53 is a well-known tumour suppressor, however its role in intestinal type 2 immunity is currently unclear. Here authors report that during parasitic infections, p53 triggers tuft cell Ca²⁺ influx and IL-25 release, and shows a regulatory role for p53 in intestinal type 2 immunity via transcriptional regulation of the Lrmp gene.

  • Chun-Yuan Chang
  • , Jianming Wang
  •  & Wenwei Hu

• Article
  26 May 2021 | Open Access

  CaMKII oxidation is a critical performance/disease trade-off acquired at the dawn of vertebrate evolution

  Natural selection may favor traits underlying aging-related diseases if they benefit the young. Wang et al. find that oxidative activation of CaMKII provides physiological benefits critical to the initial and continued success of vertebrates but at the cost of disease, frailty, and shortened lifespan.

  • Qinchuan Wang
  • , Erick O. Hernández-Ochoa
  •  & Mark E. Anderson

• Article
  10 May 2021 | Open Access

  Inner hair cell stereocilia are embedded in the tectorial membrane

  Hearing requires inner hair cell (IHC) stereocilia deflection, believed to result from hydrodynamic coupling due to the lack of contact with the tectorial membrane (TM). Here the authors show that IHC stereocilia are TM-embedded, and calcium rich structures in TM may facilitate sound transduction.

  • Pierre Hakizimana
  •  & Anders Fridberger

• Article
  30 October 2020 | Open Access

  Crbn modulates calcium influx by regulating Orai1 during efferocytosis

  Calcium flux must be carefully controlled during the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis), although how this occurs is not fully understood. Here, the authors show that the Cereblon E3 ligase regulates Orai1 degradation and subsequently SOCE-mediated calcium influx.

  • Hyunji Moon
  • , Chanhyuk Min
  •  & Daeho Park

• Article
  20 October 2020 | Open Access

  AKAP5 complex facilitates purinergic modulation of vascular L-type Ca²⁺ channel Ca_V1.2

  Molecular mechanisms by which glucose modulates L-type Ca²⁺ channel activity and vascular reactivity are unclear. Here the authors report a nanocomplex orchestrated by AKAP5 that facilitates local purinergic stimulation of L-type Ca²⁺ channels and vasoconstriction during diabetic hyperglycemia.

  • Maria Paz Prada
  • , Arsalan U. Syed
  •  & Madeline Nieves-Cintrón

• Article
  15 July 2020 | Open Access

  Rieske iron-sulfur protein induces FKBP12.6/RyR2 complex remodeling and subsequent pulmonary hypertension through NF-κB/cyclin D1 pathway

  Pulmonary hypertension is a devastating disease with elevation of pulmonary artery pressure and related to abnormal calcium signalling. Here, the authors show that suppression or stabilization of the calcium channel ryanodine receptor 2 may be a potential treatment approach for this disease.

  • Lin Mei
  • , Yun-Min Zheng
  •  & Yong-Xiao Wang