Progress in the Study of the Relationship between Mitochondria Ca2+ Intake Mediated by Mitochondria-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membranes and Tumorigenesis

Zhu Zijian1, Zhang Jiayu1, Sun Xiacheng2, Guo Xin3, Ji Lele2*, Huang Qichao2*

1The Fourth Brigade, School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China; 2Preclinical Medical Teaching Experiment Center of Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China; 3First Affiliated Hospital Neurology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China

Abstract: Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are regions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tethered to mitochondria， which play a key role in mediating material transfer and signal transduction between the two organelles. Recent studies have demonstrated that a large number of Ca2+ transporter proteins and their regulatory proteins are located on MAMs， which can finely regulate a series of important cellular activities such as mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis， ATP production and cell apoptosis. Further studies also imply that MAMs are also enriched with many oncogenic proteins and tumor suppressor proteins， which are closely related to the regulation of Ca2+ transport. Therefore， the role of MAMs in tumorigenesis has received extensive attention. In this review， we focus on the regulatory mechanisms of Ca2+ transport mediated by MAMs and their role in tumorigenesis， aiming to acquire the new insight to further understanding the pathogenesis of tumors.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2018.12.0012