Mitochondrial Ca2+ Flux through Na+/Ca2+ Exchange

Calcium signaling in cerebral vasoregulation

The tight coupling of regional neurometabolic activity with synaptic activity and regional cerebral blood perfusion constitutes a single functional unit, described generally as a neurovascular unit. This is central to any discussion of haemodynamic response linked to any neuronal activation. In normal as well as in pathologic conditions, neurons, astrocytes and endothelial cells of the vasculature interact to generate the complex activity-induced cerebral haemodynamic responses, with astrocytes not only partaking in the signaling but actually controlling it in many cases. Neurons and astrocytes have highly integrated signaling mechanisms, yet they form two separate networks. Bidirectional neuron-astrocyte interactions are crucial for the function and survival of the central nervous system. The primary purpose of such regulation is the homeostasis of the brain's microenvironment. In the maintenance of such homeostasis, astrocytic calcium response is a crucial variable in determining neurovascular control. Future work will be directed towards resolving the nature and extent of astrocytic calcium-mediated mechanisms for gene transcription, in modelling neurovascular control, and in determining calcium sensitive imaging assays that can capture disease variables.

Characterization of the sodium/hydrogen exchanger NHA2

Cation/proton exchange has been recognized for decades in mammalian mitochondria, but the exchanger proteins have eluded identification. In this study, a cDNA from a human brain library, previously designated NHA2 in the genome, was cloned and characterized. The NHA2 transcript bears more similarity to prokaryotic than known eukaryotic sodium/proton exchangers, but it was found to be expressed in multiple mammalian organs and cultured cells. A mAb to NHA2 was generated and found to label an approximately 55-kD native protein in multiple tissues and cell lines. The specificity of this antibody was confirmed by demonstrating the loss of the native NHA2 band on immunoblots when cultured cells were treated with NHA2-specific small interfering RNA. Although NHA2 protein was detected in multiple organs, within each, its expression was restricted to specific cell types. In the kidney, co-localization with calbindin 28k and reverse transcription-PCR of microdissected tubules revealed that NHA2 is limited to the distal convoluted tubule. In cell lines, native NHA2 was localized both to the plasma membrane and to the intracellular compartment; immunogold electron microscopy of rat distal convoluted tubule demonstrated NHA2 predominantly but not exclusively on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, co-sedimentation of NHA2 antigen and mitochondrial membranes was observed with differential centrifugation, and two mitochondrial markers co-localized with NHA2 in cultured cells. Regarding function, human NHA2 reversed the sodium/hydrogen exchanger-null phenotype when expressed in sodium/hydrogen exchanger-deficient yeast and restored the ability to defend high salinity in the presence of acidic extracellular pH. In summary, NHA2 is a ubiquitous mammalian sodium proton/exchanger that is restricted to the distal convoluted tubule in the kidney.