Cell
Volume 89, Issue 7, 27 June 1997, Pages 1145-1153
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Article
Mitochondria Are Excitable Organelles Capable of Generating and Conveying Electrical and Calcium Signals

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Abstract

We report Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+ from mitochondria (mCICR) dependent on transitory opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP) operating in a low conductance mode. The Ca2+ fluxes taking place during mCICR are a direct consequence of the mitochondrial depolarization spike (mDPS) caused by PTP opening. Both mDPS and mCICR can propagate from one mitochondrion to another in vitro, generating traveling depolarization and Ca2+ waves. Mitochondria thus appear to be excitable organelles capable of generating and conveying electrical and Ca2+ signals. In living cells, mDPS/mCICR is triggered during IP3- induced Ca2+ mobilization and results in the amplification of the Ca2+ signals primarily emitted from the endoplasmic reticulum.

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