Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Activators Small Molecules and Peptides

The mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU) is a transmembrane protein that modulates mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake. Sequestration of Ca²⁺ is important for the processes of oxidative phosphorylation and induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT).

The MCU is one of the main mechanisms by which mitochondria can take up Ca²⁺. Ca²⁺ accumulation via MCU is dependent on the calcium concentration gradient between the cytosol and mitochondrial matrix and the membrane potential (Δψ_m) ...