Ins and outs of Ca2+ transport by acidic organelles and cell migration

Abstract

Much contemporary evidence underscores the pathophysiological importance of Ca2+ handling by acidic organelles such as lysosomes. Whereas our knowledge of how Ca2+ is released from these acidic Ca2+ stores (the ‘outs’) is advancing, we know relatively little about how Ca2+ uptake is effected (the ‘ins’). Here I highlight new work identifying animal Ca2+/H+ (CAX) exchangers that localize to acidic organelles, mediate Ca2+ uptake and regulate cell migration in vivo. Continued molecular definition of the acidic Ca2+ store toolkit provides new insight into Ca2+-dependent function.

Keywords

• two-pore channels
• Acidic Ca2+ stores
• CAX
• cell migration
• lysosomes
• NAADP
• neural crest