The machineries, regulation and cellular functions of mitochondrial calcium.

Calcium ions (Ca) are some of the most versatile signalling molecules, and they have many physiological functions, prominently including muscle contraction, neuronal excitability, cell migration and cell growth. By sequestering and releasing Ca, mitochondria serve as important regulators of cellular Ca. Mitochondrial Ca also has other important functions, such as regulation of mitochondrial metabolism, ATP production and cell death. In recent years, identification of the molecular machinery regulating mitochondrial Ca accumulation and efflux has expanded the number of (patho)physiological conditions that rely on mitochondrial Ca homeostasis. Thus, expanding the understanding of the mechanisms of mitochondrial Ca regulation and function in different cell types is an important task in biomedical research, which offers the possibility of targeting mitochondrial Ca machinery for the treatment of several disorders.