The ER-mitochondria Ca signaling in cancer progression: Fueling the monster.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. All major tumor suppressors and oncogenes are now recognized to have fundamental connections with metabolic pathways. A hallmark feature of cancer cells is a reprogramming of their metabolism even when nutrients are available. Increasing evidence indicates that most cancer cells rely on mitochondrial metabolism to sustain their energetic and biosynthetic demands. Mitochondria are functionally and physically coupled to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the major calcium (Ca) storage organelle in mammalian cells, through special domains known as mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCS). In this domain, the release of Ca from the ER is mainly regulated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors (IP3Rs), a family of Ca release channels activated by the ligand IP3. IP3R mediated Ca release is transferred to mitochondria through the mitochondrial Ca uniporter (MCU). Once in the mitochondrial matrix, Ca activates several proteins that stimulate mitochondrial performance. The role of IP3R and MCU in cancer, as well as the other proteins that enable the Ca communication between these two organelles is just beginning to be understood. Here, we describe the function of the main players of the ER mitochondrial Ca communication and discuss how this particular signal may contribute to the rise and development of cancer traits.