Spatial and Functional Crosstalk between the Mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger NCLX and the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Pump SERCA in Cardiomyocytes

The mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, NCLX, was reported to supply Ca2+ to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)/endoplasmic reticulum, thereby modulating various cellular functions such as the rhythmicity of cardiomyocytes, and cellular Ca2+ signaling upon antigen receptor stimulation and chemotaxis in B lymphocytes; however, there is little information on the spatial relationships of NCLX with SR Ca2+ handling proteins, and their physiological impact. Here we examined the issue, focusing on the interaction of NCLX with an SR Ca2+ pump SERCA in cardiomyocytes. A bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay using HEK293 cells revealed that the exogenously expressed NCLX was localized in close proximity to four exogenously expressed SERCA isoforms. Immunofluorescence analyses of isolated ventricular myocytes showed that the NCLX was localized to the edges of the mitochondria, forming a striped pattern. The co-localization coefficients in the super-resolution images were higher for NCLX-SERCA2, than for NCLX-ryanodine receptor and NCLX-Na+/K+ ATPase alpha-1 subunit, confirming the close localization of endogenous NCLX and SERCA2 in cardiomyocytes. The mathematical model implemented with the spatial and functional coupling of NCLX and SERCA well reproduced the NCLX inhibition-mediated modulations of SR Ca2+ reuptake in HL-1 cardiomyocytes. Taken together, these results indicated that NCLX and SERCA are spatially and functionally coupled in cardiomyocytes.

Automated summary

In this study, the spatial and functional coupling between mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCLX) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump SERCA in cardiomyocytes was investigated. The results demonstrated a close interaction between NCLX and SERCA, indicating their important role in modulating cellular functions.