Mitochondrial calpain system: An overview

Calpain system is generally known to be comprised of three molecules: two Ca2+-dependent proteases: mu-and m-calpains, and their endogenous inhibitor, calpastatin. While calpains have previously been considered as the cytoplasmic enzymes, research in the recent past demonstrated that g-calpain, m-calpain and calpain 10 are present in mitochondria, which play important roles in a variety of pathophysiological conditions including necrotic and apoptotic cell death phenomena. Although a number of original research articles on mitochondrial calpain system are available, yet to the best of our knowledge, a precise review article on mitochondrial calpain system has, however, not been available. This review outlines the key features of the mitochondrial calpain system, and its roles in several cellular and biochemical events under normal and some pathophysiological conditions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.