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Fig. 1 | Journal of Biomedical Science

Fig. 1

From: Role of mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes

Fig. 1

Mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex and the regulation of the entry of Ca2+ ions into mitochondria. The protein complex of mitochondrial calcium uniporter is composed of the pore-forming proteins (MCU, MCUb, EMRE), and the regulatory proteins (MICU1, MICU2). The regulation of the entry of Ca2+ ions by mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex is demonstrated here. a When the concentration of Ca2+ ions is low in the IMS, the heterodimer of MICU1 and MICU2 blocks the channel of MCU to inhibit the entry of Ca2+ ions. b When the Ca2+ ions level is high upon stimulation, binding of Ca2+ ions to the MICU protein elicits a conformational change to open the channel, resulting in the transport of Ca2+ ions into mitochondria to activate several dehydrogenases in the matrix of mitochondria. IMS, intermembrane space; IMM, inner mitochondrial membrane

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