Mitochondrial calcium signaling mediated transcriptional regulation of keratin filaments is a critical determinant of melanogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondria are versatile organelles that regulate several physiological functions. Many mitochondria-controlled processes are driven by mitochondrial Ca²⁺ signaling. However, role of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ signaling in melanosome biology remains unknown. Here, we show that pigmentation requires mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake. In vitro gain and loss of function studies demonstrated that Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ Uniporter (MCU) is crucial for melanogenesis while the MCU rheostats, MCUb and MICU1 negatively control melanogenesis. Zebrafish and mouse models showed that MCU plays a vital role in pigmentation in vivo. Mechanistically, MCU controls activation of transcription factor NFAT2 to induce expression of three keratins (keratin 5, 7 and 8), whi

SUBMITTER: Tanwar J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10245956 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature