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EF-hand, calcium binding motif, found in mitochondrial calcium uptake proteins MICU1, MICU2, MICU3, and similar proteins This family includes mitochondrial calcium uptake protein MICU1 and its two additional paralogs, MICU2 and MICU3. MICU1 localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). It functions as a gatekeeper of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) and regulates MCU-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, which is essential for maintaining mitochondrial homoeostasis. MICU1 and MICU2 are physically associated within the uniporter complex and are co-expressed across all tissues. They may play non-redundant roles in the regulation of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter. At present, the precise molecular function of MICU2 and MICU3 remain unclear. MICU2 may play possible roles in Ca2+ sensing and regulation of MCU, calcium buffering with a secondary impact on transport or assembly and stabilization of MCU. MICU3 likely has a role in mitochondrial calcium handling. All members in this family contains an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) as well as two evolutionarily conserved canonical Ca2+-binding EF-hands separated by a long stretch of residues predicted to form alpha-helices. |
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",