MCUR1 is an essential component of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake that regulates cellular metabolism

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) mediates calcium uptake by mitochondria and thus regulates cellular bioenergetics, but how MCU activity is modulated is not fully understood. Madesh, Foskett and colleagues report that the integral mitochondrial membrane protein MCUR1 (mitochondrial calcium uniporter regulator 1) binds to the MCU and promotes MCU-dependent calcium uptake to control ATP production and autophagy.