Primary active Ca2+ transport systems in health and disease

Abstract

Calcium ions (Ca2+) are prominent cell signaling effectors that regulate a wide variety of cellular processes. Among the different players in Ca2+ homeostasis, primary active Ca2+ transporters are responsible for keeping low basal Ca2+ levels in the cytosol while establishing steep Ca2+ gradients across intracellular membranes or the plasma membrane. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the three types of primary active Ca2+-ATPases: the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) pumps, the secretory pathway Ca2+-ATPase (SPCA) isoforms, and the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) Ca2+-transporters. We first discuss the Ca2+ transport mechanism of SERCA1a, which serves as a reference to describe the Ca2+ transport of other Ca2+ pumps. We further highlight the common and unique features of each isoform and review their structure–function relationship, expression pattern, regulatory mechanisms, and specific physiological roles. Finally, we discuss the increasing genetic and in vivo evidence that links the dysfunction of specific Ca2+-ATPase isoforms to a broad range of human pathologies, and highlight emerging therapeutic strategies that target Ca2+ pumps.