Frequency-dependent mitochondrial Ca(2+) accumulation regulates ATP synthesis in pancreatic β cells

Pancreatic β cells respond to increases in glucose concentration with enhanced metabolism, the closure of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels and electrical spiking. The latter results in oscillatory Ca(2+) influx through voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels and the activation of insulin release. The relationship between changes in cytosolic and mitochondrial free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](cyt) and [Ca(2+)](mit), respectively) during these cycles is poorly understood. Importantly, the activation of Ca(2+)-sensitive intramitochondrial dehydrogenases, occurring alongside the stimulation of ATP consumption required for Ca(2+) pumping and other processes, may exert complex effects on cytosolic ATP/ADP ratios and hence insulin secretion. To explore the relationship between these parameters in single primary β cells, we have deployed cytosolic (Fura red, Indo1) or green fluorescent protein-based recombinant-targeted (Pericam, 2mt8RP for mitochondria; D4ER for the ER) probes for Ca(2+) and cytosolic ATP/ADP (Perceval) alongside patch-clamp electrophysiology. We demonstrate that: (1) blockade of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake by shRNA-mediated silencing of the uniporter MCU attenuates glucose- and essentially blocks tolbutamide-stimulated, insulin secretion; (2) during electrical stimulation, mitochondria decode cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillation frequency as stable increases in [Ca(2+)](mit) and cytosolic ATP/ADP; (3) mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake rates remained constant between individual spikes, arguing against activity-dependent regulation (“plasticity”) and (4) the relationship between [Ca(2+)](cyt) and [Ca(2+)](mit) is essentially unaffected by changes in endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](ER)). Our findings thus highlight new aspects of Ca(2+) signalling in β cells of relevance to the actions of both glucose and sulphonylureas. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00424-012-1177-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.