Mitochondrial and ER-targeted eCALWY probes reveal high levels of free Zn2+

ACS Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 19;9(9):2111-20. doi: 10.1021/cb5004064. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Abstract

Zinc (Zn2+) ions are increasingly recognized as playing an important role in cellular physiology. Whereas the free Zn2+ concentration in the cytosol has been established to be 0.1-1 nM, the free Zn2+ concentration in subcellular organelles is not well-established. Here, we extend the eCALWY family of genetically encoded Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Zn2+ probes to permit measurements in the endo(sarco)plasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial matrix. Deployed in a variety of mammalian cell types, these probes reveal resting mitochondrial free [Zn2+] values of ∼300 pM, somewhat lower than in the cytosol but 3 orders of magnitude higher than recently reported using an alternative FRET-based sensor. By contrast, free ER [Zn2+] was found to be ≥5 nM, which is >5000-fold higher than recently reported but consistent with the proposed role of the ER as a mobilizable Zn2+ store. Treatment of β-cells or cardiomyocytes with sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors, mobilization of ER Ca2+ after purinergic stimulation with ATP, or manipulation of ER redox, exerted no detectable effects on [Zn2+]ER. These findings question the previously proposed role of Ca2+ in Zn2+ mobilization from the ER and suggest that high ER Zn2+ levels may be an important aspect of cellular homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cations, Divalent / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • HeLa Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Molecular Probes
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Zinc / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cations, Divalent
  • Indoles
  • Molecular Probes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Zinc
  • Calcium
  • cyclopiazonic acid