Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42039525›Full record

ArticlebioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2026

Elevating levels of neuronal MCU in the hippocampus enhances mitochondrial calcium uptake and respiratory efficiency proportional to demand.

Mikel L Cawley, Ryan N Montalvo, Mason L Wheeler, Lucy L Turner, Jessica Pfleger, Zhen Yan, Shannon Farris

Abstract readPreprint
In one paragraph

Article in bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mikel L CawleyFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia.ORCID 0000-0002-0229-3471
Ryan N MontalvoFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia.
Mason L WheelerFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia.
Lucy L TurnerFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia.
Jessica PflegerFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia.
Zhen YanFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia.
Shannon FarrisFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, Virginia.

Funding

Supplement: Mitochondria as a regulator of hippocampal CA2 plasticity and functionR01MH124997 · NIMH · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · PI FARRIS, SHANNON · 2021 to 2025
$2.1M
NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH124997
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mitochondrial calcium signaling integrates energy needs with energy production, amplifying or suppressing mitochondrial respiration in response to activity demand. Neuronal activity is tightly ATPcoupled to increases in mitochondrial calcium uptake, which stimulate the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and activate calcium-dependent enzymes important for ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is the predominant source of matrix calcium and is differentially expressed across neuronal cell types, suggesting cell-type-specific differences in the coupling of activity-driven calcium levels and mitochondrial respiration. Here, we investigated whether elevating MCU expression enhances mitochondrial calcium uptake and oxidative phosphorylation in the hippocampus. We report that hippocampal mitochondria overexpressing MCU take up calcium at a faster rate without increased sensitivity to calcium overload. By modeling in vivo supply and demand, we found that hippocampal mitochondria overexpressing MCU are more efficient than control mitochondria at responding to increased bioenergetic demand. These findings reveal a role for MCU in modulating mitochondrial calcium uptake and boosting mitochondrial respiration under increasing demand, which contributes to our understanding of how specific cell types may adapt to different bioenergetic demands.

Identifiers

PMID42039525
PMCPMC13105083

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.