Overexpression of α‐synuclein inhibits mitochondrial Ca 2+ trafficking between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria through MAMs by altering the GRP75–IP3R interaction

Abstract Mitochondria‐associated ER membranes (MAMs) are formed by close and specific components in the contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, which participate in several cell functions, including lipid metabolism, autophagy, and Ca 2+ signaling. Particularly, the presence of α‐synuclein (α‐syn) in MAMs was previously demonstrated, indicating a physical interaction among some proteins in this region and a potential involvement in cell dysfunctions. MAMs alterations are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and contribute to the pathogenesis features. Here, we investigated the effects of α‐syn on MAMs and Ca 2+ transfer from the ER to mitochondria in WT‐ and A30P α‐syn‐overexpressing SH‐SY5Y or HEK293 cells. We observed that α‐syn potentiates the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m ) loss induced by rotenone, increases mitophagy and mitochondrial Ca 2+ overload. Additionally, in α‐syn‐overexpressing cells, we found a reduction in ER–mitochondria contact sites through the impairment of the GRP75–IP3R interaction, however, with no alteration in VDAC1–GRP75 interaction. Consequently, after Ca 2+ release from the ER, α‐syn‐overexpressing cells demonstrated a reduction in Ca 2+ buffering by mitochondria, suggesting a deregulation in MAM activity. Taken together, our data highlight the importance of the α‐syn/MAMs/Ca 2+ axis that potentially affects cell functions in PD.