A mechanism of lysosomal calcium entry.

Lysosomal calcium (Ca) release is critical to cell signaling and is mediated by well-known lysosomal Ca channels. Yet, how lysosomes refill their Ca remains hitherto undescribed. Here, from an RNA interference screen in , we identify an evolutionarily conserved gene, , that facilitates lysosomal Ca entry in and mammalian cells. We found that its human homolog TMEM165, previously designated as a Ca/H exchanger, imports Ca pH dependently into lysosomes. Using two-ion mapping and electrophysiology, we show that TMEM165, hereafter referred to as human LCI, acts as a proton-activated, lysosomal Ca importer. Defects in lysosomal Ca channels cause several neurodegenerative diseases, and knowledge of lysosomal Ca importers may provide previously unidentified avenues to explore the physiology of Ca channels.