This paradigm fits with previous reports where mCa2+ overload caused by increased mCa2+ uptake (via ERK1/2-dependent upregulation of MCU) caused dendritic degeneration in a late-onset familial PD model (mutation in Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2) [149], and a report of MCU overexpression eliciting excitotoxic cell death [78]. Here, MCU is linked to Parkinson disease.