The transport of Ca2+ across membranes precedes the fusion and fission of various lipid bilayers. Yeast vacuoles during hyperosmotic shock become fragmented through fission events that require Ca2+ efflux of their luminal stores through the TRP channel Yvc1. This requires the production of the lipid PI(3,5)P2 by Fab1. Ca2+ is also released during vacuole fusion upon trans-SNARE complex assembly, however, the role of PI(3,5)P2 remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that elevated PI(3,5)P2 levels

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... olish Ca2+ efflux during fusion, indicating that PI(3,5)P2 has opposing effects on Ca2+ transport in fission versus fusion. Notably, Ca2+ efflux was enhanced when PI(3,5)P2 levels were reduced. Importantly, the effect of PI(3,5)P2 on Ca2+ flux was independent of Yvc1. Rather, the effect was dependent on the Ca2+ pump Pmc1. Vacuoles lacking Pmc1 were resistant to the effects of PI(3,5)P2, while those lacking Yvc1 remained sensitive. Furthermore altering PI(3,5)P2 levels affects the interactions of Pmc1 with the Vo component Vph1 and the R-SNARE Nyv1. We now propose a model in which elevated PI(3,5)P2 activates continued Pmc1 function to prevent the accumulation of released extraluminal Ca2+.