bims-cytox1 2024-05-26 papers

Issue of 2024‒05‒26
four papers selected by
Gavin McStay, Liverpool John Moores University

J Inherit Metab Dis. 2024 May 24.

Conserved quality control mechanisms of mitochondrial protein import.

Lion Borgert, Thomas Becker, Fabian den Brave.

Mitochondria carry out essential functions for the cell, including energy production, various biosynthesis pathways, formation of co-factors and cellular signalling in apoptosis and inflammation. The functionality of mitochondria requires the import of about 900-1300 proteins from the cytosol in baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human cells, respectively. The vast majority of these proteins pass the outer membrane in a largely unfolded state through the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOM) complex. Subsequently, specific protein translocases sort the precursor proteins into the outer and inner membranes, the intermembrane space and matrix. Premature folding of mitochondrial precursor proteins, defects in the mitochondrial protein translocases or a reduction of the membrane potential across the inner mitochondrial membrane can cause stalling of precursors at the protein import apparatus. Consequently, the translocon is clogged and non-imported precursor proteins accumulate in the cell, which in turn leads to proteotoxic stress and eventually cell death. To prevent such stress situations, quality control mechanisms remove non-imported precursor proteins from the TOM channel. The highly conserved ubiquitin-proteasome system of the cytosol plays a critical role in this process. Thus, the surveillance of protein import via the TOM complex involves the coordinated activity of mitochondria-localized and cytosolic proteins to prevent proteotoxic stress in the cell.

Keywords: TOM complex; mitoTAD; mitochondria; protein quality control; protein sorting

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jimd.12756

Hum Mol Genet. 2024 May 22. 33(R1): R47-R52

Coordinating mitochondrial translation with assembly of the OXPHOS complexes.

Laura S Kremer, Peter Rehling.

The mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system produces the majority of energy required by cells. Given the mitochondrion's endosymbiotic origin, the OXPHOS machinery is still under dual genetic control where most OXPHOS subunits are encoded by the nuclear DNA and imported into mitochondria, while a small subset is encoded on the mitochondrion's own genome, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The nuclear and mtDNA encoded subunits must be expressed and assembled in a highly orchestrated fashion to form a functional OXPHOS system and meanwhile prevent the generation of any harmful assembly intermediates. While several mechanisms have evolved in eukaryotes to achieve such a coordinated expression, this review will focus on how the translation of mtDNA encoded OXPHOS subunits is tailored to OXPHOS assembly.

Keywords: Coordination of translation and assembly; Gene expression; Mitochondria; OXPHOS assembly; Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS); Translation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddae025

Hum Mol Genet. 2024 May 22. 33(R1): R61-R79

Illuminating mitochondrial translation through mouse models.

Laetitia A Hughes, Oliver Rackham, Aleksandra Filipovska.

Mitochondria are hubs of metabolic activity with a major role in ATP conversion by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The mammalian mitochondrial genome encodes 11 mRNAs encoding 13 OXPHOS proteins along with 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs, that facilitate their translation on mitoribosomes. Maintaining the internal production of core OXPHOS subunits requires modulation of the mitochondrial capacity to match the cellular requirements and correct insertion of particularly hydrophobic proteins into the inner mitochondrial membrane. The mitochondrial translation system is essential for energy production and defects result in severe, phenotypically diverse diseases, including mitochondrial diseases that typically affect postmitotic tissues with high metabolic demands. Understanding the complex mechanisms that underlie the pathologies of diseases involving impaired mitochondrial translation is key to tailoring specific treatments and effectively targeting the affected organs. Disease mutations have provided a fundamental, yet limited, understanding of mitochondrial protein synthesis, since effective modification of the mitochondrial genome has proven challenging. However, advances in next generation sequencing, cryoelectron microscopy, and multi-omic technologies have revealed unexpected and unusual features of the mitochondrial protein synthesis machinery in the last decade. Genome editing tools have generated unique models that have accelerated our mechanistic understanding of mitochondrial translation and its physiological importance. Here we review the most recent mouse models of disease pathogenesis caused by defects in mitochondrial protein synthesis and discuss their value for preclinical research and therapeutic development.

Keywords: animal models; gene expression; mitochondria; protein synthesis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddae020

Hum Mol Genet. 2024 May 22. 33(R1): R34-R41

Central dogma rates in human mitochondria.

Erik McShane, L Stirling Churchman.

In human cells, the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes engage in a complex interplay to produce dual-encoded oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes. The coordination of these dynamic gene expression processes is essential for producing matched amounts of OXPHOS protein subunits. This review focuses on our current understanding of the mitochondrial central dogma rates, highlighting the striking differences in gene expression rates between mitochondrial and nuclear genes. We synthesize a coherent model of mitochondrial gene expression kinetics, highlighting the emerging principles and emphasizing where more precise measurements would be beneficial. Such an understanding is pivotal for grasping the unique aspects of mitochondrial function and its role in cellular energetics, and it has profound implications for aging, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: gene regulation; mitochondrial DNA; mitonuclear balance; oxidative phosphorylation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddae036