bims-mikwok 2024-04-07 papers

bims-mikwok

Biomed News

on Mitochondrial quality control

Issue of 2024‒04‒07
twenty-two papers selected by
Gavin McStay, Liverpool John Moores University

Cytosolic retention of HtrA2 during mitochondrial protein import stress triggers the DELE1-HRI pathway.
PINK1 deficiency alters muscle stem cell fate decision and muscle regenerative capacity.
Chronic replication stress invokes mitochondria dysfunction via impaired parkin activity.
Human CCDC51 and yeast Mdm33 are functionally conserved mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that demarcate a subset of organelle fission events.
Drp1 controls complex II assembly and skeletal muscle metabolism by Sdhaf2 action on mitochondria.
Mitochondrial quality control in non-exudative age-related macular degeneration: From molecular mechanisms to structural and functional recovery.
Mitophagy and spermatogenesis: Role and mechanisms.
The dynamin-related protein Dyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum.
Identification and structural characterization of small molecule inhibitors of PINK1.
The ER-SURF pathway uses ER-mitochondria contact sites for protein targeting to mitochondria.
Decreasing mitochondrial fission ameliorates HIF-1α-dependent pathological retinal angiogenesis.
Myosin A and F-Actin play a critical role in mitochondrial dynamics and inheritance in Toxoplasma gondii.
A genetically encoded fluorescent protein sensor for mitochondrial membrane damage detection.
Exquisite visualization of mitophagy and monitoring the increase of lysosomal micro-viscosity in mitophagy with an unusual pH-independent lysosomal rotor.
Membrane fission via transmembrane contact.
Small Molecule Activators of Mitochondrial Fusion Prevent Congenital Heart Defects Induced by Maternal Diabetes.
Hydrogen alleviates impaired lung epithelial barrier in acute respiratory distress syndrome via inhibiting Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission through the Trx1 pathway.
Novel Pt(IV) complex OAP2 induces STING activation and pyroptosis via mitochondrial membrane remodeling for synergistic chemo-immunotherapy.
USP26 promotes colorectal cancer tumorigenesis by restraining PRKN-mediated mitophagy.
Targeting NKAα1 to treat Parkinson's disease through inhibition of mitophagy-dependent ferroptosis.
NAD-Dependent Protein Deacetylase Sirtuin-1 Mediated Mitophagy Regulates Early Brain Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
Sex-related differences in SIRT3-mediated mitochondrial dynamics in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Commun Biol. 2024 Mar 30. 7(1): 391

Cytosolic retention of HtrA2 during mitochondrial protein import stress triggers the DELE1-HRI pathway.

Paul Y Bi, Samuel A Killackey, Linus Schweizer, Damien Arnoult, Dana J Philpott, Stephen E Girardin.

Mitochondrial stress inducers such as carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) and oligomycin trigger the DELE1-HRI branch of the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway. Previous studies performed using epitope-tagged DELE1 showed that these stresses induced the cleavage of DELE1 to DELE1-S, which stimulates HRI. Here, we report that mitochondrial protein import stress (MPIS) is an overarching stress that triggers the DELE1-HRI pathway, and that endogenous DELE1 could be cleaved into two forms, DELE1-S and DELE1-VS, the latter accumulating only upon non-depolarizing MPIS. Surprisingly, while the mitochondrial protease OMA1 was crucial for DELE1 cleavage in HeLa cells, it was dispensable in HEK293T cells, suggesting that multiple proteases may be involved in DELE1 cleavage. In support, we identified a role for the mitochondrial protease, HtrA2, in mediating DELE1 cleavage into DELE1-VS, and showed that a Parkinson's disease (PD)-associated HtrA2 mutant displayed reduced DELE1 processing ability, suggesting a novel mechanism linking PD pathogenesis to mitochondrial stress. Our data further suggest that DELE1 is likely cleaved into DELE1-S in the cytosol, while the DELE1-VS form might be generated during halted translocation into mitochondria. Together, this study identifies MPIS as the overarching stress detected by DELE1 and identifies a novel role for HtrA2 in DELE1 processing.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06107-7
Stem Cell Reports. 2024 Mar 26. pii: S2213-6711(24)00079-1. [Epub ahead of print]

PINK1 deficiency alters muscle stem cell fate decision and muscle regenerative capacity.

George Cairns, Madhavee Thumiah-Mootoo, Mah Rukh Abbasi, Melissa Gourlay, Jeremy Racine, Nikita Larionov, Alexandre Prola, Mireille Khacho, Yan Burelle.

  Maintenance of mitochondrial function plays a crucial role in the regulation of muscle stem cell (MuSC), but the underlying mechanisms remain ill defined. In this study, we monitored mitophagy in MuSCS under various myogenic states and examined the role of PINK1 in maintaining regenerative capacity. Results indicate that quiescent MuSCs actively express mitophagy genes and exhibit a measurable mitophagy flux and prominent mitochondrial localization to autophagolysosomes, which become rapidly decreased during activation. Genetic disruption of Pink1 in mice reduces PARKIN recruitment to mitochondria and mitophagy in quiescent MuSCs, which is accompanied by premature activation/commitment at the expense of self-renewal and progressive loss of muscle regeneration, but unhindered proliferation and differentiation capacity. Results also show that impaired fate decisions in PINK1-deficient MuSCs can be restored by scavenging excess mitochondrial ROS. These data shed light on the regulation of mitophagy in MuSCs and position PINK1 as an important regulator of their mitochondrial properties and fate decisions.

Keywords:  fate decision; mitochondria; mitochondrial quality control; mitophagy; muscle regeneration; muscle stem cells

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.03.004
Sci Rep. 2024 Apr 03. 14(1): 7877

Chronic replication stress invokes mitochondria dysfunction via impaired parkin activity.

Tsuyoshi Kawabata, Reiko Sekiya, Shinji Goto, Tao-Sheng Li.

Replication stress is a major contributor to tumorigenesis because it provides a source of chromosomal rearrangements via recombination events. PARK2, which encodes parkin, a regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis, is located on one of the common fragile sites that are prone to rearrangement by replication stress, indicating that replication stress may potentially impact mitochondrial homeostasis. Here, we show that chronic low-dose replication stress causes a fixed reduction in parkin expression, which is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, indicated by an increase in mtROS. Consistent with the major role of parkin in mitophagy, reduction in parkin protein expression was associated with a slight decrease in mitophagy and changes in mitochondrial morphology. In contrast, cells expressing ectopic PARK2 gene does not show mtROS increases and changes in mitochondrial morphology even after exposure to chronic replication stress, suggesting that intrinsic fragility at PARK2 loci associated with parkin reduction is responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction caused by chronic replication stress. As endogenous replication stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are both involved in multiple pathophysiology, our data support the therapeutic development of recovery of parkin expression in human healthcare.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58656-w
bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 22. pii: 2024.03.21.586162. [Epub ahead of print]

Human CCDC51 and yeast Mdm33 are functionally conserved mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that demarcate a subset of organelle fission events.

Alia R Edington, Olivia M Connor, Madeleine Marlar-Pavey, Jonathan R Friedman.

Mitochondria are highly dynamic double membrane-bound organelles that exist in a semi- continuous network. Mitochondrial morphology arises from the complex interplay of numerous processes, including opposing fission and fusion dynamics and the formation of highly organized cristae invaginations of the inner membrane. While extensive work has examined the mechanisms of mitochondrial fission, it remains unclear how fission is coordinated across two membrane bilayers and how mitochondrial inner membrane organization is coupled with mitochondrial fission dynamics. Previously, the yeast protein Mdm33 was implicated in facilitating fission by coordinating with inner membrane homeostasis pathways. However, Mdm33 is not conserved outside fungal species and its precise mechanistic role remains unclear. Here, we use a bioinformatic approach to identify a putative structural ortholog of Mdm33 in humans, CCDC51 (also called MITOK). We find that the mitochondrial phenotypes associated with altered CCDC51 levels implicate the protein in mitochondrial fission dynamics. Further, using timelapse microscopy, we spatially and temporally resolve Mdm33 and CCDC51 to a subset of mitochondrial fission events. Finally, we show that CCDC51 can partially rescue yeast Δ mdm33 cells, indicating the proteins are functionally analogous. Our data reveal that Mdm33/CCDC51 are conserved mediators of mitochondrial morphology and suggest the proteins play a crucial role in maintaining normal mitochondrial dynamics and organelle homeostasis.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.21.586162
Sci Adv. 2024 Apr 05. 10(14): eadl0389

Drp1 controls complex II assembly and skeletal muscle metabolism by Sdhaf2 action on mitochondria.

Zhenqi Zhou, Alice Ma, Timothy M Moore, Dane M Wolf, Nicole Yang, Peter Tran, Mayuko Segawa, Alexander R Strumwasser, Wenjuan Ren, Kai Fu, Jonathan Wanagat, Alexander M van der Bliek, Rachelle Crosbie-Watson, Marc Liesa, Linsey Stiles, Rebecca Acin-Perez, Sushil Mahata, Orian Shirihai, Mark O Goodarzi, Michal Handzlik, Christian M Metallo, David W Walker, Andrea L Hevener.

The dynamin-related guanosine triphosphatase, Drp1 (encoded by Dnm1l), plays a central role in mitochondrial fission and is requisite for numerous cellular processes; however, its role in muscle metabolism remains unclear. Here, we show that, among human tissues, the highest number of gene correlations with DNM1L is in skeletal muscle. Knockdown of Drp1 (Drp1-KD) promoted mitochondrial hyperfusion in the muscle of male mice. Reduced fatty acid oxidation and impaired insulin action along with increased muscle succinate was observed in Drp1-KD muscle. Muscle Drp1-KD reduced complex II assembly and activity as a consequence of diminished mitochondrial translocation of succinate dehydrogenase assembly factor 2 (Sdhaf2). Restoration of Sdhaf2 normalized complex II activity, lipid oxidation, and insulin action in Drp1-KD myocytes. Drp1 is critical in maintaining mitochondrial complex II assembly, lipid oxidation, and insulin sensitivity, suggesting a mechanistic link between mitochondrial morphology and skeletal muscle metabolism, which is clinically relevant in combatting metabolic-related diseases.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adl0389
Free Radic Biol Med. 2024 Apr 03. pii: S0891-5849(24)00161-8. [Epub ahead of print]

Mitochondrial quality control in non-exudative age-related macular degeneration: From molecular mechanisms to structural and functional recovery.

Hernán H Dieguez, Horacio E Romeo, Agustina Alaimo, Nathaly A Bernal Aguirre, Juan S Calanni, Juan S Adán Aréan, Silvia Alvarez, Roberta Sciurano, Ruth E Rosenstein, Damián Dorfman.

  Non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (NE-AMD) is the leading blindness cause in the elderly. Clinical and experimental evidence supports that early alterations in macular retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) mitochondria play a key role in NE-AMD-induced damage. Mitochondrial dynamics (biogenesis, fusion, fission, and mitophagy), which is under the central control of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), in turn, determines mitochondrial quality. We have developed a NE-AMD model in C57BL/6J mice induced by unilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx), which progressively reproduces the disease hallmarks circumscribed to the temporal region of the RPE/outer retina that exhibits several characteristics of the human macula. In this work we have studied RPE mitochondrial structure, dynamics, function, and AMPK role on these parameters' regulation at the nasal and temporal RPE from control eyes and at an early stage of experimental NE-AMD (i.e., 4 weeks post-SCGx). Although RPE mitochondrial mass was preserved, their function, which was higher at the temporal than at the nasal RPE in control eyes, was significantly decreased at 4 weeks post-SCGx at the same region. Mitochondria were bigger, more elongated, and with denser cristae at the temporal RPE from control eyes. Exclusively at the temporal RPE, SCGx severely affected mitochondrial morphology and dynamics, together with the levels of phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK). AMPK activation with metformin restored RPE p-AMPK levels, and mitochondrial dynamics, structure, and function at 4 weeks post-SCGx, as well as visual function and RPE/outer retina structure at 10 weeks post-SCGx. These results demonstrate a key role of the temporal RPE mitochondrial homeostasis as an early target for NE-AMD-induced damage, and that pharmacological AMPK activation could preserve mitochondrial morphology, dynamics, and function, and, consequently, avoid the functional and structural damage induced by NE-AMD.

Keywords:  AMPK; Metformin; Mitochondria dynamics; Non-exudative age-related macular degeneration; Retinal pigment epithelium

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.03.024
Biochem Biophys Rep. 2024 Jul;38 101698

Mitophagy and spermatogenesis: Role and mechanisms.

Damilare Emmanuel Rotimi, Matthew Iyobhebhe, Elizabeth Temidayo Oluwayemi, Ikponmwosa Owen Evbuomwan, Rotdelmwa Maimako Asaleye, Oluwafemi Adeleke Ojo, Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi.

  The mitophagy process, a type of macroautophagy, is the targeted removal of mitochondria. It is a type of autophagy exclusive to mitochondria, as the process removes defective mitochondria one by one. Mitophagy serves as an additional level of quality control by using autophagy to remove superfluous mitochondria or mitochondria that are irreparably damaged. During spermatogenesis, mitophagy can influence cell homeostasis and participates in a variety of membrane trafficking activities. Crucially, it has been demonstrated that defective mitophagy can impede spermatogenesis. Despite an increasing amount of evidence suggesting that mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics preserve the fundamental level of cellular homeostasis, little is known about their role in developmentally controlled metabolic transitions and differentiation. It has been observed that male infertility is a result of mitophagy's impact on sperm motility. Furthermore, certain proteins related to autophagy have been shown to be present in mammalian spermatozoa. The mitochondria are the only organelle in sperm that can produce reactive oxygen species and finally provide energy for sperm movement. Furthermore, studies have shown that inhibited autophagy-infected spermatozoa had reduced motility and increased amounts of phosphorylated PINK1, TOM20, caspase 3/7, and AMPK. Therefore, in terms of reproductive physiology, mitophagy is the removal of mitochondria derived from sperm and the following preservation of mitochondria that are exclusively maternal.

Keywords:  Autophagy; Male infertility; Reproductive health; Spermatogenesis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101698
bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 17. pii: 2024.03.15.585229. [Epub ahead of print]

The dynamin-related protein Dyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum.

Alexander A Morano, Wei Xu, Neeta Shadija, Jeffrey D Dvorin, Hangjun Ke.

Dynamins, or dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), are large mechano-sensitive GTPases mediating membrane dynamics or organellar fission/fusion events. Plasmodium falciparum encodes three dynamin-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that PfDyn2 mediates both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission. Using super-resolution and ultrastructure expansion microscopy, we show that PfDyn2 is expressed in the schizont stage and localizes to both the apicoplast and mitochondria. Super-resolution long-term live cell microscopy shows that PfDyn2-deficient parasites cannot complete cytokinesis because the apicoplast and mitochondria do not undergo fission. Further, the basal complex or cytokinetic ring in Plasmodium cannot fully contract upon PfDyn2 depletion, a phenotype secondary to physical blockage of undivided organelles in the middle of the ring. Our data suggest that organellar fission defects result in aberrant schizogony, generating unsuccessful merozoites. The unique biology of PfDyn2, mediating both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission, has not been observed in other organisms possessing two endosymbiotic organelles.Highlights: PfDyn2 is essential for schizont-stage development.PfDyn2 mediates both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission.Deficiency of PfDyn2 leads to organellar fission failures and blockage of basal complex contraction.Addition of apicoplast-derived metabolite IPP does not rescue the growth defects.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.15.585229
Sci Rep. 2024 04 02. 14(1): 7739

Identification and structural characterization of small molecule inhibitors of PINK1.

Shafqat Rasool, Tara Shomali, Luc Truong, Nathalie Croteau, Simon Veyron, Bernardo A Bustillos, Wolfdieter Springer, Fabienne C Fiesel, Jean-François Trempe.

  Mutations in PINK1 and Parkin cause early-onset Parkinson's Disease (PD). PINK1 is a kinase which functions as a mitochondrial damage sensor and initiates mitochondrial quality control by accumulating on the damaged organelle. There, it phosphorylates ubiquitin, which in turn recruits and activates Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Ubiquitylation of mitochondrial proteins leads to the autophagic degradation of the damaged organelle. Pharmacological modulation of PINK1 constitutes an appealing avenue to study its physiological function and develop therapeutics. In this study, we used a thermal shift assay with insect PINK1 to identify small molecules that inhibit ATP hydrolysis and ubiquitin phosphorylation. PRT062607, an SYK inhibitor, is the most potent inhibitor in our screen and inhibits both insect and human PINK1, with an IC50 in the 0.5-3 µM range in HeLa cells and dopaminergic neurons. The crystal structures of insect PINK1 bound to PRT062607 or CYC116 reveal how the compounds interact with the ATP-binding pocket. PRT062607 notably engages with the catalytic aspartate and causes a destabilization of insert-2 at the autophosphorylation dimer interface. While PRT062607 is not selective for PINK1, it provides a scaffold for the development of more selective and potent inhibitors of PINK1 that could be used as chemical probes.

Keywords:  Inhibitor; Kinase; Mitochondria; PTEN‐induced kinase 1 (PINK1); Parkinson disease; Ubiquitin

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58285-3
EMBO Rep. 2024 Apr 02.

The ER-SURF pathway uses ER-mitochondria contact sites for protein targeting to mitochondria.

Christian Koch, Svenja Lenhard, Markus Räschle, Cristina Prescianotto-Baschong, Anne Spang, Johannes M Herrmann.

  Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes and imported into mitochondria in a post-translational reaction. Mitochondrial precursor proteins which use the ER-SURF pathway employ the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as an important sorting platform. How they reach the mitochondrial import machinery from the ER is not known. Here we show that mitochondrial contact sites play a crucial role in the ER-to-mitochondria transfer of precursor proteins. The ER mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES) and Tom70, together with Djp1 and Lam6, are part of two parallel and partially redundant ER-to-mitochondria delivery routes. When ER-to-mitochondria transfer is prevented by loss of these two contact sites, many precursors of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins are left stranded on the ER membrane, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction. Our observations support an active role of the ER in mitochondrial protein biogenesis.

Keywords:  Contact sites; ERMES; Endoplasmic reticulum; Mitochondria; Protein import

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-024-00113-w
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2024 Apr 02.

Decreasing mitochondrial fission ameliorates HIF-1α-dependent pathological retinal angiogenesis.

Shu-Qi Huang, Kai-Xiang Cao, Cai-Ling Wang, Pei-Ling Chen, Yi-Xin Chen, Yu-Ting Zhang, Shi-Hui Yu, Zai-Xia Bai, Shuai Guo, Mu-Xi Liao, Qiao-Wen Li, Guo-Qi Zhang, Jun He, Yi-Ming Xu.

  Angiogenesis plays a critical role in many pathological processes, including irreversible blindness in eye diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity. Endothelial mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo constant fusion and fission and are critical signalling hubs that modulate angiogenesis by coordinating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and calcium signalling and metabolism. In this study, we investigated the role of mitochondrial dynamics in pathological retinal angiogenesis. We showed that treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; 20 ng/ml) induced mitochondrial fission in HUVECs by promoting the phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1). DRP1 knockdown or pretreatment with the DRP1 inhibitor Mdivi-1 (5 μM) blocked VEGF-induced cell migration, proliferation, and tube formation in HUVECs. We demonstrated that VEGF treatment increased mitochondrial ROS production in HUVECs, which was necessary for HIF-1α-dependent glycolysis, as well as proliferation, migration, and tube formation, and the inhibition of mitochondrial fission prevented VEGF-induced mitochondrial ROS production. In an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model, we found that active DRP1 was highly expressed in endothelial cells in neovascular tufts. The administration of Mdivi-1 (10 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.p.) for three days from postnatal day (P) 13 until P15 significantly alleviated pathological angiogenesis in the retina. Our results suggest that targeting mitochondrial fission may be a therapeutic strategy for proliferative retinopathies and other diseases that are dependent on pathological angiogenesis.

Keywords:  Dynamin-related protein 1; Mdivi-1; ROS.; glycolysis; mitochondrial fission; pathological angiogenesis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41401-024-01262-3
bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 18. pii: 2024.03.18.585462. [Epub ahead of print]

Myosin A and F-Actin play a critical role in mitochondrial dynamics and inheritance in Toxoplasma gondii.

Rodolpho Ornitz Oliveira Souza, Chunlin Yang, Gustavo Arrizabalaga.

The single mitochondrion of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is highly dynamic. Toxoplasma's mitochondrion changes morphology as the parasite moves from the intracellular to the extracellular environment and during division. Toxoplasma's mitochondrial dynamic is dependent on an outer mitochondrion membrane-associated protein LMF1 and its interaction with IMC10, a protein localized at the inner membrane complex (IMC). In the absence of either LMF1 or IMC10, parasites have defective mitochondrial morphology and inheritance defects. As little is known about mitochondrial inheritance in Toxoplasma , we have used the LMF1/IMC10 tethering complex as an entry point to dissect the machinery behind this process. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we previously identified Myosin A (MyoA) as a putative interactor of LMF1. Although MyoA is known to be located at the parasite's pellicle, we now show through ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM) that this protein accumulates around the mitochondrion in the late stages of parasite division. Parasites lacking MyoA show defective mitochondrial morphology and a delay in mitochondrion delivery to the daughter parasite buds during division, indicating that this protein is involved in organellar inheritance. Disruption of the parasite's actin network also affects mitochondrion morphology. We also show that parasite-extracted mitochondrion vesicles interact with actin filaments. Interestingly, mitochondrion vesicles extracted out of parasites lacking LMF1 pulled down less actin, showing that LMF1 might be important for mitochondrion and actin interaction. Accordingly, we are showing for the first time that actin and Myosin A are important for Toxoplasma mitochondrial morphology and inheritance.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.18.585462
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2024 Mar 27. pii: S0006-291X(24)00372-3. [Epub ahead of print]709 149836

A genetically encoded fluorescent protein sensor for mitochondrial membrane damage detection.

Qian Liu, Dianbing Wang, Mengmeng Cui, Min Li, Xian-En Zhang.

  Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles; detecting mitochondrial damage is crucial in cellular biology and toxicology. Compared with existing chemical probe detection methods, genetically encoded fluorescent protein sensors can directly indicate cellular and molecular events without involving exogenous reagents. In this study, we introduced a molecular sensor system, MMD-Sensor, for monitoring mitochondrial membrane damage. The sensor consists of two molecular modules. Module I is a fusion structure of the mitochondrial localization sequence (MLS), AIF cleavage site sequence (CSS), nuclear localization sequence (NLS), N-terminus of mNeonGreen and mCherry. Module II is a fusion structure of the C-terminus of mNeonGreen, NLS sequence, and mtagBFP2. Under normal condition, Module I is constrained in the inner mitochondrial membrane anchored by MLS, while Module II is restricted to the nucleus by its NLS fusion component. If the mitochondrial membrane is damaged, CSS is cut from the inner membrane, causing Module I to shift into the nucleus guided by the NLS fusion component. After Module I enters the nucleus, the N- and C-terminus of mNeonGreen meet each other and rebuild its intact 3D structure through fragment complementation and thus generates green fluorescence in the nucleus. Dynamic migration of red fluorescence from mitochondria to the nucleus and generation of green fluorescence in the nucleus indicate mitochondrial membrane damage. Using the MMD-Sensor, mitochondrial membrane damage induced by various reagents, such as uncoupling agents, ATP synthase inhibitors, monovalent cationic carriers, and ROS, in HeLa and 293T cells are directly observed and evaluated.

Keywords:  Apoptosis-inducing factor; Bimolecular fluorescence complementation; Biosensor; Genetically encoded fluorescent protein sensor; Mitochondrial membrane damage

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149836
Anal Chim Acta. 2024 May 08. pii: S0003-2670(24)00307-6. [Epub ahead of print]1302 342506

Exquisite visualization of mitophagy and monitoring the increase of lysosomal micro-viscosity in mitophagy with an unusual pH-independent lysosomal rotor.

Rui Yang, Wei He, Changxin Zhu, Xifeng Yang, Yawei Kuang, Tao Zhu, Jingyang Xu, Yuang Zhao, Tingwang Jiang, Yushen Liu, Mengmeng Wei.

  BACKGROUND: Mitophagy plays indispensable roles in maintaining intracellular homeostasis in most eukaryotic cells by selectively eliminating superfluous components or damaged organelles. Thus, the co-operation of mitochondrial probes and lysosomal probes was presented to directly monitor mitophagy in dual colors. Nowadays, most of the lysosomal probes are composed of groups sensitive to pH, such as morpholine, amine and other weak bases. However, the pH in lysosomes would fluctuate in the process of mitophagy, leading to the optical interference. Thus, it is crucial to develop a pH-insensitive probe to overcome this tough problem to achieve exquisite visualization of mitophagy.RESULTS: In this study, we rationally prepared a pH-independent lysosome probe to reduce the optical interference in mitophagy, and thus the process of mitophagy could be directly monitored in dual color through cooperation between IVDI and MTR, depending on Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism. IVDI shows remarkable fluorescence enhancement toward the increase of viscosity, and the fluorescence barely changes when pH varies. Due to the sensitivity to viscosity, the probe can visualize micro-viscosity alterations in lysosomes without washing procedures, and it showed better imaging properties than LTR. Thanks to the inertia of IVDI to pH, IVDI can exquisitely monitor mitophagy with MTR by FRET mechanism despite the changes of lysosomal pH in mitophagy, and the reduced fluorescence intensity ratio of green and red channels can indicate the occurrence of mitophagy. Based on the properties mentioned above, the real-time increase of micro-viscosity in lysosomes during mitophagy was exquisitely monitored through employing IVDI.
SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY: Compared with the lysosomal fluorescent probes sensitive to pH, the pH-inert probe could reduce the influence of pH variation during mitophagy to achieve exquisite visualization of mitophagy in real-time. Besides, the probe could monitor the increase of lysosomal micro-viscosity in mitophagy. So, the probe possesses tremendous potential in the visualization of dynamic changes related to lysosomes in various physiological processes.

Keywords:  Exquisitely long-term visualization; FRET mechanism; Lysosomal rotor; Mitophagy; pH-independent

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2024.342506
Nat Commun. 2024 Mar 30. 15(1): 2793

Membrane fission via transmembrane contact.

Russell K W Spencer, Isaac Santos-Pérez, Izaro Rodríguez-Renovales, Juan Manuel Martinez Galvez, Anna V Shnyrova, Marcus Müller.

Division of intracellular organelles often correlates with additional membrane wrapping, e.g., by the endoplasmic reticulum or the outer mitochondrial membrane. Such wrapping plays a vital role in proteome and lipidome organization. However, how an extra membrane impacts the mechanics of the division has not been investigated. Here we combine fluorescence and cryo-electron microscopy experiments with self-consistent field theory to explore the stress-induced instabilities imposed by membrane wrapping in a simple double-membrane tubular system. We find that, at physiologically relevant conditions, the outer membrane facilitates an alternative pathway for the inner-tube fission through the formation of a transient contact (hemi-fusion) between both membranes. A detailed molecular theory of the fission pathways in the double membrane system reveals the topological complexity of the process, resulting both in leaky and leakless intermediates, with energies and topologies predicting physiological events.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47122-w
JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2024 Mar;9(3): 303-318

Small Molecule Activators of Mitochondrial Fusion Prevent Congenital Heart Defects Induced by Maternal Diabetes.

Guanglei Wang, Wenhui Lu, Wei-Bin Shen, Mariusz Karbowski, Sunjay Kaushal, Peixin Yang.

  Most congenital heart defect (CHD) cases are attributed to nongenetic factors; however, the mechanisms underlying nongenetic factor-induced CHDs are elusive. Maternal diabetes is one of the nongenetic factors, and this study aimed to determine whether impaired mitochondrial fusion contributes to maternal diabetes-induced CHDs and if mitochondrial fusion activators, teriflunomide and echinacoside, could reduce CHD incidence in diabetic pregnancy. We demonstrated maternal diabetes-activated FoxO3a increases miR-140 and miR-195, which in turn represses Mfn1 and Mfn2, leading to mitochondrial fusion defects and CHDs. Two mitochondrial fusion activators are effective in preventing CHDs in diabetic pregnancy.

Keywords:  congenital heart defect; maternal diabetes; microRNA; mitochondrial fusion; mitofusin 1; mitofusin 2

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.11.008
Free Radic Biol Med. 2024 Mar 28. pii: S0891-5849(24)00159-X. [Epub ahead of print]

Hydrogen alleviates impaired lung epithelial barrier in acute respiratory distress syndrome via inhibiting Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission through the Trx1 pathway.

Yun Long, Yang Ang, Wei Chen, Yujie Wang, Min Shi, Fan Hu, Qingqing Zhou, Yadan Shi, Baokui Ge, Yigen Peng, Wanyou Yu, Hongguang Bao, Qian Li, Manlin Duan, Ju Gao.

  Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute and severe clinical complication lacking effective therapeutic interventions. The disruption of the lung epithelial barrier plays a crucial role in ARDS pathogenesis. Recent studies have proposed the involvement of abnormal mitochondrial dynamics mediated by dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in the mechanism of impaired epithelial barrier in ARDS. Hydrogen is an anti-oxidative stress molecule that regulates mitochondrial function via multiple signaling pathways. Our previous study confirmed that hydrogen modulated oxidative stress and attenuated acute pulmonary edema in ARDS by upregulating thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) expression, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hydrogen on mitochondrial dynamics both in vivo and in vitro. Our study revealed that hydrogen inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced phosphorylation of Drp1 (at Ser616), suppressed Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission, alleviated epithelial tight junction damage and cell apoptosis, and improved the integrity of the epithelial barrier. This process was associated with the upregulation of Trx1 in lung epithelial tissues of ARDS mice by hydrogen. In addition, hydrogen treatment reduced the production of reactive oxygen species in LPS-induced airway epithelial cells (AECs) and increased the mitochondrial membrane potential, indicating that the mitochondrial dysfunction was restored. Then, the expression of tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occludens 1 was upregulated, and apoptosis in AECs was alleviated. Remarkably, the protective effects of hydrogen on the mitochondrial and epithelial barrier were eliminated after applying the Trx1 inhibitor PX-12. The results showed that hydrogen significantly inhibited the cell apoptosis and the disruption of epithelial tight junctions, maintaining the integrity of the epithelial barrier in mice of ARDS. This might be related to the inhibition of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission through the Trx1 pathway. The findings of this study provided a new theoretical basis for the application of hydrogen in the clinical treatment of ARDS.

Keywords:  Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Dynamin-related protein 1; Hydrogen; Mitochondrial fission; Thioredoxin 1

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.03.022
Acta Pharm Sin B. 2024 Apr;14(4): 1742-1758

Novel Pt(IV) complex OAP2 induces STING activation and pyroptosis via mitochondrial membrane remodeling for synergistic chemo-immunotherapy.

Renming Fan, Ruizhuo Lin, Shuo Zhang, Aohua Deng, Yongrui Hai, Junyan Zhuang, Yang Liu, Maosheng Cheng, Gaofei Wei.

  Mitochondrial membrane remodeling can trigger the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), leading to the activation of cellular oxidative stress and immune responses. While the role of mitochondrial membrane remodeling in promoting inflammation in hepatocytes is well-established, its effects on tumors have remained unclear. In this study, we designed a novel Pt(IV) complex, OAP2, which is composed of oxaliplatin (Oxa) and acetaminophen (APAP), to enhance its anti-tumor effects and amplify the immune response. Our findings demonstrate that OAP2 induces nuclear DNA damage, resulting in the production of nuclear DNA. Additionally, OAP2 downregulates the expression of mitochondrial Sam50, to promote mitochondrial membrane remodeling and trigger mtDNA secretion, leading to double-stranded DNA accumulation and ultimately synergistically activating the intracellular cGAS-STING pathway. The mitochondrial membrane remodeling induced by OAP2 overcomes the limitations of Oxa in activating the STING pathway and simultaneously promotes gasdermin-D-mediated cell pyroptosis. OAP2 also promotes dendritic cell maturation and enhances the quantity and efficacy of cytotoxic T cells, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Briefly, our study introduces the first novel small-molecule inhibitor that regulates mitochondrial membrane remodeling for active immunotherapy in anti-tumor research, which may provide a creative idea for targeting organelle in anti-tumor therapy.

Keywords:  Anti-tumor drug; Chemo-immunotherapy; Mitochondrial membrane modeling; Platinum; Prodrug; Pyroptosis; STING; mtDNA

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2023.11.032
Oncogene. 2024 Apr 02.

USP26 promotes colorectal cancer tumorigenesis by restraining PRKN-mediated mitophagy.

Qi Wu, Zhihong Wang, Siqi Chen, Xiaowei She, Shengyu Zhu, Pengcheng Li, Lang Liu, Chongchong Zhao, Kangdi Li, Anyi Liu, Changsheng Huang, Yaqi Chen, Fuqing Hu, Guihua Wang, Junbo Hu.

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are promising targets for cancer therapy because of their pivotal roles in various physiological and pathological processes. Among these, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 26 (USP26) is a protease with crucial regulatory functions. Our study sheds light on the upregulation of USP26 in colorectal cancer (CRC), in which its increased expression correlates with an unfavorable prognosis. Herein, we evidenced the role of USP26 in promoting CRC tumorigenesis in a parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (PRKN) protein-dependent manner. Our investigation revealed that USP26 directly interacted with PRKN protein, facilitating its deubiquitination, and subsequently reducing its activity. Additionally, we identified the K129 site on PRKN as a specific target for USP26-mediated deubiquitination. Our research highlights that a K-to-R mutation at the site on PRKN diminishes its potential for activation and ability to mediate mitophagy. In summary, our findings underscore the significance of USP26-mediated deubiquitination in restraining the activation of the PRKN-mediated mitophagy pathway, ultimately driving CRC tumorigenesis. This study not only elucidated the multifaceted role of USP26 in CRC but also introduced a promising avenue for therapeutic exploration through the development of small molecule inhibitors targeting USP26. This strategy holds promise as a novel therapeutic approach for CRC.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-024-03009-0
Free Radic Biol Med. 2024 Apr 02. pii: S0891-5849(24)00167-9. [Epub ahead of print]

Targeting NKAα1 to treat Parkinson's disease through inhibition of mitophagy-dependent ferroptosis.

Xiaoyan Zhang, Guanghong Li, Hanbin Chen, Xiao-Wei Nie, Jin-Song Bian.

  Dysfunction of the Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) has been documented in various neurodegenerative diseases, yet the specific role of NKAα1 in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains incompletely understood. In this investigation, we utilized NKAα1 haploinsufficiency (NKAα1+/-) mice to probe the influence of NKAα1 on dopaminergic (DA) neurodegeneration induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Our findings reveal that NKAα1+/- mice displayed a heightened loss of DA neurons and more pronounced motor dysfunction compared to the control group when exposed to MPTP. Intriguingly, this phenomenon coincided with the activation of ferroptosis and impaired mitophagy both in vivo and in vitro. To scrutinize the role and underlying mechanism of NKAα1 in PD, we employed DR-Ab, an antibody targeting the DR-region of the NKA α subunit. Our study demonstrates that the administration of DR-Ab effectively reinstated the membrane abundance of NKAa1, thereby mitigating MPTP-induced DA neuron loss and subsequent improvement in behavioral deficit. Mechanistically, DR-Ab heightened the formation of the surface NKAα1/SLC7A11 complex, inhibiting SLC7A11-dependent ferroptosis. Moreover, DR-Ab disrupted the cytosolic interaction between NKAα1 and Parkin, facilitating the translocation of Parkin to mitochondria and enhancing the process of mitophagy. In conclusion, this study establishes NKAα1 as a key regulator of ferroptosis and mitophagy, identifying its DR-region as a promising therapeutic target for PD.

Keywords:  DR-Ab; Ferroptosis; Mitophagy; Na(+)/K(+) ATPase; Parkinson's disease

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.04.002
J Inflamm Res. 2024 ;17 1971-1981

NAD-Dependent Protein Deacetylase Sirtuin-1 Mediated Mitophagy Regulates Early Brain Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Gen Wang, Ning Lin.

  Background: This study focuses on the role of SIRT1 in neuroinflammation caused by early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and explores its mechanism in mitophagy after SAH.Methods: C57BL/6J mice and primary microglia SAH in vivo and in vitro models were constructed to explore the expression level of SIRT1 in neuroinflammation after SAH. Subsequently, the brain edema content, blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and neurological function scores of the mice were observed after using the SIRT1 inhibitor EX-527. q-PCR and Western blot were used to detect relevant genes and proteins, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α inflammatory factors. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the positive level of SIRT1 and the degree of mitochondria-lysosome fusion, and transmission electron microscopy was used to observe mitochondrial damage and autophagosome levels.
Results: In in vivo and in vitro experiments, we found that SIRT1 expression increased after SAH, and neurological deficits, brain edema, and blood-brain barrier damage after SAH were aggravated. Inhibiting SIRT1 further aggravates the aforementioned damage. In addition, EX-527 can also inhibit the level of mitophagy and aggravate neuroinflammation after SAH.
Conclusion: Our results indicated that SIRT1 promotes mitophagy and alleviates neuroinflammation after SAH.

Keywords:  SIRT1; early brain injury; mitophagy; subarachnoid hemorrhage

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S451922
Transl Res. 2024 Mar 29. pii: S1931-5244(24)00050-1. [Epub ahead of print]270 1-12

Sex-related differences in SIRT3-mediated mitochondrial dynamics in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Hanlin Yao, Hongchao Zhao, Yang Du, Ye Zhang, Yanze Li, Hengcheng Zhu.

  The prevalence of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in premenopausal women is considerably lower than that in age-matched men. This suggests that sex-related differences in mitochondrial function and homeostasis may contribute to sexual dimorphism in renal injury, though the mechanism remains unclear. Mouse model of unilateral left renal IRI with contralateral kidney enucleation, Ovariectomy in female mice, and a human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell model of hypoxia-reoxygenation were used to study how estrogen affects the sexual dimorphism of renal IRI through SIRT3 in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Here, we demonstrate differential expression of renal SIRT3 may induce sexual dimorphism in IRI using the renal IRI model. Higher SIRT3 level in female mice was associated with E2-induced protection of renal tubular epithelium, reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), and IRI resistance. In hypoxia-reoxygenated HEK cells, SIRT3 knockdown increased oxidative stress, shifted the interconnected mitochondrial network toward fission, exacerbated hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and abolished the protective effects of E2 on IRI. Mechanistically, the SIRT3 level is E2-dependent and that E2 increases the SIRT3 protein level via estrogen receptor. SIRT3 targeted an i-AAA protease, yeast mitochondrial AAA metalloprotease (YME1L1), and hydrolyzed long optic atrophy 1 (L-OPA) to short-OPA1 (S-OPA1) by deacetylating YME1L1, regulating mitochondrial dynamics toward fusion to reduce oxidative stress and ERS. These findings explored the mechanism by how estrogen alleviates renal IRI and providing a basis for potential therapeutic interventions targeting SIRT3.

Keywords:  Ischemia/Reperfusion injury; Kidney injury; Mitochondrial dynamics; Sexual dimorphism; Sirtuin3

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2024.03.005