bims-mimbat 2023-12-31 papers

Issue of 2023‒12‒31
four papers selected by
José Carlos de Lima-Júnior, Washington University

Plant Cell Physiol. 2023 Dec 08. pii: pcad157. [Epub ahead of print]

Molecular Genetic Dissection of the Regulatory Network of Proton Motive Force in Chloroplasts.

The proton motive force (pmf) generated across the thylakoid membrane rotates the Fo-ring of ATP synthase in chloroplasts. The pmf comprises two components: membrane potential (∆Ψ) and proton concentration gradient (∆pH). Acidification of the thylakoid lumen resulting from ∆pH downregulates electron transport in the cytochrome b6f complex. This process, known as photosynthetic control, is crucial for protecting photosystem I (PSI) from photodamage in response to fluctuating light. To optimize the balance between efficient photosynthesis and photoprotection, it is necessary to regulate pmf. Cyclic electron transport around PSI and pseudo-cyclic electron transport involving flavodiiron proteins contribute to the modulation of pmf magnitude. By manipulating the ratio between the two components of pmf, it is possible to modify the extent of photosynthetic control without affecting the pmf size. This adjustment can be achieved by regulating the movement of ions (such as K+ and Cl-) across the thylakoid membrane. Since ATP synthase is the primary consumer of pmf in chloroplasts, its activity must be precisely regulated to accommodate other mechanisms involved in pmf optimization. Although fragments of information about each regulatory process have been accumulated, a comprehensive understanding of their interactions is lacking. Here, I summarize current knowledge of the network for pmf regulation, mainly based on genetic studies.

Keywords: ATP synthase; Chloroplast; Cyclic electron transport; Cytochrome b6f complex; Photosynthesis; Proton motive force

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcad157

Mol Cell. 2023 Dec 21. pii: S1097-2765(23)01014-6. [Epub ahead of print]

A mitophagy sensor PPTC7 controls BNIP3 and NIX degradation to regulate mitochondrial mass.

Yuqiu Sun, Yu Cao, Huayun Wan, Adalet Memetimin, Yang Cao, Lin Li, Chongyang Wu, Meng Wang, She Chen, Qi Li, Yan Ma, Mengqiu Dong, Hui Jiang.

Mitophagy mediated by BNIP3 and NIX critically regulates mitochondrial mass. Cellular BNIP3 and NIX levels are tightly controlled by SCFFBXL4-mediated ubiquitination to prevent excessive mitochondrial loss and lethal disease. Here, we report that knockout of PPTC7, a mitochondrial matrix protein, hyperactivates BNIP3-/NIX-mediated mitophagy and causes perinatal lethality that is rescued by NIX knockout in mice. Biochemically, the PPTC7 precursor is trapped by BNIP3 and NIX to the mitochondrial outer membrane, where PPTC7 scaffolds assembly of a substrate-PPTC7-SCFFBXL4 holocomplex to degrade BNIP3 and NIX, forming a homeostatic regulatory loop. PPTC7 possesses an unusually weak mitochondrial targeting sequence to facilitate its outer membrane retention and mitophagy control. Starvation upregulates PPPTC7 expression in mouse liver to repress mitophagy, which critically maintains hepatic mitochondrial mass, bioenergetics, and gluconeogenesis. Collectively, PPTC7 functions as a mitophagy sensor that integrates homeostatic and physiological signals to dynamically control BNIP3 and NIX degradation, thereby maintaining mitochondrial mass and cellular homeostasis.

Keywords: Cullin; FBXL4; PPTC7; metabolism; mitochondrial mass; mitophagy receptors BNIP3 and NIX; ubiquitin

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.038

FASEB J. 2024 Jan;38(1): e23391

Metabolome analysis reveals that cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose contributes to the regulation of differentiation in mice adipocyte.

Haruya Takahashi, Kento Nishitani, Satoko Kawarasaki, Agustin Martin-Morales, Hiroyuki Nagai, Hidetoshi Kuwata, Motohiro Tokura, Haruka Okaze, Shinsuke Mohri, Takeshi Ara, Tetsuro Ito, Wataru Nomura, Huei-Fen Jheng, Teruo Kawada, Kazuo Inoue, Tsuyoshi Goto.

Adipocytes play a key role in energy storage and homeostasis. Although the role of transcription factors in adipocyte differentiation is known, the effect of endogenous metabolites of low molecular weight remains unclear. Here, we analyzed time-dependent changes in the levels of these metabolites throughout adipocyte differentiation, using metabolome analysis, and demonstrated that there is a positive correlation between cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) and Pparγ mRNA expression used as a marker of differentiation. We also found that the treatment of C3H10T1/2 adipocytes with cADPR increased the mRNA expression of those marker genes and the accumulation of triglycerides. Furthermore, inhibition of ryanodine receptors (RyR), which are activated by cADPR, caused a significant reduction in mRNA expression levels of the marker genes and triglyceride accumulation in adipocytes. Our findings show that cADPR accelerates adipocytic differentiation via RyR pathway.

Keywords: adipocyte; adipogenesis; mass spectrometry (MS); metabolomics; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202300850RR

Redox Biol. 2023 Dec 20. pii: S2213-2317(23)00402-0. [Epub ahead of print]69 103001

Regulation of respiratory complex I assembly by FMN cofactor targeting.

Andrea Curtabbi, Adela Guarás, José Luis Cabrera-Alarcón, Maribel Rivero, Enrique Calvo, Marina Rosa-Moreno, Jesús Vázquez, Milagros Medina, José Antonio Enríquez.

Respiratory complex I plays a crucial role in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and shows promise as a therapeutic target for various human diseases. While most studies focus on inhibiting complex I at the Q-site, little is known about inhibitors targeting other sites within the complex. In this study, we demonstrate that diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a N-site inhibitor, uniquely affects the stability of complex I by reacting with its flavin cofactor FMN. Treatment with DPI blocks the final stage of complex I assembly, leading to the complete and reversible degradation of complex I in different cellular models. Growing cells in medium lacking the FMN precursor riboflavin or knocking out the mitochondrial flavin carrier gene SLC25A32 results in a similar complex I degradation. Overall, our findings establish a direct connection between mitochondrial flavin homeostasis and complex I stability and assembly, paving the way for novel pharmacological strategies to regulate respiratory complex I.

Keywords: DPI; FMN; OXPHOS; Respiratory complex I

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2023.103001