bims-mitdyn Biomed News
on Mitochondrial dynamics: mechanisms
Issue of 2022‒02‒13
sixteen papers selected by
Edmond Chan
Queen’s University, School of Medicine
  1. Molting mitochondria.
  2. PINK spots: diseased mitochondria prepare for mitophagy.
  3. The coupling mechanism of mammalian mitochondrial complex I.
  4. Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria signaling in neurons and neurodegenerative diseases.
  5. Mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction in ageing and age-related diseases.
  6. Srebf1c preserves hematopoietic stem cell function and survival as a switch of mitochondrial metabolism.
  7. In vivo mitochondrial base editing via adeno-associated viral delivery to mouse post-mitotic tissue.
  8. A VDAC1-mediated NEET protein chain transfers [2Fe-2S] clusters between the mitochondria and the cytosol and impacts mitochondrial dynamics.
  9. Spatial and temporal control of mitochondrial H2 O2 release in intact human cells.
  10. Proteomic analysis of the mitochondrial glucocorticoid receptor interacting proteins reveals pyruvate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial 60 kDa heat shock protein as potent binding partners.
  11. Mutant C. elegans mitofusin leads to selective removal of mtDNA heteroplasmic deletions across generations to maintain fitness.
  12. In vivo CRISPR screens reveal a HIF-1α-mTOR-network regulates T follicular helper versus Th1 cells.
  13. PINK1 regulates mitochondrial fission/fusion and neuroinflammation in β-amyloid-induced Alzheimer's disease models.
  14. A synergized machine learning plus cross-species wet-lab validation approach identifies neuronal mitophagy inducers inhibiting Alzheimer disease.
  15. Protocol to characterize mitochondrial supercomplexes from mouse tissues by combining BN-PAGE and MS-based proteomics.
  16. Imaging Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake in Astrocytes and Neurons using Genetically Encoded Ca2+ Indicators (GECIs).
  1. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2022 Feb 10.
    Molting mitochondria.
    Florian Ullrich.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-022-00731-9
  2. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2022 Feb 10.
    PINK spots: diseased mitochondria prepare for mitophagy.
    Sara Osman.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-022-00733-7
  3. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2022 Feb 10.
    The coupling mechanism of mammalian mitochondrial complex I.
    Jinke Gu, Tianya Liu, Runyu Guo, Laixing Zhang, Maojun Yang.
      Mammalian respiratory complex I (CI) is a 45-subunit, redox-driven proton pump that generates an electrochemical gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane to power ATP synthesis in mitochondria. In the present study, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of CI from Sus scrofa in six treatment conditions at a resolution of 2.4-3.5 Å, in which CI structures of each condition can be classified into two biochemical classes (active or deactive), with a notably higher proportion of active CI particles. These structures illuminate how hydrophobic ubiquinone-10 (Q10) with its long isoprenoid tail is bound and reduced in a narrow Q chamber comprising four different Q10-binding sites. Structural comparisons of active CI structures from our decylubiquinone-NADH and rotenone-NADH datasets reveal that Q10 reduction at site 1 is not coupled to proton pumping in the membrane arm, which might instead be coupled to Q10 oxidation at site 2. Our data overturn the widely accepted previous proposal about the coupling mechanism of CI.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-022-00722-w
  4. J Cell Sci. 2022 Feb 01. pii: jcs248534. [Epub ahead of print]135(3):
    Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria signaling in neurons and neurodegenerative diseases.
    Andrea Markovinovic, Jenny Greig, Sandra María Martín-Guerrero, Shaakir Salam, Sebastien Paillusson.
      Recent advances have revealed common pathological changes in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with related frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD). Many of these changes can be linked to alterations in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria signaling, including dysregulation of Ca2+ signaling, autophagy, lipid metabolism, ATP production, axonal transport, ER stress responses and synaptic dysfunction. ER-mitochondria signaling involves specialized regions of ER, called mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). Owing to their role in neurodegenerative processes, MAMs have gained attention as they appear to be associated with all the major neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, their specific role within neuronal maintenance is being revealed as mutant genes linked to major neurodegenerative diseases have been associated with damage to these specialized contacts. Several studies have now demonstrated that these specialized contacts regulate neuronal health and synaptic transmission, and that MAMs are damaged in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. This Review will focus on the role of MAMs and ER-mitochondria signaling within neurons and how damage of the ER-mitochondria axis leads to a disruption of vital processes causing eventual neurodegeneration.
    Keywords:  Endoplasmic reticulum; MAMs; Mitochondria; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurons; Tethers
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.248534
  5. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022 Feb 10.
    Mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction in ageing and age-related diseases.
    João A Amorim, Giuseppe Coppotelli, Anabela P Rolo, Carlos M Palmeira, Jaime M Ross, David A Sinclair.
      Organismal ageing is accompanied by progressive loss of cellular function and systemic deterioration of multiple tissues, leading to impaired function and increased vulnerability to death. Mitochondria have become recognized not merely as being energy suppliers but also as having an essential role in the development of diseases associated with ageing, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. A growing body of evidence suggests that ageing and age-related diseases are tightly related to an energy supply and demand imbalance, which might be alleviated by a variety of interventions, including physical activity and calorie restriction, as well as naturally occurring molecules targeting conserved longevity pathways. Here, we review key historical advances and progress from the past few years in our understanding of the role of mitochondria in ageing and age-related metabolic diseases. We also highlight emerging scientific innovations using mitochondria-targeted therapeutic approaches.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-021-00626-7
  6. Stem Cell Reports. 2022 Feb 01. pii: S2213-6711(22)00055-8. [Epub ahead of print]
    Srebf1c preserves hematopoietic stem cell function and survival as a switch of mitochondrial metabolism.
    Yukai Lu, Zihao Zhang, Song Wang, Yan Qi, Fang Chen, Yang Xu, Mingqiang Shen, Mo Chen, Naicheng Chen, Lijing Yang, Shilei Chen, Fengchao Wang, Yongping Su, Mengjia Hu, Junping Wang.
      Mitochondria are fundamental but complex determinants for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance. However, the factors involved in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism in HSCs and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we identify sterol regulatory element binding factor-1c (Srebf1c) as a key factor in maintaining HSC biology under both steady-state and stress conditions. Srebf1c knockout (Srebf1c-/-) mice display increased phenotypic HSCs and less HSC quiescence. In addition, Srebf1c deletion compromises the function and survival of HSCs in competitive transplantation or following chemotherapy and irradiation. Mechanistically, SREBF1c restrains the excessive activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and mitochondrial metabolism in HSCs by regulating the expression of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (Tsc1). Our study demonstrates that Srebf1c plays an important role in regulating HSC fate via the TSC1-mTOR-mitochondria axis.
    Keywords:  Srebf1c; TSC1; hematopoietic stem cell; mTOR; mitochondrial metabolism
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.01.011
  7. Nat Commun. 2022 Feb 08. 13(1): 750
    In vivo mitochondrial base editing via adeno-associated viral delivery to mouse post-mitotic tissue.
    Pedro Silva-Pinheiro, Pavel A Nash, Lindsey Van Haute, Christian D Mutti, Keira Turner, Michal Minczuk.
      Mitochondria host key metabolic processes vital for cellular energy provision and are central to cell fate decisions. They are subjected to unique genetic control by both nuclear DNA and their own multi-copy genome - mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mutations in mtDNA often lead to clinically heterogeneous, maternally inherited diseases that display different organ-specific presentation at any stage of life. For a long time, genetic manipulation of mammalian mtDNA has posed a major challenge, impeding our ability to understand the basic mitochondrial biology and mechanisms underpinning mitochondrial disease. However, an important new tool for mtDNA mutagenesis has emerged recently, namely double-stranded DNA deaminase (DddA)-derived cytosine base editor (DdCBE). Here, we test this emerging tool for in vivo use, by delivering DdCBEs into mouse heart using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors and show that it can install desired mtDNA edits in adult and neonatal mice. This work provides proof-of-concept for use of DdCBEs to mutagenize mtDNA in vivo in post-mitotic tissues and provides crucial insights into potential translation to human somatic gene correction therapies to treat primary mitochondrial disease phenotypes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28358-w
  8. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Feb 15. pii: e2121491119. [Epub ahead of print]119(7):
    A VDAC1-mediated NEET protein chain transfers [2Fe-2S] clusters between the mitochondria and the cytosol and impacts mitochondrial dynamics.
    Ola Karmi, Henri-Baptiste Marjault, Fang Bai, Susmita Roy, Yang-Sung Sohn, Merav Darash Yahana, Faruck Morcos, Konstantinos Ioannidis, Yaakov Nahmias, Patricia A Jennings, Ron Mittler, José N Onuchic, Rachel Nechushtai.
      Mitochondrial inner NEET (MiNT) and the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) mitoNEET (mNT) proteins belong to the NEET protein family. This family plays a key role in mitochondrial labile iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. NEET proteins contain labile [2Fe-2S] clusters which can be transferred to apo-acceptor proteins. In eukaryotes, the biogenesis of [2Fe-2S] clusters occurs within the mitochondria by the iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) system; the clusters are then transferred to [2Fe-2S] proteins within the mitochondria or exported to cytosolic proteins and the cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) system. The last step of export of the [2Fe-2S] is not yet fully characterized. Here we show that MiNT interacts with voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), a major OMM protein that connects the intermembrane space with the cytosol and participates in regulating the levels of different ions including mitochondrial labile iron (mLI). We further show that VDAC1 is mediating the interaction between MiNT and mNT, in which MiNT transfers its [2Fe-2S] clusters from inside the mitochondria to mNT that is facing the cytosol. This MiNT-VDAC1-mNT interaction is shown both experimentally and by computational calculations. Additionally, we show that modifying MiNT expression in breast cancer cells affects the dynamics of mitochondrial structure and morphology, mitochondrial function, and breast cancer tumor growth. Our findings reveal a pathway for the transfer of [2Fe-2S] clusters, which are assembled inside the mitochondria, to the cytosol.
    Keywords:  CISD3; VDAC1; [2Fe-2S] cluster; mitoNEET; mitochondrial inner NEET protein (MiNT)
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2121491119
  9. EMBO J. 2022 Feb 11. e109169
    Spatial and temporal control of mitochondrial H2 O2 release in intact human cells.
    Michaela Nicole Hoehne, Lianne J H C Jacobs, Kim Jasmin Lapacz, Gaetano Calabrese, Lena Maria Murschall, Teresa Marker, Harshita Kaul, Aleksandra Trifunovic, Bruce Morgan, Mark Fricker, Vsevolod V Belousov, Jan Riemer.
      Hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) has key signaling roles at physiological levels, while causing molecular damage at elevated concentrations. H2 O2 production by mitochondria is implicated in regulating processes inside and outside these organelles. However, it remains unclear whether and how mitochondria in intact cells release H2 O2 . Here, we employed a genetically encoded high-affinity H2 O2 sensor, HyPer7, in mammalian tissue culture cells to investigate different modes of mitochondrial H2 O2 release. We found substantial heterogeneity of HyPer7 dynamics between individual cells. We further observed mitochondria-released H2 O2 directly at the surface of the organelle and in the bulk cytosol, but not in the nucleus or at the plasma membrane, pointing to steep gradients emanating from mitochondria. Gradient formation is controlled by cytosolic peroxiredoxins, which act redundantly and with a substantial reserve capacity. Dynamic adaptation of cytosolic thioredoxin reductase levels during metabolic changes results in improved H2 O2 handling and explains previously observed differences between cell types. Our data suggest that H2 O2 -mediated signaling is initiated only in close proximity to mitochondria and under specific metabolic conditions.
    Keywords:  HyPer7; hydrogen peroxide release; mitochondria; peroxiredoxin
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2021109169
  10. J Proteomics. 2022 Feb 03. pii: S1874-3919(22)00032-X. [Epub ahead of print] 104509
    Proteomic analysis of the mitochondrial glucocorticoid receptor interacting proteins reveals pyruvate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial 60 kDa heat shock protein as potent binding partners.
    Aikaterini G Karra, Aikaterini Sioutopoulou, Vyron Gorgogietas, Martina Samiotaki, George Panayotou, Anna-Maria G Psarra.
      Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that regulate plethora biological actions such as growth and metabolism, immune response, and apoptosis. Glucocorticoids actions are mediated via glucocorticoid receptors which act mainly as transcription factors, but it is also found to be localized in mitochondria. Mitochondrial localization of the receptor indicates novel functions of the receptor. Characterization of the mitochondrial glucocorticoid receptor (mtGR) interacting proteins will shed light on these actions and the biochemical mechanisms that underlie mitochondrial glucocorticoid receptor import and functions. In this study, applying immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis of the GR interacting proteins in total or mitochondrial extracts of HepG2 cells and of HepG2 cells overexpressing a mitochondrial targeted GR we found pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), chaperones such as and heat shock protein (HSP) -60, -70, -75 and -90, and 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein, mitochondrial transcription factors and enzymes involved in the regulation of the mitochondrial protein biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, ATP production and apoptosis as glucocorticoid receptor interacting proteins. Our results uncover potential novel mitochondrial partners of the receptor, suggesting possible new regulatory roles of mtGR in the control of mitochondrial-associated functions of the cell. SIGNIFICANCE: In this study the mitochondrial GR interacting proteins were characterized highlighting novel regulatory roles of the receptor in mitochondria. Detection of the mtGR/PDH and mtGR/HSP60 interaction in almost all the analyses performed uncovered PDH and HSP60 proteins as potent mtGR binding partners. The interesting finding of the PDH/mtGR interaction possibly indicates involvement of mtGR in the regulation of the balance between glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation energy production. Characterization of the mitochondrial heat shock 60, -70, 75 and 78 proteins as mtGR binding partners contribute to the characterization of the biochemical mechanisms of the mitochondrial import of the receptor. Moreover, identification of mitochondrial heat shock proteins, metabolic enzymes, transcription factors, OXPHOS, and regulatory molecules in mitochondrial protein biosynthesis as mtGR binding partners indicates possible new regulatory roles of mtGR in the glucocorticoids-induced regulation and orchestration of nuclear and mitochondrial functions, the exact biochemical mechanism of which remain to be established. The study discloses potential new regulatory roles of the receptor in mitochondria, pointing out its importance as a promising target molecule for the control of the mitochondria-associated pathophysiology of the cell.
    Keywords:  Apoptosis; Energy production; Glucocorticoid receptor; Heat shock proteins; Mitochondria; Pyruvate dehydrogenase
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2022.104509
  11. BMC Biol. 2022 Feb 09. 20(1): 40
    Mutant C. elegans mitofusin leads to selective removal of mtDNA heteroplasmic deletions across generations to maintain fitness.
    Lana Meshnik, Dan Bar-Yaacov, Dana Kasztan, Tali Neiger, Tal Cohen, Mor Kishner, Itay Valenci, Sara Dadon, Christopher J Klein, Jeffery M Vance, Yoram Nevo, Stephan Züchner, Ofer Ovadia, Dan Mishmar, Anat Ben-Zvi.
      BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is present at high copy numbers in animal cells, and though characterized by a single haplotype in each individual due to maternal germline inheritance, deleterious mutations and intact mtDNA molecules frequently co-exist (heteroplasmy). A number of factors, such as replicative segregation, mitochondrial bottlenecks, and selection, may modulate the exitance of heteroplasmic mutations. Since such mutations may have pathological consequences, they likely survive and are inherited due to functional complementation via the intracellular mitochondrial network. Here, we hypothesized that compromised mitochondrial fusion would hamper such complementation, thereby affecting heteroplasmy inheritance.RESULTS: We assessed heteroplasmy levels in three Caenorhabditis elegans strains carrying different heteroplasmic mtDNA deletions (ΔmtDNA) in the background of mutant mitofusin (fzo-1). Animals displayed severe embryonic lethality and developmental delay. Strikingly, observed phenotypes were relieved during subsequent generations in association with complete loss of ΔmtDNA molecules. Moreover, deletion loss rates were negatively correlated with the size of mtDNA deletions, suggesting that mitochondrial fusion is essential and sensitive to the nature of the heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations. Introducing the ΔmtDNA into a fzo-1;pdr-1;+/ΔmtDNA (PARKIN ortholog) double mutant resulted in a skewed Mendelian progeny distribution, in contrast to the normal distribution in the fzo-1;+/ΔmtDNA mutant, and severely reduced brood size. Notably, the ΔmtDNA was lost across generations in association with improved phenotypes.
    CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings show that when mitochondrial fusion is compromised, deleterious heteroplasmic mutations cannot evade natural selection while inherited through generations. Moreover, our findings underline the importance of cross-talk between mitochondrial fusion and mitophagy in modulating the inheritance of mtDNA heteroplasmy.
    Keywords:  C. elegans; Heteroplasmy inheritance; Mitofusin; PARKIN; fzo-1; mtDNA; pdr-1
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-022-01241-2
  12. Nat Commun. 2022 Feb 10. 13(1): 805
    In vivo CRISPR screens reveal a HIF-1α-mTOR-network regulates T follicular helper versus Th1 cells.
    Bonnie Huang, James D Phelan, Silvia Preite, Julio Gomez-Rodriguez, Kristoffer H Johansen, Hirofumi Shibata, Arthur L Shaffer, Qin Xu, Brendan Jeffrey, Martha Kirby, Stacie Anderson, Yandan Yang, Selamawit Gossa, Dorian B McGavern, Louis M Staudt, Pamela L Schwartzberg.
      T follicular helper (Tfh) cells provide signals to initiate and maintain the germinal center (GC) reaction and are crucial for the generation of robust, long-lived antibody responses, but how the GC microenvironment affects Tfh cells is not well understood. Here we develop an in vivo T cell-intrinsic CRISPR-knockout screen to evaluate Tfh and Th1 cells in an acute viral infection model to identify regulators of Tfh cells in their physiological setting. Using a screen of druggable-targets, alongside genetic, transcriptomic and cellular analyses, we identify a function of HIF-1α in suppressing mTORC1-mediated and Myc-related pathways, and provide evidence that VHL-mediated degradation of HIF-1α is required for Tfh development; an expanded in vivo CRISPR screen reveals multiple components of these pathways that regulate Tfh versus Th1 cells, including signaling molecules, cell-cycle regulators, nutrient transporters, metabolic enzymes and autophagy mediators. Collectively, our data serve as a resource for studying Tfh versus Th1 decisions, and implicate the VHL-HIF-1α axis in fine-tuning Tfh generation.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28378-6
  13. Neurochem Int. 2022 Feb 05. pii: S0197-0186(22)00023-7. [Epub ahead of print]154 105298
    PINK1 regulates mitochondrial fission/fusion and neuroinflammation in β-amyloid-induced Alzheimer's disease models.
    Xiaojuan Wang, Yongqiang Xue, Yang Yao, Yang Li, Xuefei Ji, Tianyan Chi, Peng Liu, Libo Zou.
      Disrupted mitochondrial fission/fusion balance is consistently involved in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), a mitochondrial kinase, has been reported to prevent mitochondrial injury, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. However, to the best of our knowledge, the contribution of PINK1 to Aβ-induced mitochondrial fission/fusion has not been reported. In the present study, we showed that PINK1 deficiency promoted mitochondrial fission and fusion, aggravated mitochondrial dysfunction, and promoted neuroinflammatory cytokine factor production induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of Aβ25-35 in rats. In vitro experiments have also showed that Aβ25-35 caused more severe cell injury in PINK1-knockdown PC12 cells. These cells suffered more extensive death when exposed to proinflammatory cytokines. Lastly, we found that PINK1 overexpression significantly inhibited mitochondrial fusion, improved mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced neuroinflammatory cytokine production induced by Aβ25-35. The current study suggests the involvement of PINK1 in Aβ25-35-mediated mitochondrial dynamics and that PINK1 may be a potential target for therapies aimed at enhancing neuroprotection to ameliorate Aβ25-35-induced insults.
    Keywords:  Alzheimer's disease; Mitochondrial fission and fusion; Neuroinflammation; PINK1; β-Amyloid
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105298
  14. Autophagy. 2022 Feb 07. 1-3
    A synergized machine learning plus cross-species wet-lab validation approach identifies neuronal mitophagy inducers inhibiting Alzheimer disease.
    Ruixue Ai, Xu-Xu Zhuang, Alexander Anisimov, Jia-Hong Lu, Evandro F Fang.
      Failed recognition and clearance of damaged mitochondria contributes to memory loss as well as Aβ and MAPT/Tau pathologies in Alzheimer disease (AD), for which there is an unmet therapeutic need. Restoring mitophagy to eliminate damaged mitochondria could abrogate metabolic dysfunction, neurodegeneration and may subsequently inhibit or slow down cognitive decline in AD models. We have developed a high-throughput machine-learning approach combined with a cross-species screening platform to discover novel mitophagy-inducing compounds from a natural product library and further experimentally validated the potential candidates. Two lead compounds, kaempferol and rhapontigenin, induce neuronal mitophagy and reduce Aβ and MAPT/Tau pathologies in a PINK1-dependent manner in both C. elegans and mouse models of AD. Our combinational approach provides a fast, cost-effective, and highly accurate method for identification of potent mitophagy inducers to maintain brain health.
    Keywords:  Aging; Alzheimer’s disease; autophagy; machine learning; mitophagy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15548627.2022.2031382
  15. STAR Protoc. 2022 Mar 18. 3(1): 101135
    Protocol to characterize mitochondrial supercomplexes from mouse tissues by combining BN-PAGE and MS-based proteomics.
    Roger Moreno-Justicia, Alba Gonzalez-Franquesa, Ben Stocks, Atul S Deshmukh.
      The assembly of mitochondrial respiratory complexes into supercomplexes has significant implications for mitochondrial function. This protocol details mitochondrial isolation from mouse tissues and the use of blue native gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) to separate pre-identified mitochondrial supercomplexes into different gel bands. We then describe the excision of the individual bands, followed by in-gel protein digestion and peptide desalting for mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics. This protocol provides a time-efficient measurement of the abundance and distribution of proteins within known supercomplexes. For complete details on the use and execution of this profile, please refer to Gonzalez-Franquesa et al. (2021).
    Keywords:  Mass Spectrometry; Metabolism; Protein Biochemistry; Proteomics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101135
  16. J Vis Exp. 2022 Jan 22.
    Imaging Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake in Astrocytes and Neurons using Genetically Encoded Ca2+ Indicators (GECIs).
    Nannan Zhang, Zhe Zhang, Ilker Ozden, Shinghua Ding.
      Mitochondrial Ca2+ plays a critical role in controlling cytosolic Ca2+ buffering, energy metabolism, and cellular signal transduction. Overloading of mitochondrial Ca2+ contributes to various pathological conditions, including neurodegeneration and apoptotic cell death in neurological diseases. Here we present a cell-type specific and mitochondria targeting molecular approach for mitochondrial Ca2+ imaging in astrocytes and neurons in vitro and in vivo. We constructed DNA plasmids encoding mitochondria-targeting genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GECIs) GCaMP5G or GCaMP6s (GCaMP5G/6s) with astrocyte- and neuron-specific promoters gfaABC1D and CaMKII and mitochondria-targeting sequence (mito-). For in vitro mitochondrial Ca2+ imaging, the plasmids were transfected in cultured astrocytes and neurons to express GCaMP5G/6s. For in vivo mitochondrial Ca2+ imaging, adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) were prepared and injected into the mouse brains to express GCaMP5G/6s in mitochondria in astrocytes and neurons. Our approach provides a useful means to image mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics in astrocytes and neurons to study the relationship between cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling, as well as astrocyte-neuron interactions.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3791/62917
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