bims-mitmed Biomed News
on Mitochondrial medicine
Issue of 2024–01–07
thirty-six papers selected by
Dario Brunetti, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico
  1. Mitochondrial-derived vesicles in metabolism, disease, and aging.
  2. Structural insights into respiratory complex I deficiency and assembly from the mitochondrial disease-related ndufs4-/- mouse.
  3. Gene therapy for mitochondrial disorders.
  4. Mitochondrial genome editing: strategies, challenges, and applications.
  5. The mitochondrial protease PARL is required for spermatogenesis.
  6. Engineering TALE-linked deaminases to facilitate precision adenine base editing in mitochondrial DNA.
  7. Fission-independent compartmentalization of mitochondria during budding yeast cell division.
  8. MTCH2 cooperates with MFN2 and lysophosphatidic acid synthesis to sustain mitochondrial fusion.
  9. Show MERCI on mobile mitochondria.
  10. Small RNA-big impact: exosomal miRNAs in mitochondrial dysfunction in various diseases.
  11. Acylspermidines are conserved mitochondrial sirtuin-dependent metabolites.
  12. Adult-onset combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 14 manifests as epileptic status: a new phenotype and literature review.
  13. Mitochondrial transplantation: the advance to therapeutic application and molecular modulation.
  14. A case of Leigh syndrome presented with paroxysmal body swing.
  15. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated base editors and their prospects for mitochondrial genome engineering.
  16. Janus-faced Mitofusin 2 (MFN2): mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum shaping and tethering functions unveiled.
  17. Mitochondrial quality control in liver fibrosis: Epigenetic hallmarks and therapeutic strategies.
  18. Mitochondrial Dynamics at Different Levels: From Cristae Dynamics to Interorganellar Cross Talk.
  19. Exploiting Nuclear-Mitochondrial Cross-Talk in Theranostics: Enhancing Drug Delivery and Diagnostic Precision.
  20. Mic19 depletion impairs endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial contacts and mitochondrial lipid metabolism and triggers liver disease.
  21. 3D Mitochondrial Structure in Aging Human Skeletal Muscle: Insights into MFN-2 Mediated Changes.
  22. Amino acid intake strategies define pluripotent cell states.
  23. HKDC1, a target of TFEB, is essential to maintain both mitochondrial and lysosomal homeostasis, preventing cellular senescence.
  24. The DEAD Box Protein Mrh4 Functions in the Assembly of the Mitochondrial Large Ribosomal Subunit.
  25. Potential roles for mitochondria-to-HSF1 signaling in health and disease.
  26. Retention of stress susceptibility in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy after PGC-1α overexpression or ablation of IDO1 or CD38.
  27. Generation of adult hippocampal neural stem cells occurs in the early postnatal dentate gyrus and depends on cyclin D2.
  28. FOXO1-mediated lipid metabolism maintains mammalian embryos in dormancy.
  29. A landscape of mouse mitochondrial small non-coding RNAs.
  30. Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors: A new-possible approach for in-utero medication therapy.
  31. Disruption of MAM integrity in mutant FUS oligodendroglial progenitors from hiPSCs.
  32. Transcriptional and epigenetic dysregulation impairs generation of proliferative neural stem and progenitor cells during brain aging.
  33. Hallmarks of stemness in mammalian tissues.
  34. Mitochondrial DNA copy number in patients with systemic sclerosis.
  35. The ER membrane protein complex restricts mitophagy by controlling BNIP3 turnover.
  36. Nuclear Hsp104 safeguards the dormant translation machinery during quiescence.
  1. Cell Metab. 2024 Jan 02. pii: S1550-4131(23)00446-1. [Epub ahead of print]36(1): 21-35
    Mitochondrial-derived vesicles in metabolism, disease, and aging.
    Tim König, Heidi M McBride.
      Mitochondria are central hubs of cellular metabolism and are tightly connected to signaling pathways. The dynamic plasticity of mitochondria to fuse, divide, and contact other organelles to flux metabolites is central to their function. To ensure bona fide functionality and signaling interconnectivity, diverse molecular mechanisms evolved. An ancient and long-overlooked mechanism is the generation of mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs) that shuttle selected mitochondrial cargoes to target organelles. Just recently, we gained significant insight into the mechanisms and functions of MDV transport, ranging from their role in mitochondrial quality control to immune signaling, thus demonstrating unexpected and diverse physiological aspects of MDV transport. This review highlights the origin of MDVs, their biogenesis, and their cargo selection, with a specific focus on the contribution of MDV transport to signaling across cell and organ barriers. Additionally, the implications of MDVs in peroxisome biogenesis, neurodegeneration, metabolism, aging, and cancer are discussed.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2023.11.014
  2. EMBO J. 2024 Jan 02.
    Structural insights into respiratory complex I deficiency and assembly from the mitochondrial disease-related ndufs4-/- mouse.
    Zhan Yin, Ahmed-Noor A Agip, Hannah R Bridges, Judy Hirst.
      Respiratory complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is essential for cellular energy production and NAD+ homeostasis. Complex I mutations cause neuromuscular, mitochondrial diseases, such as Leigh Syndrome, but their molecular-level consequences remain poorly understood. Here, we use a popular complex I-linked mitochondrial disease model, the ndufs4-/- mouse, to define the structural, biochemical, and functional consequences of the absence of subunit NDUFS4. Cryo-EM analyses of the complex I from ndufs4-/- mouse hearts revealed a loose association of the NADH-dehydrogenase module, and discrete classes containing either assembly factor NDUFAF2 or subunit NDUFS6. Subunit NDUFA12, which replaces its paralogue NDUFAF2 in mature complex I, is absent from all classes, compounding the deletion of NDUFS4 and preventing maturation of an NDUFS4-free enzyme. We propose that NDUFAF2 recruits the NADH-dehydrogenase module during assembly of the complex. Taken together, the findings provide new molecular-level understanding of the ndufs4-/- mouse model and complex I-linked mitochondrial disease.
    Keywords:  Complex I; Cryo-EM; Leigh Syndrome; Mitochondria; NADH:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s44318-023-00001-4
  3. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2024 Jan 03.
    Gene therapy for mitochondrial disorders.
    Nandaki Keshavan, Michal Minczuk, Carlo Viscomi, Shamima Rahman.
      In this review, we detail the current state of application of gene therapy to primary mitochondrial disorders (PMDs). Recombinant adeno-associated virus-based (rAAV) gene replacement approaches for nuclear gene disorders have been undertaken successfully in more than ten preclinical mouse models of PMDs which has been made possible by the development of novel rAAV technologies that achieve more efficient organ targeting. So far, however, the greatest progress has been made for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, for which phase 3 clinical trials of lenadogene nolparvovec demonstrated efficacy and good tolerability. Other methods of treating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disorders have also had traction, including refinements to nucleases that degrade mtDNA molecules with pathogenic variants, including transcription activator-like effector nucleases, zinc-finger nucleases, and meganucleases (mitoARCUS). rAAV-based approaches have been used successfully to deliver these nucleases in vivo in mice. Exciting developments in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology have achieved in vivo gene editing in mouse models of PMDs due to nuclear gene defects and new CRISPR-free gene editing approaches have shown great potential for therapeutic application in mtDNA disorders. We conclude the review by discussing the challenges of translating gene therapy in patients both from the point of view of achieving adequate organ transduction as well as clinical trial design.
    Keywords:  AAV; CRISPR; LHON; gene editing; gene therapy; mitochondrial disease
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jimd.12699
  4. BMB Rep. 2024 Jan 05. pii: 6125. [Epub ahead of print]
    Mitochondrial genome editing: strategies, challenges, and applications.
    Kayeong Lim.
      Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a multicopy genome found in mitochondria, is crucial for oxidative phosphorylation. Mutations in mtDNA can lead to severe mitochondrial dysfunction in tissues and organs with high energy demand. MtDNA mutations are closely associated with mitochondrial and age-related disease. To better understand the functional role of mtDNA and work toward developing therapeutics, it is essential to advance technology that is capable of manipulating the mitochondrial genome. This review discusses ongoing efforts in mitochondrial genome editing with mtDNA nucleases and base editors, including the tools, delivery strategies, and applications. Future advances in mitochondrial genome editing to address challenges regarding their efficiency and specificity can achieve the promise of therapeutic genome editing.
  5. Commun Biol. 2024 Jan 05. 7(1): 44
    The mitochondrial protease PARL is required for spermatogenesis.
    Sarah Schumacher, Laura Klose, Jessica Lambertz, Dieter Lütjohann, Ronald Biemann, Stefanie Kuerten, Lars Fester.
      Mitochondrial function plays an important role in the maintenance of male fertility. However, the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial defect-related infertility remain mostly unclear. Here we show that a deficiency of PARL (Parl-/-), a mitochondrial protease, causes complete arrest of spermatogenesis during meiosis I. PARL deficiency led to severe downregulation of proteins of respiratory chain complex IV in testes that did not occur in other tested organs, causing a deficit in complex IV activity and ATP production. Furthermore, Parl-/- testes showed an almost complete loss of HSD17B3, a protein of the sER responsible for the last step in testosterone synthesis. While testosterone production appeared to be restored by overexpression of HSD17B12, loss of the canonical testosterone synthesis led to an upregulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) and of LH-regulated responses. These results suggest an important impact of the downstream regulation of mitochondrial defects that manifest in a cell-type-specific manner and extend beyond mitochondria.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05703-3
  6. Cell. 2024 Jan 04. pii: S0092-8674(23)01321-1. [Epub ahead of print]187(1): 95-109.e26
    Engineering TALE-linked deaminases to facilitate precision adenine base editing in mitochondrial DNA.
    Sung-Ik Cho, Kayeong Lim, Seongho Hong, Jaesuk Lee, Annie Kim, Chae Jin Lim, Seungmin Ryou, Ji Min Lee, Young Geun Mok, Eugene Chung, Sanghun Kim, Seunghun Han, Sang-Mi Cho, Jieun Kim, Eun-Kyoung Kim, Ki-Hoan Nam, Yeji Oh, Minkyung Choi, Tae Hyeon An, Kyoung-Jin Oh, Seonghyun Lee, Hyunji Lee, Jin-Soo Kim.
      DddA-derived cytosine base editors (DdCBEs) and transcription activator-like effector (TALE)-linked deaminases (TALEDs) catalyze targeted base editing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in eukaryotic cells, a method useful for modeling of mitochondrial genetic disorders and developing novel therapeutic modalities. Here, we report that A-to-G-editing TALEDs but not C-to-T-editing DdCBEs induce tens of thousands of transcriptome-wide off-target edits in human cells. To avoid these unwanted RNA edits, we engineered the substrate-binding site in TadA8e, the deoxy-adenine deaminase in TALEDs, and created TALED variants with fine-tuned deaminase activity. Our engineered TALED variants not only reduced RNA off-target edits by >99% but also minimized off-target mtDNA mutations and bystander edits at a target site. Unlike wild-type versions, our TALED variants were not cytotoxic and did not cause developmental arrest of mouse embryos. As a result, we obtained mice with pathogenic mtDNA mutations, associated with Leigh syndrome, which showed reduced heart rates.
    Keywords:  CRISPR-adenine base editor; Leigh syndrome; RNA off-target; TALE-linked adenine deaminase; TALED; genetic disease; in vivo genome editing; mitochondria; mitochondrial genome editing; mtDNA
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.035
  7. J Cell Biol. 2024 Mar 04. pii: e202211048. [Epub ahead of print]223(3):
    Fission-independent compartmentalization of mitochondria during budding yeast cell division.
    Saori R Yoshii, Yves Barral.
      Lateral diffusion barriers compartmentalize membranes to generate polarity or asymmetrically partition membrane-associated macromolecules. Budding yeasts assemble such barriers in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the outer nuclear envelope at the bud neck to retain aging factors in the mother cell and generate naïve and rejuvenated daughter cells. However, little is known about whether other organelles are similarly compartmentalized. Here, we show that the membranes of mitochondria are laterally compartmentalized at the bud neck and near the cell poles. The barriers in the inner mitochondrial membrane are constitutive, whereas those in the outer membrane form in response to stresses. The strength of mitochondrial diffusion barriers is regulated positively by spatial cues from the septin axis and negatively by retrograde (RTG) signaling. These data indicate that mitochondria are compartmentalized in a fission-independent manner. We propose that these diffusion barriers promote mitochondrial polarity and contribute to mitochondrial quality control.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202211048
  8. EMBO Rep. 2023 Dec 14.
    MTCH2 cooperates with MFN2 and lysophosphatidic acid synthesis to sustain mitochondrial fusion.
    Andres Goldman, Michael Mullokandov, Yehudit Zaltsman, Limor Regev, Smadar Levin-Zaidman, Atan Gross.
      Fusion of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is regulated by mitofusin 1 (MFN1) and 2 (MFN2), yet the differential contribution of each of these proteins is less understood. Mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 (MTCH2) also plays a role in mitochondrial fusion, but its exact function remains unresolved. MTCH2 overexpression enforces MFN2-independent mitochondrial fusion, proposedly by modulating the phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which is synthesized by glycerol-phosphate acyl transferases (GPATs) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the OMM. Here we report that MTCH2 requires MFN1 to enforce mitochondrial fusion and that fragmentation caused by loss of MTCH2 can be specifically counterbalanced by overexpression of MFN2 but not MFN1, partially independent of its GTPase activity and mitochondrial localization. Pharmacological inhibition of GPATs (GPATi) or silencing ER-resident GPATs suppresses MFN2's ability to compensate for the loss of MTCH2. Loss of either MTCH2, MFN2, or GPATi does not impair stress-induced mitochondrial fusion, whereas the combined loss of MTCH2 and GPATi or the combined loss of MTCH2 and MFN2 does. Taken together, we unmask two cooperative mechanisms that sustain mitochondrial fusion.
    Keywords:  LPA; MFN2; MTCH2; Mitochondria-ER Communication; Mitochondrial Fusion
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-023-00009-1
  9. Cell Metab. 2024 Jan 02. pii: S1550-4131(23)00468-0. [Epub ahead of print]36(1): 5-7
    Show MERCI on mobile mitochondria.
    Jelle van den Ameele, Patrick F Chinnery.
      There is emerging evidence that mitochondria can move between cells, particularly from immune cells into cancers. Recent work from Zhang et al. in Cancer Cell employs single-cell RNA- and mitochondrial DNA-sequencing in co-culture experiments and patient tumor samples to detect mitochondrial transfer. However, the mechanisms, scale, and implications remain uncertain.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.017
  10. RNA Biol. 2024 Jan;21(1): 1-20
    Small RNA-big impact: exosomal miRNAs in mitochondrial dysfunction in various diseases.
    Xiaqing Li, Yi Han, Yu Meng, Lianghong Yin.
      Mitochondria are multitasking organelles involved in maintaining the cell homoeostasis. Beyond its well-established role in cellular bioenergetics, mitochondria also function as signal organelles to propagate various cellular outcomes. However, mitochondria have a self-destructive arsenal of factors driving the development of diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), a heterogeneous group of membranous nano-sized vesicles, are present in a variety of bodily fluids. EVs serve as mediators for intercellular interaction. Exosomes are a class of small EVs (30-100 nm) released by most cells. Exosomes carry various cargo including microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short noncoding RNAs. Recent studies have closely associated exosomal miRNAs with various human diseases, including diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, which are a group of complex multifactorial diseases and have not been comprehensively described. In this review, we first briefly introduce the characteristics of EVs. Then, we focus on possible mechanisms regarding exosome-mitochondria interaction through integrating signalling networks. Moreover, we summarize recent advances in the knowledge of the role of exosomal miRNAs in various diseases, describing how mitochondria are changed in disease status. Finally, we propose future research directions to provide a novel therapeutic strategy that could slow the disease progress mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction.
    Keywords:  Exosome; Extracellular vesicle; diseases; miRNA; mitochondrial dysfunction
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15476286.2023.2293343
  11. Nat Chem Biol. 2024 Jan 02.
    Acylspermidines are conserved mitochondrial sirtuin-dependent metabolites.
    Bingsen Zhang, James Mullmann, Andreas H Ludewig, Irma R Fernandez, Tyler R Bales, Robert S Weiss, Frank C Schroeder.
      Sirtuins are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent protein lysine deacylases regulating metabolism and stress responses; however, characterization of the removed acyl groups and their downstream metabolic fates remains incomplete. Here we employed untargeted comparative metabolomics to reinvestigate mitochondrial sirtuin biochemistry. First, we identified N-glutarylspermidines as metabolites downstream of the mitochondrial sirtuin SIR-2.3 in Caenorhabditis elegans and demonstrated that SIR-2.3 functions as a lysine deglutarylase and that N-glutarylspermidines can be derived from O-glutaryl-ADP-ribose. Subsequent targeted analysis of C. elegans, mouse and human metabolomes revealed a chemically diverse range of N-acylspermidines, and formation of N-succinylspermidines and/or N-glutarylspermidines was observed downstream of mammalian mitochondrial sirtuin SIRT5 in two cell lines, consistent with annotated functions of SIRT5. Finally, N-glutarylspermidines were found to adversely affect C. elegans lifespan and mammalian cell proliferation. Our results indicate that N-acylspermidines are conserved metabolites downstream of mitochondrial sirtuins that facilitate annotation of sirtuin enzymatic activities in vivo and may contribute to sirtuin-dependent phenotypes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-023-01511-2
  12. BMC Neurol. 2024 Jan 02. 24(1): 15
    Adult-onset combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 14 manifests as epileptic status: a new phenotype and literature review.
    Xu Zhang, Feng Xiang, Desheng Li, Fei Yang, Shengyuan Yu, Xiangqing Wang.
       BACKGROUND: Combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency (COXPD) is a severe disorder with early onset and autosomal recessive inheritance, and has been divided into 51 types (COXPD1-COXPD51). COXPD14 is caused by a mutation in the FARS2 gene, which encodes mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (mt-PheRS), an enzyme that transfers phenylalanine to its cognate tRNA in mitochondria. Since the first case was reported in 2012, an increasing number of FARS2 variations have been subsequently identified, which present three main phenotypic manifestations: early onset epileptic encephalopathy, hereditary spastic paraplegia, and juvenile-onset epilepsy. To our knowledge, no adult cases have been reported in the literature.
    METHODS: We report in detail a case of genetically confirmed COXPD14 and review the relevant literature.
    RESULTS: Approximately 58 subjects with disease-causing variants of FARS2 have been reported, including 31 cases of early onset epileptic encephalopathy, 16 cases of hereditary spastic paraplegia, 3 cases of juvenile-onset epilepsy, and 8 cases of unknown phenotype. We report a case of autosomal recessive COXPD14 in an adult with status epilepticus as the only manifestation with a good prognosis, which is different from that in neonatal or infant patients reported in the literature. c.467C > T (p.T156M) has been previously reported, while c.119_120del (p.E40Vfs*87) is novel, and, both mutations are pathogenic.
    CONCLUSIONS: This case of autosomal recessive COXPD14 in an adult only presented as status epilepticus, which is different from the patients reported previously. Our study expands the mutation spectrum of FARS2, and we tended to define the phenotypes based on the clinical manifestation rather than the age of onset.
    Keywords:  Adult; Combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 14; Epileptic status; FARS2 gene
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-023-03480-4
  13. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 ;10 1268814
    Mitochondrial transplantation: the advance to therapeutic application and molecular modulation.
    James D McCully, Pedro J Del Nido, Sitaram M Emani.
      Mitochondrial transplantation provides a novel methodology for rescue of cell viability and cell function following ischemia-reperfusion injury and applications for other pathologies are expanding. In this review we present our methods and acquired data and evidence accumulated to support the use of mitochondrial transplantation.
    Keywords:  heart; mitochondria; mitochondrial transplantation; proteomics; transcriptomics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1268814
  14. Heliyon. 2024 Jan 15. 10(1): e23137
    A case of Leigh syndrome presented with paroxysmal body swing.
    Jia Zhang, Jing Gan, Jianjun Wang.
       Background: Leigh syndrome (LS) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease that is the most common manifestation of mitochondrial disease in children.
    Methods: We report a case of Leigh syndrome with paroxysmal body swing in a 1-year-old boy.
    Results: The boy presented with paroxysmal body swing, and the electroencephalogram showed no epileptic discharge during the paroxysmal episode. It was determined to be a nonepileptic seizure, which was the first LS phenotype described. After treatment with a vitamin cocktail, the paroxysmal body swing improved.
    Conclusion: LS should be considered for children with onset of infantile and paroxysmal body swing combined with developmental regression, and early mitochondrial genetic testing can aid in diagnosis and guide early intervention.
    Keywords:  Leigh syndrome; MT-ND5; Paroxysmal episode; de novo
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23137
  15. Gene Ther. 2024 Jan 04.
    CRISPR/Cas9-mediated base editors and their prospects for mitochondrial genome engineering.
    Shahin Eghbalsaied, Clancy Lawler, Björn Petersen, Raul A Hajiyev, Steve R Bischoff, Stephen Frankenberg.
      Base editors are a type of double-stranded break (DSB)-free gene editing technology that has opened up new possibilities for precise manipulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This includes cytosine and adenosine base editors and more recently guanosine base editors. Because of having low off-target and indel rates, there is a growing interest in developing and evolving this research field. Here, we provide a detailed update on DNA base editors. While base editing has widely been used for nuclear genome engineering, the growing interest in applying this technology to mitochondrial DNA has been faced with several challenges. While Cas9 protein has been shown to enter mitochondria, use of smaller Cas proteins, such as Cas12a, has higher import efficiency. However, sgRNA transfer into mitochondria is the most challenging step. sgRNA structure and ratio of Cas protein to sgRNA are both important factors for efficient sgRNA entry into mitochondria. In conclusion, while there are still several challenges to be addressed, ongoing research in this field holds the potential for new treatments and therapies for mitochondrial disorders.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-023-00434-w
  16. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2024 Jan 01. 9(1): 4
    Janus-faced Mitofusin 2 (MFN2): mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum shaping and tethering functions unveiled.
    Camilla Aurora Franchino, Elisa Motori, Matteo Bergami.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-023-01730-y
  17. Cell Signal. 2024 Jan 03. pii: S0898-6568(24)00003-2. [Epub ahead of print] 111035
    Mitochondrial quality control in liver fibrosis: Epigenetic hallmarks and therapeutic strategies.
    Lin Jia, Yang Yang, Feng Sun, Hui Tao, Chao Lu, Jing-Jing Yang.
       BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) plays a significant role in the progression of liver fibrosis, with key processes such as mitochondrial fission, fusion, mitophagy and biogenesis maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying epigenetic regulation of mitochondrial quality control in liver fibrosis, with the aim of uncovering novel therapeutic targets for treating, mitigating, and potentially reversing liver fibrosis, in light of the most recent advances in this field.
    METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for published manuscripts using terms "mitochondrial quality control" "mitochondrial fission" "mitochondrial fusion" "mitochondrial biogenesis" "mitophagy" "liver fibrosis" "epigenetic regulation" "DNA methylation" "RNA methylation" "histone modification" and "non-coding RNA". Manuscripts were collated, studied and carried forward for discussion where appropriate.
    RESULTS: Mitochondrial fission, fusion, biogenesis, and mitophagy regulate the homeostasis of mitochondria, and the imbalance of mitochondrial homeostasis can induce liver fibrosis. Epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, RNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, plays a significant role in regulating the processes of mitochondrial homeostasis.
    CONCLUSION: Mitochondrial quality control and epigenetic mechanisms are intricately linked to the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Understanding these molecular interactions provides insight into potential therapeutic strategies. Further research is necessary to translate these findings into clinical applications, with a focus on developing epigenetic drugs to ameliorate liver fibrosis by modulating MQC and epigenetic pathways.
    Keywords:  Epigenetics; Liver fibrosis; Mitochondrial quality control; Molecular mechanisms
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111035
  18. Annu Rev Biophys. 2024 Jan 02.
    Mitochondrial Dynamics at Different Levels: From Cristae Dynamics to Interorganellar Cross Talk.
    Arun Kumar Kondadi, Andreas S Reichert.
      Mitochondria are essential organelles performing important cellular functions ranging from bioenergetics and metabolism to apoptotic signaling and immune responses. They are highly dynamic at different structural and functional levels. Mitochondria have been shown to constantly undergo fusion and fission processes and dynamically interact with other organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, and lipid droplets. The field of mitochondrial dynamics has evolved hand in hand with technological achievements including advanced fluorescence super-resolution nanoscopy. Dynamic remodeling of the cristae membrane within individual mitochondria, discovered very recently, opens up a further exciting layer of mitochondrial dynamics. In this review, we discuss mitochondrial dynamics at the following levels: (a) within an individual mitochondrion, (b) among mitochondria, and (c) between mitochondria and other organelles. Although the three tiers of mitochondrial dynamics have in the past been classified in a hierarchical manner, they are functionally connected and must act in a coordinated manner to maintain cellular functions and thus prevent various human diseases. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biophysics, Volume 53 is May 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-020736
  19. Mitochondrion. 2023 Dec 27. pii: S1567-7249(23)00119-8. [Epub ahead of print] 101839
    Exploiting Nuclear-Mitochondrial Cross-Talk in Theranostics: Enhancing Drug Delivery and Diagnostic Precision.
    Dilpreet Singh.
      The dynamic interplay between nuclear and mitochondrial processes plays a pivotal role in cellular homeostasis and disease progression. Exploiting this nuclear-mitochondrial cross-talk has emerged as a promising avenue in the field of theranostics, offering enhanced drug delivery and diagnostic precision for a wide range of medical conditions, particularly cancer. This abstract provides a brief overview of the key concepts and recent advancements in this rapidly evolving field. Recent research has elucidated the significance of mitochondrial dysfunction in various diseases, including cancer. Mitochondria, often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell, not only regulate energy production but also contribute to critical processes such as apoptosis, ROS generation, and metabolic signaling. Dysregulation of these mitochondrial functions is frequently associated with disease pathogenesis. In theranostics, the targeted modulation of mitochondrial function holds great promise. Mitochondria-targeted drug delivery systems have been designed to selectively deliver therapeutic agents to these organelles, thereby mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction while minimizing off-target effects. This precise drug delivery enhances the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs and reduces the risk of drug resistance. Moreover, the diagnostic potential of nuclear-mitochondrial cross-talk is being harnessed to develop novel biomarkers and imaging techniques. Mitochondrial DNA mutations and alterations in mitochondrial metabolism serve as valuable indicators of disease progression and drug responsiveness. Non-invasive imaging modalities, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been employed to visualize mitochondrial activity and assess therapeutic outcomes.
    Keywords:  Cross-Talk; Diagnostic Precision; Drug Delivery; Nuclear-Mitochondria; Theranostics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2023.101839
  20. Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 02. 15(1): 168
    Mic19 depletion impairs endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial contacts and mitochondrial lipid metabolism and triggers liver disease.
    Jun Dong, Li Chen, Fei Ye, Junhui Tang, Bing Liu, Jiacheng Lin, Pang-Hu Zhou, Bin Lu, Min Wu, Jia-Hong Lu, Jing-Jing He, Simone Engelender, Qingtao Meng, Zhiyin Song, He He.
      Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contacts are critical for the regulation of lipid transport, synthesis, and metabolism. However, the molecular mechanism and physiological function of endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial contacts remain unclear. Here, we show that Mic19, a key subunit of MICOS (mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system) complex, regulates ER-mitochondria contacts by the EMC2-SLC25A46-Mic19 axis. Mic19 liver specific knockout (LKO) leads to the reduction of ER-mitochondrial contacts, mitochondrial lipid metabolism disorder, disorganization of mitochondrial cristae and mitochondrial unfolded protein stress response in mouse hepatocytes, impairing liver mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation and lipid metabolism, which may spontaneously trigger nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis in mice. Whereas, the re-expression of Mic19 in Mic19 LKO hepatocytes blocks the development of liver disease in mice. In addition, Mic19 overexpression suppresses MCD-induced fatty liver disease. Thus, our findings uncover the EMC2-SLC25A46-Mic19 axis as a pathway regulating ER-mitochondria contacts, and reveal that impairment of ER-mitochondria contacts may be a mechanism associated with the development of NASH and liver fibrosis.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44057-6
  21. bioRxiv. 2023 Dec 14. pii: 2023.11.13.566502. [Epub ahead of print]
    3D Mitochondrial Structure in Aging Human Skeletal Muscle: Insights into MFN-2 Mediated Changes.
    Estevão Scudese, Zer Vue, Prassana Katti, Andrea Marshall, Larry Vang, Edgar Garza López, Kit Neikirk, Dominique Stephens, Duane D Hall, Rahmati Rostami, Jian-Qiang Shao, Margaret Mungai, Salma T AshShareef, Innes Hicsasmaz, Sasha Manus, Celestine Wanjalla, Aaron Whiteside, Clintoria Williams, Steven M Damo, Jennifer A Gaddy, Annet Kirabo, Brian Glancy, Estélio Henrique Martin Dantas, André Kinder, Fabiana Scartoni, Matheus Baffi, Melanie R McReynolds, Mark A Phillips, Anthonya Cooper, Sandra A Murray, Vernat Exil, Bret C Mobley, Antentor Hinton.
      Sarcopenia is an age-related loss of skeletal muscle, characterized by loss of mass, strength, endurance, and oxidative capacity during aging. Notably, bioenergetics and protein turnover studies have shown that mitochondria mediate this decline in function. Although mitochondrial aging is associated with decreased mitochondrial capacity, the three-dimensional (3D) mitochondrial structure associated with morphological changes in skeletal muscle during aging still requires further elucidation. Although exercise has been the only therapy to mitigate sarcopenia, the mechanisms that govern these changes remain unclear. We hypothesized that aging causes structural remodeling of mitochondrial 3D architecture representative of dysfunction, and this effect is mitigated by exercise. We used serial block-face scanning electron microscopy to image human skeletal tissue samples, followed by manual contour tracing using Amira software for 3D reconstruction and subsequent analysis of mitochondria. We then applied a rigorous in vitro and in vivo exercise regimen during aging. We found that mitochondria became less complex with age. Specifically, mitochondria lost surface area, complexity, and perimeter, indicating age-related declines in ATP synthesis and interaction capacity. Concomitantly, muscle area, exercise capacity, and mitochondrial dynamic proteins showed age-related losses. Exercise stimulation restored mitofusin 2 (MFN2), which we show is required for mitochondrial structure. Furthermore, we show that this pathway is evolutionarily conserved with Marf, the MFN2 ortholog in Drosophila , as Marf knockdown alters mitochondrial morphology and leads to the downregulation of genes regulating mitochondrial processes. Our results define age-related structural changes in mitochondria and further suggest that exercise may mitigate age-related structural decline through modulation of mitofusins.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.11.13.566502
  22. Nat Metab. 2024 Jan 03.
    Amino acid intake strategies define pluripotent cell states.
    Pavlina K Todorova, Benjamin T Jackson, Vidur Garg, Katrina I Paras, Julia S Brunner, Anna E Bridgeman, Yanyang Chen, Sanjeethan C Baksh, Jielin Yan, Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis, Lydia W S Finley.
      Mammalian preimplantation development is associated with marked metabolic robustness, and embryos can develop under a wide variety of nutrient conditions, including even the complete absence of soluble amino acids. Here we show that mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) capture the unique metabolic state of preimplantation embryos and proliferate in the absence of several essential amino acids. Amino acid independence is enabled by constitutive uptake of exogenous protein through macropinocytosis, alongside a robust lysosomal digestive system. Following transition to more committed states, ESCs reduce digestion of extracellular protein and instead become reliant on exogenous amino acids. Accordingly, amino acid withdrawal selects for ESCs that mimic the preimplantation epiblast. More broadly, we find that all lineages of preimplantation blastocysts exhibit constitutive macropinocytic protein uptake and digestion. Taken together, these results highlight exogenous protein uptake and digestion as an intrinsic feature of preimplantation development and provide insight into the catabolic strategies that enable embryos to sustain viability before implantation.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-023-00940-6
  23. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jan 09. 121(2): e2306454120
    HKDC1, a target of TFEB, is essential to maintain both mitochondrial and lysosomal homeostasis, preventing cellular senescence.
    Mengying Cui, Koji Yamano, Kenichi Yamamoto, Hitomi Yamamoto-Imoto, Satoshi Minami, Takeshi Yamamoto, Sho Matsui, Tatsuya Kaminishi, Takayuki Shima, Monami Ogura, Megumi Tsuchiya, Kohei Nishino, Brian T Layden, Hisakazu Kato, Hidesato Ogawa, Shinya Oki, Yukinori Okada, Yoshitaka Isaka, Hidetaka Kosako, Noriyuki Matsuda, Tamotsu Yoshimori, Shuhei Nakamura.
      Mitochondrial and lysosomal functions are intimately linked and are critical for cellular homeostasis, as evidenced by the fact that cellular senescence, aging, and multiple prominent diseases are associated with concomitant dysfunction of both organelles. However, it is not well understood how the two important organelles are regulated. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is the master regulator of lysosomal function and is also implicated in regulating mitochondrial function; however, the mechanism underlying the maintenance of both organelles remains to be fully elucidated. Here, by comprehensive transcriptome analysis and subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR, we identified hexokinase domain containing 1 (HKDC1), which is known to function in the glycolysis pathway as a direct TFEB target. Moreover, HKDC1 was upregulated in both mitochondrial and lysosomal stress in a TFEB-dependent manner, and its function was critical for the maintenance of both organelles under stress conditions. Mechanistically, the TFEB-HKDC1 axis was essential for PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1)/Parkin-dependent mitophagy via its initial step, PINK1 stabilization. In addition, the functions of HKDC1 and voltage-dependent anion channels, with which HKDC1 interacts, were essential for the clearance of damaged lysosomes and maintaining mitochondria-lysosome contact. Interestingly, HKDC1 regulated mitophagy and lysosomal repair independently of its prospective function in glycolysis. Furthermore, loss function of HKDC1 accelerated DNA damage-induced cellular senescence with the accumulation of hyperfused mitochondria and damaged lysosomes. Our results show that HKDC1, a factor downstream of TFEB, maintains both mitochondrial and lysosomal homeostasis, which is critical to prevent cellular senescence.
    Keywords:  HKDC1; TFEB; cellular senescence; mitochondria–lysosome contact; mitophagy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2306454120
  24. Cell Metab. 2024 Jan 02. pii: S1550-4131(23)00448-5. [Epub ahead of print]36(1): 222
    The DEAD Box Protein Mrh4 Functions in the Assembly of the Mitochondrial Large Ribosomal Subunit.
    Dasmanthie De Silva, Flavia Fontanesi, Antoni Barrientos.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2023.11.016
  25. Front Mol Biosci. 2023 ;10 1332658
    Potential roles for mitochondria-to-HSF1 signaling in health and disease.
    Johnathan Labbadia.
      The ability to respond rapidly and efficiently to protein misfolding is crucial for development, reproduction and long-term health. Cells respond to imbalances in cytosolic/nuclear protein homeostasis through the Heat Shock Response, a tightly regulated transcriptional program that enhances protein homeostasis capacity by increasing levels of protein quality control factors. The Heat Shock Response is driven by Heat Shock Factor 1, which is rapidly activated by the appearance of misfolded proteins and drives the expression of genes encoding molecular chaperones and protein degradation factors, thereby restoring proteome integrity. HSF1 is critical for organismal health, and this has largely been attributed to the preservation of cytosolic and nuclear protein homeostasis. However, evidence is now emerging that HSF1 is also a key mediator of mitochondrial function, raising the possibility that many of the health benefits conferred by HSF1 may be due to the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis. In this review, I will discuss our current understanding of the interplay between HSF1 and mitochondria and consider how mitochondria-to-HSF1 signaling may influence health and disease susceptibility.
    Keywords:  HSF1; ageing; development; disease; mitochondria; protein homeostasis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2023.1332658
  26. Hum Mol Genet. 2024 Jan 05. pii: ddad206. [Epub ahead of print]
    Retention of stress susceptibility in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy after PGC-1α overexpression or ablation of IDO1 or CD38.
    Erynn E Johnson, W Michael Southern, Baird Doud, Brandon Steiger, Maria Razzoli, Alessandro Bartolomucci, James M Ervasti.
      Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal degenerative muscle wasting disease caused by the loss of the structural protein dystrophin with secondary pathological manifestations including metabolic dysfunction, mood and behavioral disorders. In the mildly affected mdx mouse model of DMD, brief scruff stress causes inactivity, while more severe subordination stress results in lethality. Here, we investigated the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) metabolic pathway in mdx mice and their involvement as possible mediators of mdx stress-related pathology. We identified downregulation of the kynurenic acid shunt, a neuroprotective branch of the kynurenine pathway, in mdx skeletal muscle associated with attenuated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) transcriptional regulatory activity. Restoring the kynurenic acid shunt by skeletal muscle-specific PGC-1α overexpression in mdx mice did not prevent scruff -induced inactivity, nor did abrogating extrahepatic kynurenine pathway activity by genetic deletion of the pathway rate-limiting enzyme, indoleamine oxygenase 1. We further show that reduced NAD+ production in mdx skeletal muscle after subordination stress exposure corresponded with elevated levels of NAD+ catabolites produced by ectoenzyme cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) that have been implicated in lethal mdx response to pharmacological β-adrenergic receptor agonism. However, genetic CD38 ablation did not prevent mdx scruff-induced inactivity. Our data do not support a direct contribution by the kynurenine pathway or CD38 metabolic dysfunction to the exaggerated stress response of mdx mice.
    Keywords:  Duchenne muscular dystrophy; NAD+; kynurenine; skeletal muscle; stress physiology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddad206
  27. EMBO J. 2023 Dec 20.
    Generation of adult hippocampal neural stem cells occurs in the early postnatal dentate gyrus and depends on cyclin D2.
    Oier Pastor-Alonso, Anum Syeda Zahra, Bente Kaske, Fernando García-Moreno, Felix Tetzlaff, Enno Bockelmann, Vanessa Grunwald, Soraya Martín-Suárez, Kristoffer Riecken, Otto Wilhelm Witte, Juan Manuel Encinas, Anja Urbach.
      Lifelong hippocampal neurogenesis is maintained by a pool of multipotent adult neural stem cells (aNSCs) residing in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus (DG). The mechanisms guiding transition of NSCs from the developmental to the adult state remain unclear. We show here, by using nestin-based reporter mice deficient for cyclin D2, that the aNSC pool is established through cyclin D2-dependent proliferation during the first two weeks of life. The absence of cyclin D2 does not affect normal development of the dentate gyrus until birth but prevents postnatal formation of radial glia-like aNSCs. Furthermore, retroviral fate mapping reveals that aNSCs are born on-site from precursors located in the dentate gyrus shortly after birth. Taken together, our data identify the critical time window and the spatial location of the precursor divisions that generate the persistent population of aNSCs and demonstrate the central role of cyclin D2 in this process.
    Keywords:  Adult Neurogenesis; Cyclin D2; Dentate Gyrus; Development; Neural Stem Cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s44318-023-00011-2
  28. Nat Cell Biol. 2024 Jan 04.
    FOXO1-mediated lipid metabolism maintains mammalian embryos in dormancy.
    Vera A van der Weijden, Maximilian Stötzel, Dhanur P Iyer, Beatrix Fauler, Elzbieta Gralinska, Mohammed Shahraz, David Meierhofer, Martin Vingron, Steffen Rulands, Theodore Alexandrov, Thorsten Mielke, Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu.
      Mammalian developmental timing is adjustable in vivo by preserving pre-implantation embryos in a dormant state called diapause. Inhibition of the growth regulator mTOR (mTORi) pauses mouse development in vitro, yet how embryonic dormancy is maintained is not known. Here we show that mouse embryos in diapause are sustained by using lipids as primary energy source. In vitro, supplementation of embryos with the metabolite L-carnitine balances lipid consumption, puts the embryos in deeper dormancy and boosts embryo longevity. We identify FOXO1 as an essential regulator of the energy balance in dormant embryos and propose, through meta-analyses of dormant cell signatures, that it may be a common regulator of dormancy across adult tissues. Our results lift a constraint on in vitro embryo survival and suggest that lipid metabolism may be a critical metabolic transition relevant for longevity and stem cell function across tissues.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-023-01325-3
  29. PLoS One. 2024 ;19(1): e0293644
    A landscape of mouse mitochondrial small non-coding RNAs.
    Chiara Siniscalchi, Armando Di Palo, Giuseppe Petito, Rosalba Senese, Francesco Manfrevola, Ilenia De Leo, Nicola Mosca, Teresa Chioccarelli, Veronica Porreca, Giovanna Marchese, Maria Ravo, Rosanna Chianese, Gilda Cobellis, Antonia Lanni, Aniello Russo, Nicoletta Potenza.
      Small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly miRNAs, play key roles in a plethora of biological processes both in health and disease. Although largely operative in the cytoplasm, emerging data indicate their shuttling in different subcellular compartments. Given the central role of mitochondria in cellular homeostasis, here we systematically profiled their small ncRNAs content across mouse tissues that largely rely on mitochondria functioning. The ubiquitous presence of piRNAs in mitochondria (mitopiRNA) of somatic tissues is reported for the first time, supporting the idea of a strong and general connection between mitochondria biology and piRNA pathways. Then, we found groups of tissue-shared and tissue-specific mitochondrial miRNAs (mitomiRs), potentially related to the "basic" or "cell context dependent" biology of mitochondria. Overall, this large data platform will be useful to deepen the knowledge about small ncRNAs processing and their governed regulatory networks contributing to mitochondria functions.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293644
  30. Prenat Diagn. 2024 Jan 04.
    Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors: A new-possible approach for in-utero medication therapy.
    Shohra Qaderi, Ali Javinani, Yair J Blumenfeld, Eyal Krispin, Ramesha Papanna, Frank A Chervenak, Alireza A Shamshirsaz.
      The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein kinase that plays a crucial role in regulating cellular growth, metabolism, and survival. Although there is no absolute contraindication for the use of mTOR inhibitors during pregnancy, the specific fetal effects remain unknown. Available data from the past 2 decades have examined the use of mTOR inhibitors during pregnancy in patients with solid organ transplantation, showing no clear link to fetal complications or structural abnormalities. Recently, a handful of case reports and series have described transplacental therapy of mTOR inhibitors to control symptomatic and complicated pathologies in the fetus. The effect of these agents includes a significant reduction in lesion size in the fetus and a reduced need for mechanical ventilation in neonates. In this context, we delve into the potential of mTOR inhibitors as in-utero therapy for fetal abnormalities, with a primary focus on lymphatic malformation (LM) and cardiac rhabdomyoma (CR). While preliminary reports underscore the efficacy of mTOR inhibitors for the treatment of fetal CR and fetal brain lesions associated with tuberous sclerosis complex, chylothorax, and LMs, additional investigation and clinical trials are essential to comprehensively assess the safety and efficacy of these medications.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/pd.6492
  31. Acta Neuropathol. 2024 Jan 03. 147(1): 6
    Disruption of MAM integrity in mutant FUS oligodendroglial progenitors from hiPSCs.
    Yingli Zhu, Thibaut Burg, Katrien Neyrinck, Tim Vervliet, Fatemeharefeh Nami, Ellen Vervoort, Karan Ahuja, Maria Livia Sassano, Yoke Chin Chai, Arun Kumar Tharkeshwar, Jonathan De Smedt, Haibo Hu, Geert Bultynck, Patrizia Agostinis, Johannes V Swinnen, Ludo Van Den Bosch, Rodrigo Furtado Madeiro da Costa, Catherine Verfaillie.
      Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by selective loss of motor neurons (MNs). A number of causative genetic mutations underlie the disease, including mutations in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene, which can lead to both juvenile and late-onset ALS. Although ALS results from MN death, there is evidence that dysfunctional glial cells, including oligodendroglia, contribute to neurodegeneration. Here, we used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with a R521H or a P525L mutation in FUS and their isogenic controls to generate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) by inducing SOX10 expression from a TET-On SOX10 cassette. Mutant and control iPSCs differentiated efficiently into OPCs. RNA sequencing identified a myelin sheath-related phenotype in mutant OPCs. Lipidomic studies demonstrated defects in myelin-related lipids, with a reduction of glycerophospholipids in mutant OPCs. Interestingly, FUSR521H OPCs displayed a decrease in the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio, known to be associated with maintaining membrane integrity. A proximity ligation assay further indicated that mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAM) were diminished in both mutant FUS OPCs. Moreover, both mutant FUS OPCs displayed increased susceptibility to ER stress when exposed to thapsigargin, and exhibited impaired mitochondrial respiration and reduced Ca2+ signaling from ER Ca2+ stores. Taken together, these results demonstrate a pathological role of mutant FUS in OPCs, causing defects in lipid metabolism associated with MAM disruption manifested by impaired mitochondrial metabolism with increased susceptibility to ER stress and with suppressed physiological Ca2+ signaling. As such, further exploration of the role of oligodendrocyte dysfunction in the demise of MNs is crucial and will provide new insights into the complex cellular mechanisms underlying ALS.
    Keywords:  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ER stress; FUS; Lipid defects; MAM disruption; Mitochondrial dysfunction
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-023-02666-x
  32. Nat Aging. 2024 Jan 04.
    Transcriptional and epigenetic dysregulation impairs generation of proliferative neural stem and progenitor cells during brain aging.
    Meiyang Li, Hongzhi Guo, Michael Carey, Chengyang Huang.
      The decline in stem cell function during aging may affect the regenerative capacity of mammalian organisms; however, the gene regulatory mechanism underlying this decline remains unclear. Here we show that the aging of neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) in the male mouse brain is characterized by a decrease in the generation efficacy of proliferative NSPCs rather than the changes in lineage specificity of NSPCs. We reveal that the downregulation of age-dependent genes in NSPCs drives cell aging by decreasing the population of actively proliferating NSPCs while increasing the expression of quiescence markers. We found that epigenetic deregulation of the MLL complex at promoters leads to transcriptional inactivation of age-dependent genes, highlighting the importance of the dynamic interaction between histone modifiers and gene regulatory elements in regulating transcriptional program of aging cells. Our study sheds light on the key intrinsic mechanisms driving stem cell aging through epigenetic regulators and identifies potential rejuvenation targets that could restore the function of aging stem cells.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-023-00549-0
  33. Cell Stem Cell. 2024 Jan 04. pii: S1934-5909(23)00436-8. [Epub ahead of print]31(1): 7-24
    Hallmarks of stemness in mammalian tissues.
    Joep Beumer, Hans Clevers.
      All adult tissues experience wear and tear. Most tissues can compensate for cell loss through the activity of resident stem cells. Although the cellular maintenance strategies vary greatly between different adult (read: postnatal) tissues, the function of stem cells is best defined by their capacity to replace lost tissue through division. We discuss a set of six complementary hallmarks that are key enabling features of this basic function. These include longevity and self-renewal, multipotency, transplantability, plasticity, dependence on niche signals, and maintenance of genome integrity. We discuss these hallmarks in the context of some of the best-understood adult stem cell niches.
    Keywords:  adult stem cells; hallmarks; lineage tracing; longevity; niche; organoids; plasticity; regeneration
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2023.12.006
  34. Front Mol Biosci. 2023 ;10 1313426
    Mitochondrial DNA copy number in patients with systemic sclerosis.
    Anastasia I Bogatyreva, Elena V Gerasimova, Tatiana V Kirichenko, Yuliya V Markina, Taisiya V Tolstik, Diana G Kiseleva, Tatiana V Popkova, Alexander M Markin.
      Introduction: Systemic scleroderma (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease of inflammatory origin. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered as an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of SSc. Currently mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number is used as a surrogate marker of mitochondrial dysfunction. Previous studies demonstrate that innate immune cells are important participants in inflammatory and fibrotic processes in SSc. The aim of the study was to evaluate the number of mtDNA copies in CD14+ monocytes and whole blood of patients with SSc in comparison with healthy individuals. Methods: Absolute mtDNA copy number was measured using digital PCR. It was found that the number of mtDNA copies in CD14+ monocytes was significantly higher in patients with SSc compared to control, while the number of mtDNA copies in the whole blood did not have significant differences. Results: The correlation analysis revealed an inverse association of mtDNA copy number with disease duration and the relationship between pro-inflammatory activation of CD14+ monocytes in terms of LPS-stimulated IL-6 secretion and mtDNA copy number. At the same time, basal and LPS-stimulated secretion of IL-6 by cultured CD+ monocytes were significantly higher in SSc group in comparison with control. Discussion: The study results suggest that increase of mtDNA copy number in CD14+ monocytes is a possible mechanism to maintain the reduced function of defective mitochondria in monocytes from patients with SSc associated with the development and progression of SSc.
    Keywords:  DNA; autoimmunity; inflammation; mitochondrial; monocytes; systemic sclerosis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2023.1313426
  35. EMBO J. 2024 Jan;43(1): 32-60
    The ER membrane protein complex restricts mitophagy by controlling BNIP3 turnover.
    Jose M Delgado, Logan Wallace Shepard, Sarah W Lamson, Samantha L Liu, Christopher J Shoemaker.
      Lysosomal degradation of autophagy receptors is a common proxy for selective autophagy. However, we find that two established mitophagy receptors, BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX, are constitutively delivered to lysosomes in an autophagy-independent manner. This alternative lysosomal delivery of BNIP3 accounts for nearly all its lysosome-mediated degradation, even upon mitophagy induction. To identify how BNIP3, a tail-anchored protein in the outer mitochondrial membrane, is delivered to lysosomes, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR screen for factors influencing BNIP3 flux. This screen revealed both known modifiers of BNIP3 stability as well as a pronounced reliance on endolysosomal components, including the ER membrane protein complex (EMC). Importantly, the endolysosomal system and the ubiquitin-proteosome system regulated BNIP3 independently. Perturbation of either mechanism is sufficient to modulate BNIP3-associated mitophagy and affect underlying cellular physiology. More broadly, these findings extend recent models for tail-anchored protein quality control and install endosomal trafficking and lysosomal degradation in the canon of pathways that tightly regulate endogenous tail-anchored protein localization.
    Keywords:  BNIP3; EMC; Mitophagy; Secretory Pathway; TA Protein
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s44318-023-00006-z
  36. Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 05. 15(1): 315
    Nuclear Hsp104 safeguards the dormant translation machinery during quiescence.
    Verena Kohler, Andreas Kohler, Lisa Larsson Berglund, Xinxin Hao, Sarah Gersing, Axel Imhof, Thomas Nyström, Johanna L Höög, Martin Ott, Claes Andréasson, Sabrina Büttner.
      The resilience of cellular proteostasis declines with age, which drives protein aggregation and compromises viability. The nucleus has emerged as a key quality control compartment that handles misfolded proteins produced by the cytosolic protein biosynthesis system. Here, we find that age-associated metabolic cues target the yeast protein disaggregase Hsp104 to the nucleus to maintain a functional nuclear proteome during quiescence. The switch to respiratory metabolism and the accompanying decrease in translation rates direct cytosolic Hsp104 to the nucleus to interact with latent translation initiation factor eIF2 and to suppress protein aggregation. Hindering Hsp104 from entering the nucleus in quiescent cells results in delayed re-entry into the cell cycle due to compromised resumption of protein synthesis. In sum, we report that cytosolic-nuclear partitioning of the Hsp104 disaggregase is a critical mechanism to protect the latent protein synthesis machinery during quiescence in yeast, ensuring the rapid restart of translation once nutrients are replenished.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44538-8
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