bims-mikwok 2021-01-17 papers

Issue of 2021‒01‒17
six papers selected by
Avinash N. Mukkala
University of Toronto

Elife. 2021 Jan 13. pii: e63102. [Epub ahead of print]10

Stable transplantation of human mitochondrial DNA by high-throughput, pressurized isolated mitochondrial delivery.

Alexander J Sercel, Alexander N Patananan, Tianxing Man, Ting-Hsiang Wu, Amy K Yu, Garret W Guyot, Shahrooz Rabizadeh, Kayvan R Niazi, Pei-Yu Chiou, Michael A Teitell.

Generating mammalian cells with specific mtDNA-nDNA combinations is desirable but difficult to achieve and would be enabling for studies of mitochondrial-nuclear communication and coordination in controlling cell fates and functions. We developed 'MitoPunch', a pressure-driven mitochondrial transfer device, to deliver isolated mitochondria into numerous target mammalian cells simultaneously. MitoPunch and MitoCeption, a previously described force-based mitochondrial transfer approach, both yield stable isolated mitochondrial recipient (SIMR) cells that permanently retain exogenous mtDNA, whereas coincubation of mitochondria with cells does not yield SIMR cells. Although a typical MitoPunch or MitoCeption delivery results in dozens of immortalized SIMR clones with restored oxidative phosphorylation, only MitoPunch can produce replication-limited, non-immortal human SIMR clones. The MitoPunch device is versatile, inexpensive to assemble, and easy to use for engineering mtDNA-nDNA combinations to enable fundamental studies and potential translational applications.

Keywords: cell biology; human

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.63102

EMBO J. 2021 Jan 13. e104705

Molecular mechanisms and physiological functions of mitophagy.

Mashun Onishi, Koji Yamano, Miyuki Sato, Noriyuki Matsuda, Koji Okamoto.

Degradation of mitochondria via a selective form of autophagy, named mitophagy, is a fundamental mechanism conserved from yeast to humans that regulates mitochondrial quality and quantity control. Mitophagy is promoted via specific mitochondrial outer membrane receptors, or ubiquitin molecules conjugated to proteins on the mitochondrial surface leading to the formation of autophagosomes surrounding mitochondria. Mitophagy-mediated elimination of mitochondria plays an important role in many processes including early embryonic development, cell differentiation, inflammation, and apoptosis. Recent advances in analyzing mitophagy in vivo also reveal high rates of steady-state mitochondrial turnover in diverse cell types, highlighting the intracellular housekeeping role of mitophagy. Defects in mitophagy are associated with various pathological conditions such as neurodegeneration, heart failure, cancer, and aging, further underscoring the biological relevance. Here, we review our current molecular understanding of mitophagy, and its physiological implications, and discuss how multiple mitophagy pathways coordinately modulate mitochondrial fitness and populations.

Keywords: autophagy; mitochondria; phosphorylation; quality and quantity control; ubiquitin

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020104705

Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2021 Mar 05. 23 264-276

Nuclear-Encoded lncRNA MALAT1 Epigenetically Controls Metabolic Reprogramming in HCC Cells through the Mitophagy Pathway.

Yijing Zhao, Lei Zhou, Hui Li, Tingge Sun, Xue Wen, Xueli Li, Ying Meng, Yan Li, Mengmeng Liu, Shanshan Liu, Su-Jeong Kim, Jialin Xiao, Lingyu Li, Songling Zhang, Wei Li, Pinchas Cohen, Andrew R Hoffman, Ji-Fan Hu, Jiuwei Cui.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a metabolic hallmark of cancer cells. In search of molecular factors involved in this dysregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we found that the nuclear-encoded long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) was aberrantly enriched in the mitochondria of hepatoma cells. Using RNA reverse transcription-associated trap sequencing (RAT-seq), we showed that MALAT1 interacted with multiple loci on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), including D-loop, COX2, ND3, and CYTB genes. MALAT1 knockdown induced alterations in the CpG methylation of mtDNA and in mitochondrial transcriptomes. This was associated with multiple abnormalities in mitochondrial function, including altered mitochondrial structure, low oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), decreased ATP production, reduced mitophagy, decreased mtDNA copy number, and activation of mitochondrial apoptosis. These alterations in mitochondrial metabolism were associated with changes in tumor phenotype and in pathways involved in cell mitophagy, mitochondrial apoptosis, and epigenetic regulation. We further showed that the RNA-shuttling protein HuR and the mitochondria transmembrane protein MTCH2 mediated the transport of MALAT1 in this nuclear-mitochondrial crosstalk. This study provides the first evidence that the nuclear genome-encoded lncRNA MALAT1 functions as a critical epigenetic player in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism of hepatoma cells, laying the foundation for further clarifying the roles of lncRNAs in tumor metabolic reprogramming.

Keywords: MALAT1; apoptosis; hepatocellular carcinoma; long noncoding RNA; metabolic reprogramming; mitochondria; mitophagy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2020.09.040

Trends Cell Biol. 2021 Jan 11. pii: S0962-8924(20)30251-8. [Epub ahead of print]

The Complex Dance of Organelles during Mitochondrial Division.

Luis-Carlos Tábara, Jordan L Morris, Julien Prudent.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo cycles of fission and fusion events depending on cellular requirements. During mitochondrial division, the GTPase dynamin-related protein-1 is recruited to endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-induced mitochondrial constriction sites where it drives fission. However, the events required to complete scission of mitochondrial membranes are not well understood. Here, we emphasize the recently described roles for Golgi-derived phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P)-containing vesicles in the last steps of mitochondrial division. We then propose how trans-Golgi network vesicles at mitochondria-ER contact sites and PI4P generation could mechanistically execute mitochondrial division, by recruiting PI4P effectors and/or the actin nucleation machinery. Finally, we speculate on mechanisms to explain why such a complex dance of different organelles is required to facilitate the remodelling of mitochondrial membranes.

Keywords: Drp1; PI4P; TGN vesicles; membrane contact sites; mitochondrial division

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2020.12.005

Front Physiol. 2020 ;11 617492

Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Deficiency in Zebrafish Causes Cardiomyopathy With Arrhythmia.

Adam D Langenbacher, Hirohito Shimizu, Welkin Hsu, Yali Zhao, Alexandria Borges, Carla Koehler, Jau-Nian Chen.

Mitochondrial Ca2 + uptake influences energy production, cell survival, and Ca2 + signaling. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter, MCU, is the primary route for uptake of Ca2 + into the mitochondrial matrix. We have generated a zebrafish MCU mutant that survives to adulthood and exhibits dramatic cardiac phenotypes resembling cardiomyopathy and sinus arrest. MCU hearts contract weakly and have a smaller ventricle with a thin compact layer and reduced trabecular density. Damaged myofibrils and swollen mitochondria were present in the ventricles of MCU mutants, along with gene expression changes indicative of cell stress and altered cardiac structure and function. Using electrocardiography, we found that MCU hearts display conduction system defects and abnormal rhythm, with extended pauses resembling episodes of sinus arrest. Together, our findings suggest that proper mitochondrial Ca2 + homeostasis is crucial for maintaining a healthy adult heart, and establish the MCU mutant as a useful model for understanding the role of mitochondrial Ca2 + handling in adult cardiac biology.

Keywords: arrhythmia; cardiomyopathy; mitochondria; mitochondrial calcium uptake; sinus arrest

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.617492

Cells. 2021 Jan 11. pii: E125. [Epub ahead of print]10(1):

Mitochondrial Cyclosporine A-Independent Palmitate/Ca2+-Induced Permeability Transition Pore (PA-mPT Pore) and Its Role in Mitochondrial Function and Protection against Calcium Overload and Glutamate Toxicity.

Galina D Mironova, Evgeny V Pavlov.

A sharp increase in the permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane known as mitochondrial permeability transition (or mPT) occurs in mitochondria under the conditions of Ca2+ and ROS stress. Permeability transition can proceed through several mechanisms. The most common mechanism of mPT is based on the opening of a cyclosporine A (CSA)-sensitive protein channel in the inner membrane. In addition to the CSA-sensitive pathway, mPT can occur through the transient opening of lipid pores, emerging in the process of formation of palmitate/Ca2+ complexes. This pathway is independent of CSA and likely plays a protective role against Ca2+ and ROS toxicity. The review considers molecular mechanisms of formation and regulation of the palmitate/Ca2+-induced pores, which we designate as PA-mPT to distinguish it from the classical CSA-sensitive mPT. In the paper, we discuss conditions of its opening in the biological membranes, as well as its role in the physiological and pathophysiological processes. Additionally, we summarize data that indicate the involvement of PA-mPT in the protection of mitochondria against calcium overload and glutamate-induced degradation in neurons.

Keywords: calcium overload; glutamate toxicity; mitochondria; palmitate/Ca2+-induced permeability transition pore; palmitic acid

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10010125