bims-mitdis Biomed News
on Mitochondrial disorders
Issue of 2022‒04‒24
75 papers selected by
Catalina Vasilescu
University of Helsinki
  1. Multisystem Mitochondrial Disease Associated With a Mare m.10000G>A Mitochondrial tRNA Gly (MT-TG) Variant.
  2. Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Dysfunction-A Hallmark Pathology of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease?
  3. What Is the Role of Mitochondrial Fission in Neurologic Disease?
  4. SGPL1 stimulates VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria in MICU1 deficient cells.
  5. Prohibitin-1 plays a regulatory role in Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
  6. Measuring Mitochondrial Calcium Fluxes in Cardiomyocytes upon Mechanical Stretch-Induced Hypertrophy.
  7. Steady-State Levels of Miro1 Linked to Phosphorylation at Serine 156 and Mitochondrial Respiration in Dopaminergic Neurons.
  8. Parkin Deficiency Impairs Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics and Propagates Inflammation.
  9. Barth Syndrome Cardiomyopathy: An Update.
  10. Programming axonal mitochondrial maintenance and bioenergetics in neurodegeneration and regeneration.
  11. Reversible sensory neuropathy in mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency.
  12. The PPR domain of mitochondrial RNA polymerase is an exoribonuclease required for mtDNA replication in Drosophila melanogaster.
  13. Organization and expression of the mammalian mitochondrial genome.
  14. Multicentric Standardization of Protocols for the Diagnosis of Human Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Defects.
  15. Mechanisms and Therapeutic Effects of Benzoquinone Ring Analogs in Primary CoQ Deficiencies.
  16. Replicative Stress Coincides with Impaired Nuclear DNA Damage Response in COX4-1 Deficiency.
  17. Mitochondrial respiratory quiescence: A new model for examining the role of mitochondrial metabolism in development.
  18. SOD1 mediates lysosome-to-mitochondria communication and its dysregulation by amyloid-β oligomers.
  19. Phospholipids alter activity and stability of mitochondrial membrane-bound ubiquitin ligase MARCH5.
  20. Novel US-CpHMD Protocol to Study the Protonation-Dependent Mechanism of the ATP/ADP Carrier.
  21. Phenotype of Mrps5-Associated Phylogenetic Polymorphisms Is Intimately Linked to Mitoribosomal Misreading.
  22. Atypical mitochondrial myopathy - A clinical enigma deciphered by muscle biopsy.
  23. Editorial: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Stroke.
  24. A tRNA processing enzyme is a key regulator of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response.
  25. Response to triheptanoin therapy in critically ill patients with LC-FAOD: Report of patients treated through an expanded access program.
  26. Radiological clues to a mitochondrial problem.
  27. Peptides vs. Polymers: Searching for the Most Efficient Delivery System for Mitochondrial Gene Therapy.
  28. Mitochondrial localization of calpain-13 in mouse brain.
  29. Novel mutations in the HADHB gene causing a mild phenotype of mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiency.
  30. Mitochondrial Extracellular Vesicles in CNS Disorders: New Frontiers in Understanding the Neurological Disorders of the Brain.
  31. Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing of Malaysian patients with cardiomyopathy.
  32. The pattern of retinal ganglion cell loss in Wolfram syndrome is distinct from mitochondrial optic neuropathies.
  33. Visual Recovery in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy From a Rare mt.14568 Mutation on ND6 Gene.
  34. Automated quantitative high-throughput multiplex immunofluorescence pipeline to evaluate OXPHOS defects in formalin-fixed human prostate tissue.
  35. Long-Term Progression and Rapid Decline in Hearing Loss in Patients with a Point Mutation at Nucleotide 3243 of the Mitochondrial DNA.
  36. Structural basis of protein substrate processing by human mitochondrial high-temperature requirement A2 protease.
  37. VDAC2 as a novel target for heart failure: Ca2+ at the sarcomere, mitochondria and SR.
  38. Reduction of mtDNA heteroplasmy in mitochondrial replacement therapy by inducing forced mitophagy.
  39. GET pathway mediates transfer of mislocalized tail-anchored proteins from mitochondria to the ER.
  40. Mitochondrial and Neuronal Dysfunctions in L1 Mutant Mice.
  41. Case Report: Identification of a De novo C19orf12 Variant in a Patient With Mitochondrial Membrane Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration.
  42. Mitochondrial dynamics regulate genome stability via control of caspase-dependent DNA damage.
  43. Discovery of small-molecule activators of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and their preclinical neuroprotective activity.
  44. Supraphysiological activation of TAK1 promotes skeletal muscle growth and mitigates neurogenic atrophy.
  45. Clinical diagnosis of metabolic disorders using untargeted metabolomic profiling and disease-specific networks learned from profiling data.
  46. Phosphatidylglycerol Supplementation Alters Mitochondrial Morphology and Cardiolipin Composition.
  47. Paeoniflorin Alleviates Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Ovariectomized Mice through the ERα/NRF1 Mitochondrial Biogenesis Pathway.
  48. Personal Dense Dynamic Data Clouds Connect Systems Biomedicine to Scientific Wellness.
  49. Septins promote caspase activity and coordinate mitochondrial apoptosis.
  50. Improving Mitochondrial Function in Viral Infection: Targeting Cellular Metabolism.
  51. VisuStatR-Visualizing Motility and Morphology Statistics on Images in R.
  52. Predicting RNA splicing from DNA sequence using Pangolin.
  53. Untargeted Metabolomics of Slc13a5 Deficiency Reveal Critical Liver-Brain Axis for Lipid Homeostasis.
  54. ATG4A regulates human erythroid maturation and mitochondrial clearance.
  55. Multiplex structural variant detection by whole-genome mapping and nanopore sequencing.
  56. The Human Pangenome Project: a global resource to map genomic diversity.
  57. Codon optimality-mediated mRNA degradation: Linking translational elongation to mRNA stability.
  58. The Structural and the Functional Aspects of Intercellular Communication in iPSC-Cardiomyocytes.
  59. Bioengineering Strategies to Create 3D Cardiac Constructs from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
  60. Mitochondrial fusion- and fission-related protein expression in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass.
  61. The Clinical Variant Analysis Tool: Analyzing the evidence supporting reported genomic variation in clinical practice.
  62. Grpel2 alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting MCU-mediated mitochondrial calcium overload.
  63. Genetic Testing for Rare Diseases.
  64. Advancements in Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery Using iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells.
  65. High-Throughput Optical Controlling and Recording Calcium Signal in iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Toxicity Testing and Phenotypic Drug Screening.
  66. Distinct and additive effects of calorie restriction and rapamycin in aging skeletal muscle.
  67. Building a Calibration Set for Genomic Prediction, Characteristics to Be Considered, and Optimization Approaches.
  68. Carnitines as Mitochondrial Modulators of Oocyte and Embryo Bioenergetics.
  69. Exploring Thermal Sensitivities and Adaptations of Oxidative Phosphorylation Pathways.
  70. Enzymatic Depletion of Mitochondrial Inorganic Polyphosphate (polyP) Increases the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the Activity of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) in Mammalian Cells.
  71. Normalizing and denoising protein expression data from droplet-based single cell profiling.
  72. Clinical Presentation of Subacute Combined Degeneration in a Patient With Chronic B12 Deficiency.
  73. STAAR Workflow: A cloud-based workflow for scalable and reproducible rare variant analysis.
  74. The Galaxy platform for accessible, reproducible and collaborative biomedical analyses: 2022 update.
  75. Organismal and Cellular Stress Responses upon Disruption of Mitochondrial Lonp1 Protease.
  1. Front Neurol. 2022 ;13 795060
    Multisystem Mitochondrial Disease Associated With a Mare m.10000G>A Mitochondrial tRNA Gly (MT-TG) Variant.
    Haiyan Yang, Victor Wei Zhang, Liang Ai, Siyi Gan, Liwen Wu.
      Background: Mitochondrial diseases are clinically heterogeneous, can occur at any age, and can manifest with a wide range of clinical symptoms. They can involve any organ or tissue, characteristically involve multiple systems, typically affecting organs that are highly dependent on aerobic metabolism, and making a definitive molecular diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder is challenging.Methods: Clinical data of the proband and his family members were gathered in a retrospective study. Whole-exome sequencing and full-length sequencing of the mitochondrial genome that were performed on peripheral blood, urine, and oral mucosa cells were applied for genetic analysis.
    Results: In this study, we reported a childhood-onset mitochondrial phenotype in a 13-year-old patient. Analysis of the next-generation sequencing data of the nuclear genome and the full-length sequencing of the mitochondrial genome revealed the rare m.10000G>A variant in MT-TG that was present at variable heteroplasmy levels across tissue types: 32.7% in the blood, 56.15% in urinary epithelial cells, and 27.3% in oral mucosa cells. No variant was found in the peripheral blood of his mother and sister. No pathogenic mutation of nDNA was found.
    Conclusion: Our results added evidence that the de novo m.10000G>A variation in the highly conserved sequence of MT-TG appears to suggest a childhood-onset mitochondrial phenotype in the 13-year-old patient, thus broadening the genotypic interpretation of mitochondrial DNA-related diseases.
    Keywords:  children; m.10000G>A; mitochondrial disease; mitochondrial tRNA Gly; neurology—clinical
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.795060
  2. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 ;10 874596
    Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Dysfunction-A Hallmark Pathology of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease?
    Irene H Flønes, Charalampos Tzoulis.
      Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common age-dependent neurodegenerative synucleinopathy. Loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta, together with region- and cell-specific aggregations of α -synuclein are considered main pathological hallmarks of PD, but its etiopathogenesis remains largely unknown. Mitochondrial dysfunction, in particular quantitative and/or functional deficiencies of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC), has been associated with the disease. However, after decades of research in this field, the pervasiveness and anatomical extent of MRC dysfunction in PD remain largely unknown. Moreover, it is not known whether the observed MRC defects are pathogenic, compensatory responses, or secondary epiphenomena. In this perspective, we give an overview of current evidence for MRC dysfunction in PD, highlight pertinent knowledge gaps, and propose potential strategies for future research.
    Keywords:  Parkinson's disease; mitochondria; mitochondrial complex I; neurodegeneration; oxidative phosphorylation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.874596
  3. Neurology. 2022 Apr 19. 98(16): 662-668
    What Is the Role of Mitochondrial Fission in Neurologic Disease?
    Eduardo Benarroch.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000200233
  4. Mol Metab. 2022 Apr 19. pii: S2212-8778(22)00072-2. [Epub ahead of print] 101503
    SGPL1 stimulates VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria in MICU1 deficient cells.
    Joshua Jackson, Lena Wischhof, Enzo Scifo, Anna Pellizzer, Yiru Wang, Antonia Piazzesi, Debora Gentile, Sana Siddig, Miriam Stork, Chris E Hopkins, Kristian Händler, Joachim Weis, Andreas Roos, Joachim L Schultze, Pierluigi Nicotera, Dan Ehninger, Daniele Bano.
      OBJECTIVE: Mitochondrial "retrograde" signaling may stimulate organelle biogenesis as a compensatory adaptation to aberrant activity of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. To maintain energy-consuming processes in OXPHOS deficient cells, alternative metabolic pathways are functionally coupled to the degradation, recycling and redistribution of biomolecules across distinct intracellular compartments. While transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial network expansion has been the focus of many studies, the molecular mechanisms promoting mitochondrial maintenance in energy-deprived cells remain poorly investigated.METHODS: We performed transcriptomics, quantitative proteomics and lifespan assays to identify pathways that are mechanistically linked to mitochondrial network expansion and homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans lacking the mitochondrial calcium uptake protein 1 (MICU-1/MICU1). To support our findings, we carried out biochemical and image analyses in mammalian cells and mouse-derived tissues.
    RESULTS: We report that micu-1(null) mutations impair the OXPHOS system and promote C. elegans longevity through a transcriptional program that is independent of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter MCU-1/MCU and the essential MCU regulator EMRE-1/EMRE. We identify sphingosine phosphate lyase SPL-1/SGPL1 and the ATFS-1-target HOPS complex subunit VPS-39/VPS39 as critical lifespan modulators of micu-1(null) mutant animals. Cross-species investigation indicates that SGPL1 upregulation stimulates VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria, thereby enhancing mitochondria-lysosome contacts. Consistently, VPS39 downregulation compromises mitochondrial network maintenance and basal autophagic flux in MICU1 deficient cells. In mouse-derived muscles, we show that VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria may represent a common signature associated with altered OXPHOS system.
    CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized SGPL1/VPS39 axis that stimulates intracellular organelle interactions and sustains autophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis in OXPHOS deficient cells.
    Keywords:  Caenorhabditis elegans; MICU1; VPS39; autophagy; longevity; mitochondria; sphingosine signaling
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101503
  5. iScience. 2022 Apr 15. 25(4): 104165
    Prohibitin-1 plays a regulatory role in Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
    Geetika Bassi, Suresh Mishra.
      Mitochondria are essential for steroidogenesis. In steroidogenic cells, the initiation of steroidogenesis from cholesterol occurs on the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane by the enzyme P450scc. This requires cholesterol import from the cytoplasm through the outer mitochondrial membrane, facilitated by the StAR protein. The subsequent steps leading to P450scc remain elusive. Here we report that the male transgenic mice that expressed a mutant form of a mitochondrial protein prohibitin-1 (PHB1Tyr114Phe) from the Fabp-4 gene promoter displayed smaller testes, higher testosterone, and lower gonadotropin levels compared with PHB1-expressing and wild-type mice. A subsequent analysis of the testis and Leydig cells from the mice revealed that PHB1 played a previously unknown regulatory role in Leydig cell steroidogenesis. This includes a role in coordinating cell signaling, cholesterol homeostasis, and mitochondrial biology pertaining to steroidogenesis. The implications of our finding are broad as the initial stages of steroidogenesis are indistinguishable across steroidogenic cells.
    Keywords:  Biological sciences; Cell biology; Developmental biology; Human metabolism; Physiology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104165
  6. Methods Mol Biol. 2022 ;2475 215-222
    Measuring Mitochondrial Calcium Fluxes in Cardiomyocytes upon Mechanical Stretch-Induced Hypertrophy.
    Daniela Ramaccini, Carlotta Giorgi, Michelle L Matter.
      Calcium Ca2+ regulation is a key component of numerous cellular functions. In cardiomyocytes, Ca2+ regulates excitation-contraction coupling and influences signaling cascades involved in cell metabolism and cell survival. Prolonged dysregulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ leads to dysfunctional cardiomyocytes, apoptosis and ultimately heart failure. VEGF promotes cardiomyocyte contractility by increasing calcium transients to control the strength of the heartbeat. Here, we describe a method to measure mitochondrial Ca2+ fluxes in human ventricular cardiomocytes after inducing stretch-mediated hypertrophy in vitro.
    Keywords:  AC16; Calcium; Cardiomyocyte; Cyclic stretch; Hypertrophy; Mechanotransduction
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2217-9_15
  7. Cells. 2022 Apr 08. pii: 1269. [Epub ahead of print]11(8):
    Steady-State Levels of Miro1 Linked to Phosphorylation at Serine 156 and Mitochondrial Respiration in Dopaminergic Neurons.
    Lisa Schwarz, Julia C Fitzgerald.
      Miro1 has emerged as an interesting target to study Parkinson's disease-relevant pathways since it is a target of PINK1 and Parkin. Miro1 is a mitochondrial GTPase with the primary function of facilitating mitochondrial movement, and its knockout in mice is postnatally lethal. Here, we investigated the effect of the artificial RHOT1/Miro1 S156A mutation since it is a putative PINK1 phosphorylation site shown to be involved in Miro1 degradation and mitochondrial arrest during mitophagy. We gene-edited a homozygous phospho-null Miro1 S156A mutation in induced pluripotent stem cells to study the mutation in human dopaminergic neurons. This mutation causes a significant depletion of Miro1 steady-state protein levels and impairs further Miro1 degradation upon CCCP-induced mitophagy. However, mitochondrial mass measured by Tom20 protein levels, as well as mitochondrial area, are not affected in Miro1 S156A neurons. The mitochondria are slightly lengthened, which is in line with their increased turnover. Under basal conditions, we found no discernable effect of the mutation on mitochondrial movement in neurites. Interestingly, the S156A mutation leads to a significant reduction of mitochondrial oxygen consumption, which is accompanied by a depletion of OXPHOS complexes III and V. These effects are not mirrored by Miro1 knockdown in neuroblastoma cells, but they are observed upon differentiation. Undifferentiated Miro1 S156A neural precursor cells do not have decreased Miro1 levels nor OXPHOS complexes, suggesting that the effect of the mutation is tied to development. In mature dopaminergic neurons, the inhibition of Miro1 Ser156 phosphorylation elicits a mild loss of mitochondrial quality involving reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, which is sufficient to induce compensatory events involving OXPHOS. We suggest that the mechanism governing Miro1 steady-state levels depends on differentiation state and metabolic demand, thus underscoring the importance of this pathway in the pathobiology of Parkinson's disease.
    Keywords:  Miro1; PINK1; Parkinson’s disease; mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11081269
  8. Mov Disord. 2022 Apr 23.
    Parkin Deficiency Impairs Mitochondrial DNA Dynamics and Propagates Inflammation.
    Kobi Wasner, Semra Smajic, Jenny Ghelfi, Sylvie Delcambre, Cesar A Prada-Medina, Evelyn Knappe, Giuseppe Arena, Patrycja Mulica, Gideon Agyeah, Aleksandar Rakovic, Ibrahim Boussaad, Katja Badanjak, Jochen Ohnmacht, Jean-Jacques Gérardy, Masashi Takanashi, Joanne Trinh, Michel Mittelbronn, Nobutaka Hattori, Christine Klein, Paul Antony, Philip Seibler, Malte Spielmann, Sandro L Pereira, Anne Grünewald.
      BACKGROUND: Mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin cause autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD). Together with PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), parkin regulates the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria. New mitochondria are generated through an interplay of nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded proteins, and recent studies suggest that parkin influences this process at both levels. In addition, parkin was shown to prevent mitochondrial membrane permeability, impeding mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) escape and subsequent neuroinflammation. However, parkin's regulatory roles independent of mitophagy are not well described in patient-derived neurons.OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate parkin's role in preventing neuronal mtDNA dyshomeostasis, release, and glial activation at the endogenous level.
    METHODS: We generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived midbrain neurons from PD patients with parkin (PRKN) mutations and healthy controls. Live-cell imaging, proteomic, mtDNA integrity, and gene expression analyses were employed to investigate mitochondrial biogenesis and genome maintenance. To assess neuroinflammation, we performed single-nuclei RNA sequencing in postmortem tissue and quantified interleukin expression in mtDNA/lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-treated iPSC-derived neuron-microglia co-cultures.
    RESULTS: Neurons from patients with PRKN mutations revealed deficits in the mitochondrial biogenesis pathway, resulting in mtDNA dyshomeostasis. Moreover, the energy sensor sirtuin 1, which controls mitochondrial biogenesis and clearance, was downregulated in parkin-deficient cells. Linking mtDNA disintegration to neuroinflammation, in postmortem midbrain with PRKN mutations, we confirmed mtDNA dyshomeostasis and detected an upregulation of microglia overexpressing proinflammatory cytokines. Finally, parkin-deficient neuron-microglia co-cultures elicited an enhanced immune response when exposed to mtDNA/LPS.
    CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that parkin coregulates mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mtDNA maintenance pathways, thereby protecting midbrain neurons from neuroinflammation and degeneration. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
    Keywords:  Parkinson's disease; induced pluripotent stem cells; mitochondrial DNA; parkin; neuroinflammation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.29025
  9. Genes (Basel). 2022 Apr 08. pii: 656. [Epub ahead of print]13(4):
    Barth Syndrome Cardiomyopathy: An Update.
    Jing Pang, Yutong Bao, Kalia Mitchell-Silbaugh, Jennifer Veevers, Xi Fang.
      Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an X-linked mitochondrial lipid disorder caused by mutations in the TAFAZZIN (TAZ) gene, which encodes a mitochondrial acyltransferase/transacylase required for cardiolipin (CL) biosynthesis. Cardiomyopathy is a major clinical feature of BTHS. During the past four decades, we have witnessed many landmark discoveries that have led to a greater understanding of clinical features of BTHS cardiomyopathy and their molecular basis, as well as the therapeutic targets for this disease. Recently published Taz knockout mouse models provide useful experimental models for studying BTHS cardiomyopathy and testing potential therapeutic approaches. This review aims to summarize key findings of the clinical features, molecular mechanisms, and potential therapeutic approaches for BTHS cardiomyopathy, with particular emphasis on the most recent studies.
    Keywords:  Barth syndrome; TAFAZZIN; cardiolipin; cardiomyopathy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13040656
  10. Neuron. 2022 Apr 15. pii: S0896-6273(22)00251-3. [Epub ahead of print]
    Programming axonal mitochondrial maintenance and bioenergetics in neurodegeneration and regeneration.
    Xiu-Tang Cheng, Ning Huang, Zu-Hang Sheng.
      Mitochondria generate ATP essential for neuronal growth, function, and regeneration. Due to their polarized structures, neurons face exceptional challenges to deliver mitochondria to and maintain energy homeostasis throughout long axons and terminal branches where energy is in high demand. Chronic mitochondrial dysfunction accompanied by bioenergetic failure is a pathological hallmark of major neurodegenerative diseases. Brain injury triggers acute mitochondrial damage and a local energy crisis that accelerates neuron death. Thus, mitochondrial maintenance defects and axonal energy deficits emerge as central problems in neurodegenerative disorders and brain injury. Recent studies have started to uncover the intrinsic mechanisms that neurons adopt to maintain (or reprogram) axonal mitochondrial density and integrity, and their bioenergetic capacity, upon sensing energy stress. In this review, we discuss recent advances in how neurons maintain a healthy pool of axonal mitochondria, as well as potential therapeutic strategies that target bioenergetic restoration to power neuronal survival, function, and regeneration.
    Keywords:  axonal transport; bioenergetic failure; brain injury; energy deficits; energy metabolism; energy recovery; ischemia; mitochondrial anchoring; mitochondrial quality control; neurodegeneration
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.03.015
  11. JIMD Rep. 2022 May;63(3): 207-210
    Reversible sensory neuropathy in mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency.
    Sarah Catharina Grünert, Matthias Eckenweiler, Ute Spiekerkoetter.
      Axonal peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiency and long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency that is usually considered progressive. Current treatment strategies are not able to fully prevent neuropathic symptoms in the majority of patients. We herein report three sisters with genetically proven MTP deficiency who were untreated until adolescence, when electrophysiological studies first revealed isolated axonal sensory neuropathy. Apart from mild exercise intolerance and missing deep tendon reflexes of the lower extremities, all three girls were clinically asymptomatic. A fat-reduced and fat-modified diet together with a reduction of the nocturnal fasting time resulted in complete normalisation of the electrophysiological studies after 1 year of dietary treatment. Our findings suggest that neuropathy might be responsive to dietary interventions in MTP patients at a very early stage of disease.
    Keywords:  LCHAD; MTP; electrophysiology; long‐chain 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency; mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency; nerve conduction; neuropathy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jmd2.12279
  12. Nat Cell Biol. 2022 Apr 21.
    The PPR domain of mitochondrial RNA polymerase is an exoribonuclease required for mtDNA replication in Drosophila melanogaster.
    Yi Liu, Zhe Chen, Zong-Heng Wang, Katherine M Delaney, Juanjie Tang, Mehdi Pirooznia, Duck-Yeon Lee, Ilker Tunc, Yuesheng Li, Hong Xu.
      Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and transcription are of paramount importance to cellular energy metabolism. Mitochondrial RNA polymerase is thought to be the primase for mtDNA replication. However, it is unclear how this enzyme, which normally transcribes long polycistronic RNAs, can produce short RNA oligonucleotides to initiate mtDNA replication. We show that the PPR domain of Drosophila mitochondrial RNA polymerase (PolrMT) has 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease activity, which is indispensable for PolrMT to synthesize short RNA oligonucleotides and prime DNA replication in vitro. An exoribonuclease-deficient mutant, PolrMTE423P, partially restores mitochondrial transcription but fails to support mtDNA replication when expressed in PolrMT-mutant flies, indicating that the exoribonuclease activity is necessary for mtDNA replication. In addition, overexpression of PolrMTE423P in adult flies leads to severe neuromuscular defects and a marked increase in mtDNA transcript errors, suggesting that exoribonuclease activity may contribute to the proofreading of mtDNA transcription.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-00887-y
  13. Nat Rev Genet. 2022 Apr 22.
    Organization and expression of the mammalian mitochondrial genome.
    Oliver Rackham, Aleksandra Filipovska.
      The mitochondrial genome encodes core subunits of the respiratory chain that drives oxidative phosphorylation and is, therefore, essential for energy conversion. Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies and cryoelectron microscopy have shed light on the structure and organization of the mitochondrial genome and revealed unique mechanisms of mitochondrial gene regulation. New animal models of impaired mitochondrial protein synthesis have shown how the coordinated regulation of the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial translation machineries ensures the correct assembly of the respiratory chain complexes. These new technologies and disease models are providing a deeper understanding of mitochondrial genome organization and expression and of the diseases caused by impaired energy conversion, including mitochondrial, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. They also provide avenues for the development of treatments for these conditions.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-022-00480-x
  14. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Apr 08. pii: 741. [Epub ahead of print]11(4):
    Multicentric Standardization of Protocols for the Diagnosis of Human Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Defects.
    Nuria Bujan, Constanza Morén, Francesc J García-García, Alberto Blázquez, Clara Carnicer, Ana Belén Cortés, Cristina González, Ester López-Gallardo, Ester Lozano, Sonia Moliner, Laura Gort, Ester Tobías, Aitor Delmiro, Miguel Ángel Martin, Miguel Ángel Fernández-Moreno, Eduardo Ruiz-Pesini, Elena Garcia-Arumí, Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Aguilera, Glòria Garrabou.
      The quantification of mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) enzymatic activities is essential for diagnosis of a wide range of mitochondrial diseases, ranging from inherited defects to secondary dysfunctions. MRC lesion is frequently linked to extended cell damage through the generation of proton leak or oxidative stress, threatening organ viability and patient health. However, the intrinsic challenge of a methodological setup and the high variability in measuring MRC enzymatic activities represents a major obstacle for comparative analysis amongst institutions. To improve experimental and statistical robustness, seven Spanish centers with extensive experience in mitochondrial research and diagnosis joined to standardize common protocols for spectrophotometric MRC enzymatic measurements using minimum amounts of sample. Herein, we present the detailed protocols, reference ranges, tips and troubleshooting methods for experimental and analytical setups in different sample preparations and tissues that will allow an international standardization of common protocols for the diagnosis of MRC defects. Methodological standardization is a crucial step to obtain comparable reference ranges and international standards for laboratory assays to set the path for further diagnosis and research in the field of mitochondrial diseases.
    Keywords:  diagnosis; enzyme activity; mitochondrial disease; mitochondrial respiratory chain; standardization
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11040741
  15. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Mar 30. pii: 665. [Epub ahead of print]11(4):
    Mechanisms and Therapeutic Effects of Benzoquinone Ring Analogs in Primary CoQ Deficiencies.
    Alba Pesini, Agustin Hidalgo-Gutierrez, Catarina M Quinzii.
      Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is a conserved polyprenylated lipid composed of a redox-active benzoquinone ring and a long polyisoprenyl tail that serves as a membrane anchor. CoQ biosynthesis involves multiple steps, including multiple modifications of the precursor ring 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Mutations in the enzymes involved in CoQ biosynthesis pathway result in primary coenzyme Q deficiencies, mitochondrial disorders whose clinical heterogenicity reflects the multiple biological function of CoQ. Patients with these disorders do not always respond to CoQ supplementation, and CoQ analogs have not been successful as alternative approaches. Progress made in understanding the CoQ biosynthesis pathway and studies of supplementation with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid ring analogs have opened a new area in the field of primary CoQ deficiencies treatment. Here, we will review these studies, focusing on efficacy of the different 4-hydroxybenzoic acid ring analogs, models in which they have been tested, and their mechanisms of action. Understanding how these compounds ameliorate biochemical, molecular, and/or clinical phenotypes of CoQ deficiencies is important to develop the most rational treatment for CoQ deficient patients, depending on their molecular defects.
    Keywords:  4-hydroxybenzoic acid; analogs; coenzyme Q10; mitochondria; preclinical models
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11040665
  16. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Apr 08. pii: 4149. [Epub ahead of print]23(8):
    Replicative Stress Coincides with Impaired Nuclear DNA Damage Response in COX4-1 Deficiency.
    Liza Douiev, Chaya Miller, Guy Keller, Hadar Benyamini, Bassam Abu-Libdeh, Ann Saada.
      Cytochrome c oxidase (COX), a multimeric protein complex, is the final electron acceptor in the mitochondrial electron transfer chain. Primary COX deficiency, caused by mutations in either mitochondrial DNA or nuclear-encoded genes, is a heterogenous group of mitochondrial diseases with a wide range of presentations, ranging from fatal infantile to subtler. We previously reported a patient with primary COX deficiency due to a pathogenic variant in COX4I1 (encoding the common isoform of COX subunit 4, COX4-1), who presented with bone marrow failure, genomic instability, and short stature, mimicking Fanconi anemia (FA). In the present study, we demonstrated that accumulative DNA damage coincided primarily with proliferative cells in the patient's fibroblasts and in COX4i1 knockdown cells. Expression analysis implicated a reduction in DNA damage response pathways, which was verified by demonstrating impaired recovery from genotoxic insult and decreased DNA repair. The premature senescence of the COX4-1-deficient cells prevented us from undertaking additional studies; nevertheless, taken together, our results indicate replicative stress and impaired nuclear DNA damage response in COX4-1 deficiency. Interestingly, our in vitro findings recapitulated the patient's presentation and present status.
    Keywords:  COX4i1; DNA damage; cytochrome c oxidase; mitochondria; mitochondrial respiratory chain; replicative stress
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084149
  17. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Apr 18. pii: S1084-9521(22)00122-7. [Epub ahead of print]
    Mitochondrial respiratory quiescence: A new model for examining the role of mitochondrial metabolism in development.
    Helin Hocaoglu, Matthew Sieber.
      Mitochondria are vital organelles with a central role in all aspects of cellular metabolism. As a means to support the ever-changing demands of the cell, mitochondria produce energy, drive biosynthetic processes, maintain redox homeostasis, and function as a hub for cell signaling. While mitochondria have been widely studied for their role in disease and metabolic dysfunction, this organelle has a continually evolving role in the regulation of development, wound repair, and regeneration. Mitochondrial metabolism dynamically changes as tissues transition through distinct phases of development. These organelles support the energetic and biosynthetic demands of developing cells and function as key structures that coordinate the nutrient status of the organism with developmental progression. This review will examine the mechanisms that link mitochondria to developmental processes. We will also examine the process of mitochondrial respiratory quiescence (MRQ), a novel mechanism for regulating cellular metabolism through the biochemical and physiological remodeling of mitochondria. Lastly, we will examine MRQ as a system to discover the mechanisms that drive mitochondrial remodeling during development.
    Keywords:  Cancer; Drosophila; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Oocytes; Quiescence; Reprogramming; Stem cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.040
  18. Neurobiol Dis. 2022 Apr 19. pii: S0969-9961(22)00129-2. [Epub ahead of print] 105737
    SOD1 mediates lysosome-to-mitochondria communication and its dysregulation by amyloid-β oligomers.
    Andrés Norambuena, Xuehan Sun, Horst Wallrabe, Ruofan Cao, Naidi Sun, Evelyn Pardo, Nutan Shivange, Dora Bigler Wang, Lisa A Post, Heather A Ferris, Song Hu, Ammasi Periasamy, George S Bloom.
      Altered mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) occurs in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD); how mtDNA synthesis is linked to neurodegeneration is poorly understood. We previously discovered Nutrient-induced Mitochondrial Activity (NiMA), an inter-organelle signaling pathway where nutrient-stimulated lysosomal mTORC1 activity regulates mtDNA replication in neurons by a mechanism sensitive to amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs), a primary factor in AD pathogenesis (Norambuena et al., 2018). Using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation into mtDNA of cultured neurons, along with photoacoustic and mitochondrial metabolic imaging of cultured neurons and mouse brains, we show these effects being mediated by mTORC1-catalyzed T40 phosphorylation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Mechanistically, tau, another key factor in AD pathogenesis and other tauopathies, reduced the lysosomal content of the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), thereby increasing NiMA and suppressing SOD1 activity and mtDNA synthesis. AβOs inhibited these actions. Dysregulation of mtDNA synthesis was observed in fibroblasts derived from tuberous sclerosis (TS) patients, who lack functional TSC and elevated SOD1 activity was also observed in human AD brain. Together, these findings imply that tau and SOD1 couple nutrient availability to mtDNA replication, linking mitochondrial dysfunction to AD.
    Keywords:  Alzheimer's disease; Amino acids; Insulin; Tau; mTOR
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105737
  19. Life Sci Alliance. 2022 Aug;pii: e202101309. [Epub ahead of print]5(8):
    Phospholipids alter activity and stability of mitochondrial membrane-bound ubiquitin ligase MARCH5.
    Lisa Merklinger, Johannes Bauer, Per A Pedersen, Rune Busk Damgaard, J Preben Morth.
      Mitochondrial homeostasis is tightly controlled by ubiquitination. The mitochondrial integral membrane ubiquitin ligase MARCH5 is a crucial regulator of mitochondrial membrane fission, fusion, and disposal through mitophagy. In addition, the lipid composition of mitochondrial membranes can determine mitochondrial dynamics and organelle turnover. However, how lipids influence the ubiquitination processes that control mitochondrial homeostasis remains unknown. Here, we show that lipids common to the mitochondrial membranes interact with MARCH5 and affect its activity and stability depending on the lipid composition in vitro. As the only one of the tested lipids, cardiolipin binding to purified MARCH5 induces a significant decrease in thermal stability, whereas stabilisation increases the strongest in the presence of phosphatidic acid. Furthermore, we observe that the addition of lipids to purified MARCH5 alters the ubiquitination pattern. Specifically, cardiolipin enhances auto-ubiquitination of MARCH5. Our work shows that lipids can directly affect the activity of ubiquitin ligases and suggests that the lipid composition in mitochondrial membranes could control ubiquitination-dependent mechanisms that regulate the dynamics and turnover of mitochondria.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202101309
  20. J Chem Inf Model. 2022 Apr 20.
    Novel US-CpHMD Protocol to Study the Protonation-Dependent Mechanism of the ATP/ADP Carrier.
    Nuno F B Oliveira, Miguel Machuqueiro.
      We have designed a protocol combining constant-pH molecular dynamics (CpHMD) simulations with an umbrella sampling (US) scheme (US-CpHMD) to study the mechanism of ADP/ATP transport (import and export) by their inner mitochondrial membrane carrier protein [ADP/ATP carrier (AAC)]. The US scheme helped overcome the limitations of sampling the slow kinetics involved in these substrates' transport, while CpHMD simulations provided an unprecedented realism by correctly capturing the associated protonation changes. The import of anionic substrates along the mitochondrial membrane has a strong energetic disadvantage due to a smaller substrate concentration and an unfavorable membrane potential. These limitations may have created an evolutionary pressure on AAC to develop specific features benefiting the import of ADP. In our work, the potential of mean force profiles showed a clear selectivity in the import of ADP compared to ATP, while in the export, no selectivity was observed. We also observed that AAC sequestered both substrates at longer distances in the import compared to the export process. Furthermore, only in the import process do we observe transient protonation of both substrates when going through the AAC cavity, which is an important advantage to counteract the unfavorable mitochondrial membrane potential. Finally, we observed a substrate-induced disruption of the matrix salt-bridge network, which can promote the conformational transition (from the C- to M-state) required to complete the import process. This work unraveled several important structural features where the complex electrostatic interactions were pivotal to interpreting the protein function and illustrated the potential of applying the US-CpHMD protocol to other transport processes involving membrane proteins.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00233
  21. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Apr 15. pii: 4384. [Epub ahead of print]23(8):
    Phenotype of Mrps5-Associated Phylogenetic Polymorphisms Is Intimately Linked to Mitoribosomal Misreading.
    Reda Juskeviciene, Ann-Kristina Fritz, Margarita Brilkova, Rashid Akbergenov, Karen Schmitt, Hubert Rehrauer, Endre Laczko, Patricia Isnard-Petit, Kader Thiam, Anne Eckert, Jochen Schacht, David P Wolfer, Erik C Böttger, Dimitri Shcherbakov.
      We have recently identified point mutation V336Y in mitoribosomal protein Mrps5 (uS5m) as a mitoribosomal ram (ribosomal ambiguity) mutation conferring error-prone mitochondrial protein synthesis. In vivo in transgenic knock-in animals, homologous mutation V338Y was associated with a discrete phenotype including impaired mitochondrial function, anxiety-related behavioral alterations, enhanced susceptibility to noise-induced hearing damage, and accelerated metabolic aging in muscle. To challenge the postulated link between Mrps5 V338Y-mediated misreading and the in vivo phenotype, we introduced mutation G315R into the mouse Mrps5 gene as Mrps5 G315R is homologous to the established bacterial ram mutation RpsE (uS5) G104R. However, in contrast to bacterial translation, the homologous G → R mutation in mitoribosomal Mrps5 did not affect the accuracy of mitochondrial protein synthesis. Importantly, in the absence of mitochondrial misreading, homozygous mutant MrpS5G315R/G315R mice did not show a phenotype distinct from wild-type animals.
    Keywords:  misreading; mitochondria; mitoribosomal protein; point mutation; protein synthesis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084384
  22. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2022 Apr-Jun;65(2):65(2): 501-503
    Atypical mitochondrial myopathy - A clinical enigma deciphered by muscle biopsy.
    Senthilvelan Thenmozhi, Balan Louis Gaspar, Arikrishnan Thelengana.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPM.IJPM_882_20
  23. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 ;14 888952
    Editorial: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Stroke.
    Feng Yan, Hailiang Tang, Lin Wang, Lei Huang, John Zhang.
      
    Keywords:  mitochondrial dynamics; mitochondrial dysfunction; mitochondrial transfer; mitophagy and apoptosis; stroke
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.888952
  24. Elife. 2022 Apr 22. pii: e71634. [Epub ahead of print]11
    A tRNA processing enzyme is a key regulator of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response.
    James P Held, Gaomin Feng, Benjamin R Saunders, Claudia V Pereria, Kristopher Burkewitz, Maulik R Patel.
      The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) has emerged as a predominant mechanism that preserves mitochondrial function. Consequently, multiple pathways likely exist to modulate UPRmt. We discovered that the tRNA processing enzyme, homolog of ELAC2 (HOE-1), is key to UPRmt regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that nuclear HOE-1 is necessary and sufficient to robustly activate UPRmt. We show that HOE-1 acts via transcription factors ATFS-1 and DVE-1 that are crucial for UPRmt. Mechanistically, we show that HOE-1 likely mediates its effects via tRNAs, as blocking tRNA export prevents HOE-1-induced UPRmt. Interestingly, we find that HOE-1 does not act via the integrated stress response, which can be activated by uncharged tRNAs, pointing towards its reliance on a new mechanism. Finally, we show that the subcellular localization of HOE-1 is responsive to mitochondrial stress and is subject to negative regulation via ATFS-1. Together, we have discovered a novel RNA-based cellular pathway that modulates UPRmt.
    Keywords:  C. elegans; cell biology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.71634
  25. Mol Genet Metab. 2022 Apr 11. pii: S1096-7192(22)00297-9. [Epub ahead of print]
    Response to triheptanoin therapy in critically ill patients with LC-FAOD: Report of patients treated through an expanded access program.
    Jerry Vockley, Gregory M Enns, Antonio Nino Ramirez, Camille L Bedrosian, Bridget Reineking, Xiaoxiao Lu, Kathryn Ray, Syeda Rahman, Deborah Marsden.
      Long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAOD) are a group of inborn errors of metabolism wherein patients are unable to process long-chain fatty acids into useable energy in the mitochondria. LC-FAOD commonly affects organ systems with high energy demand, manifesting as hypoketotic hypoglycemia, liver dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and skeletal myopathy, as well as peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy in some subtypes. Collectively, LC-FAOD have a high mortality rate, especially in cases of early onset disease, and in the presence of cardiomyopathy. Triheptanoin is a synthetic medium-odd chain triglyceride, produced using a GMP-compliant process, which was designed to replenish mitochondrial metabolic deficits and restore energy homeostasis. Prior to its approval, triheptanoin was only available through clinical trials or to seriously ill patients as part of an expanded access program (EAP) following physician request. This retrospective study examined the impact of triheptanoin on cardiovascular parameters, in critically ill patients who participated in the EAP from February 2013 to January 2018. These patients persisted in critical condition despite receiving standard treatment in highly qualified centers by expert metabolic physicians and dietitians. Physician-completed questionnaires and narrative summaries were used to evaluate the disease presentation and management prior to the trigger event leading to triheptanoin request and use, and the response to triheptanoin treatment. Following triheptanoin initiation, most patients survived the initial trigger event (e.g., severe urinary tract infection, pneumonia) and demonstrated improvements in both short-term and long-term LC-FAOD manifestations. In patients with cardiomyopathy, stabilization or improvement from pretreatment levels was reported in left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular mass, in particular, all infants with cardiomyopathy showed improvement in cardiac function during triheptanoin therapy. Triheptanoin therapy was generally well tolerated. The study results are consistent with the existing positive benefit/risk profile of triheptanoin and reflect the effect of triheptanoin improving cardiac function in patients experiencing severe episodes of metabolic decompensation despite standard therapy.
    Keywords:  Fatty acid oxidation disorder; LC-FAOD; Triheptanoin
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgme.2022.04.001
  26. Pract Neurol. 2022 Apr 21. pii: practneurol-2022-003356. [Epub ahead of print]
    Radiological clues to a mitochondrial problem.
    Jonathan Hawken, Paul Tobin, Mo Hu, Marc Edwards, Srinivasa Abburu, William Owen Pickrell.
      
    Keywords:  mitochondrial disorders; neuroradiology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1136/practneurol-2022-003356
  27. Pharmaceutics. 2022 Mar 31. pii: 757. [Epub ahead of print]14(4):
    Peptides vs. Polymers: Searching for the Most Efficient Delivery System for Mitochondrial Gene Therapy.
    Rúben Faria, Milan Paul, Swati Biswas, Eric Vivès, Prisca Boisguérin, Ângela Sousa, Diana Costa.
      Together with the nucleus, the mitochondrion has its own genome. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA are responsible for a variety of disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Current therapeutic approaches are not effective. In this sense, mitochondrial gene therapy emerges as a valuable and promising therapeutic tool. To accomplish this goal, the design/development of a mitochondrial-specific gene delivery system is imperative. In this work, we explored the ability of novel polymer- and peptide-based systems for mitochondrial targeting, gene delivery, and protein expression, performing a comparison between them to reveal the most adequate system for mitochondrial gene therapy. Therefore, we synthesized a novel mitochondria-targeting polymer (polyethylenimine-dequalinium) to load and complex a mitochondrial-gene-based plasmid. The polymeric complexes exhibited physicochemical properties and cytotoxic profiles dependent on the nitrogen-to-phosphate-group ratio (N/P). A fluorescence confocal microscopy study revealed the mitochondrial targeting specificity of polymeric complexes. Moreover, transfection mediated by polymer and peptide delivery systems led to gene expression in mitochondria. Additionally, the mitochondrial protein was produced. A comparative study between polymeric and peptide/plasmid DNA complexes showed the great capacity of peptides to complex pDNA at lower N/P ratios, forming smaller particles bearing a positive charge, with repercussions on their capacity for cellular transfection, mitochondria targeting and, ultimately, gene delivery and protein expression. This report is a significant contribution to the implementation of mitochondrial gene therapy, instigating further research on the development of peptide-based delivery systems towards clinical translation.
    Keywords:  PEI-based complexes; cell-penetrating peptides; mitochondria targeting; mitochondrial DNA diseases; mitochondrial gene therapy; nanodelivery systems
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14040757
  28. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2022 Apr 04. pii: S0006-291X(22)00515-0. [Epub ahead of print]609 149-155
    Mitochondrial localization of calpain-13 in mouse brain.
    Eiji Funajima, Ginga Ito, Eri Ishiyama, Kinji Ishida, Taku Ozaki.
      Calpains are Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases involved in various intercellular physiological functions. Although most calpains exist in the cytosol, four isoforms of calpain (calpains-1, -2, -5, -10) are also localized in the mitochondria. In the present study, we examined the mitochondrial localization of calpain-13, as a novel mitochondrial calpain, in C57BL/6J mice. The tissue distribution and mitochondrial subfractionation of calpain-13 were investigated using western blotting. Calpain-13 was present in both the mitochondrial membrane (outer membrane and inner membrane) and soluble (intermembrane space and matrix) fractions. Through immunohistochemistry, calpain-13 was found to be expressed in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mouse brain. We further confirmed the localization of calpain-13 in the mitochondria of the mouse brain using immunoelectron microscopy. Our present study thus revealed that calpain-13 is localized in the mitochondria, in addition to the cytosol, in the mouse brain. Future studies investigating the enzymatic properties and physiological functions of both cytosolic and mitochondrial calpain-13 will shed light on the potential involvement of calpain-13 in neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
    Keywords:  Brain; Calpain-13; Cerebral cortex; Hippocampus; Mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.04.002
  29. JIMD Rep. 2022 May;63(3): 193-198
    Novel mutations in the HADHB gene causing a mild phenotype of mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiency.
    Kristin Ørstavik, Kjell Arne Arntzen, Per Mathisen, Paul Hoff Backe, Trine Tangeraas, Magnhild Rasmussen, Erle Kristensen, Marijke Van Ghelue, Christoffer Jonsrud, Yngve Thomas Bliksrud.
      Mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiency is an ultrarare hereditary recessive disorder causing a broad spectrum of phenotypes with lethal infantile cardiomyopathy at the most severe end. Attenuated forms with polyneuropathy have been reported combined with myoglobinuria or rhabdomyolysis as key features. We here report three young adults (two siblings) in which three variants in the HADHB-gene were identified. All three cases had a similar mild phenotype with axonal neuropathy and frequent intermittent weakness episodes but without myoglobinuria. Special dietary precautions were recommended to minimize complications especially during infections and other catabolic states. MTP deficiency is therefore an important differential diagnosis in patients with milder fluctuating neuromuscular symptoms.Take‐home message: Axonal neuropathy and recurrent muscular weakness without concomitant rhabdomyolysis may be due to MTP deficiency.
    Keywords:  HADHB; MTP; mutation; neuropathy; weakness
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jmd2.12276
  30. Front Mol Biosci. 2022 ;9 840364
    Mitochondrial Extracellular Vesicles in CNS Disorders: New Frontiers in Understanding the Neurological Disorders of the Brain.
    Mary F Nakamya, Susmita Sil, Shilpa Buch, Ramin M Hakami.
      Recent findings have highlighted potential diagnostic and prognostic values of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contain mitochondrial derived components for neurological disorders. Furthermore, functional influences of vesicles carrying mitochondrial components have been reported. In particular, this includes indications of crosstalk with mitophagy to influence progression of various CNS disorders. In this mini-review, we discuss the current state of knowledge about this intriguing class of vesicles in neurological disorders of the CNS, and outline the lacunae and thus scope of further development in this fascinating field of study.
    Keywords:  CNS disorders; extracellular vesicles; mitochondria; mitochondria-derived vesicles; mitochondrial dysfunction; mitophagy; oxidative stress
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2022.840364
  31. PeerJ. 2022 ;10 e13265
    Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing of Malaysian patients with cardiomyopathy.
    Sheh Wen Kuan, Kek Heng Chua, E-Wei Tan, Lay Koon Tan, Alexander Loch, Boon Pin Kee.
      Cardiomyopathy (CMP) constitutes a diverse group of myocardium diseases affecting the pumping ability of the heart. Genetic predisposition is among the major factors affecting the development of CMP. Globally, there are over 100 genes in autosomal and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that have been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of CMP. However, most of the genetic studies have been conducted in Western countries, with limited data being available for the Asian population. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the mutation spectrum in the mitochondrial genome of 145 CMP patients in Malaysia. Long-range PCR was employed to amplify the entire mtDNA, and whole mitochondrial genome sequencing was conducted on the MiSeq platform. Raw data was quality checked, mapped, and aligned to the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS). Variants were named, annotated, and filtered. The sequencing revealed 1,077 variants, including 18 novel and 17 CMP and/or mitochondrial disease-associated variants after filtering. In-silico predictions suggested that three of the novel variants (m.8573G>C, m.11916T>A and m.11918T>G) in this study are potentially pathogenic. Two confirmed pathogenic variants (m.1555A>G and m.11778G>A) were also found in the CMP patients. The findings of this study shed light on the distribution of mitochondrial mutations in Malaysian CMP patients. Further functional studies are required to elucidate the role of these variants in the development of CMP.
    Keywords:  Cardiomyopathy; DCM; HCM; NGS; Whole mitochondrial genome sequencing; mtDNA
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13265
  32. Am J Ophthalmol. 2022 Apr 19. pii: S0002-9394(22)00119-2. [Epub ahead of print]
    The pattern of retinal ganglion cell loss in Wolfram syndrome is distinct from mitochondrial optic neuropathies.
    Piero Barboni, Giulia Amore, Maria Lucia Cascavilla, Marco Battista, Giulio Frontino, Martina Romagnoli, Leonardo Caporali, Cristina Baldoli, Laura Ludovica Gramegna, Elisa Sessagesimi, Riccardo Bonfanti, Andrea Romagnoli, Roberta Scotti, Maria Brambati, Michele Carbonelli, Vincenzo Starace, Claudio Fiorini, Roberta Panebianco, Vincenzo Parisi, Caterina Tonon, Francesco Bandello, Valerio Carelli, Chiara La Morgia.
      PURPOSE: To describe the clinical phenotype of a cohort of Wolfram syndrome (WS) patients, focusing on the pattern of optic atrophy correlated with brain MRI measurements, as compared to OPA1-associated mitochondrial optic neuropathy.DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative cohort study METHODS: 25 WS patients and 33 age-matched patients affected by OPA1-related Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA). Ophthalmological, neurological, endocrinological and MRI data from WS patients were retrospectively retrieved. Ophthalmological data were compared to OPA1-related DOA and further analyzed for age dependency dividing patients in age quartiles. In a subgroup of WS patients, we correlated the structural damage assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) with brain MRI morphological measurements. Visual acuity (VA), visual field mean defect (MD), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness assessed by OCT, MRI morphological measurements of anterior and posterior visual pathways.
    RESULTS: In our cohort optic atrophy was present in 100% of WS patients. VA, MD and RNFL thickness loss were worse in WS patients with a faster decline since early age as compared to DOA patients, who displayed a more stable visual function over the years. Conversely, GCL sectors were overall thinner in DOA patients since early age compared to WS, in which GCL thickness started to decline later in life. The neuroradiological sub-analysis on 11 WS patients exhibited bilateral thinning of the anterior optic pathway, especially prechiasmatic optic nerves and optic tracts. Optic tract thinning was significantly correlated with the GCL thickness but not with RNFL parameters.
    CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a generally more severe and diffuse degeneration of both anterior and posterior visual pathways in WS, with fast deterioration of visual function and structural OCT parameters since early age. The pattern observed at OCT suggests that retinal ganglion cells axonal degeneration (i.e. RNFL) precedes of about a decade the cellular body atrophy (i.e. GCL). This differs substantially from DOA, in which a more stable visual function is evident with predominant early loss of GCL, indirectly supporting the lack of a primary mitochondrial dysfunction in WS.
    Keywords:  Wolfram syndrome; ganglion cells; optic neuropathy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2022.03.019
  33. J Neuroophthalmol. 2022 Apr 19.
    Visual Recovery in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy From a Rare mt.14568 Mutation on ND6 Gene.
    Nooran O Badeeb, Rustum Karanjia.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/WNO.0000000000001565
  34. Sci Rep. 2022 Apr 22. 12(1): 6660
    Automated quantitative high-throughput multiplex immunofluorescence pipeline to evaluate OXPHOS defects in formalin-fixed human prostate tissue.
    Ashwin Sachdeva, Claire A Hart, Christopher D Carey, Amy E Vincent, Laura C Greaves, Rakesh Heer, Pedro Oliveira, Michael D Brown, Noel W Clarke, Doug M Turnbull.
      Advances in multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and digital image analysis has enabled simultaneous assessment of protein defects in electron transport chain components. However, current manual methodology is time consuming and labour intensive. Therefore, we developed an automated high-throughput mIF workflow for quantitative single-cell level assessment of formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE), leveraging tyramide signal amplification on a Ventana Ultra platform coupled with automated multispectral imaging on a Vectra 3 platform. Utilising this protocol, we assessed the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) protein alterations in a cohort of benign and malignant prostate samples. Mitochondrial OXPHOS plays a critical role in cell metabolism, and OXPHOS perturbation is implicated in carcinogenesis. Marked inter-patient, intra-patient and spatial cellular heterogeneity in OXPHOS protein abundance was observed. We noted frequent Complex IV loss in benign prostate tissue and Complex I loss in age matched prostate cancer tissues. Malignant regions within prostate cancer samples more frequently contained cells with low Complex I & IV and high mitochondrial mass in comparison to benign-adjacent regions. This methodology can now be applied more widely to study the frequency and distribution of OXPHOS alterations in formalin-fixed tissues, and their impact on long-term clinical outcomes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10588-z
  35. Life (Basel). 2022 Apr 06. pii: 543. [Epub ahead of print]12(4):
    Long-Term Progression and Rapid Decline in Hearing Loss in Patients with a Point Mutation at Nucleotide 3243 of the Mitochondrial DNA.
    Aki Sakata, Akinori Kashio, Hajime Koyama, Tsukasa Uranaka, Shinichi Iwasaki, Chisato Fujimoto, Makoto Kinoshita, Tatsuya Yamasoba.
      Patients with m.3243A>G mutation of mitochondrial DNA develop bilaterally symmetric sensorineural hearing loss. However, it is unclear how fast their hearing loss progresses over time, and whether they experience rapid progression of hearing loss. In the present study, we conducted a long-term hearing evaluation in patients with MELAS or MIDD who harbored the m.3243A>G mutation of mitochondrial DNA. A retrospective chart review was performed on 15 patients with this mutation who underwent pure-tone audiometry at least once a year for more than two years. The mean follow-up period was 12.8 years. The mean progression rate of hearing loss was 5.5 dB per year. Hearing loss progressed rapidly to be profoundly deaf in seven patients during the observation period. Heteroplasmy and age-corrected heteroplasmy levels correlated with the age of onset of hearing loss. These results indicate that patients with m.3243A>G mutation have a gradual progression of hearing loss in the early stages and rapid decline in hearing to be profoundly deaf in approximately half of the patients. Although it is possible to predict the age of onset of hearing loss from heteroplasmy and age-corrected heteroplasmy levels, it is difficult to predict whether and when the rapid hearing loss will occur.
    Keywords:  diabetes; disequilibrium; dizziness; hearing loss; mitochondrial gene mutations
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/life12040543
  36. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Apr 26. 119(17): e2203172119
    Structural basis of protein substrate processing by human mitochondrial high-temperature requirement A2 protease.
    Yuki Toyama, Robert W Harkness, Lewis E Kay.
      SignificanceProtein aggregates are often toxic, leading to impaired cellular activities and disease. The human HtrA2 trimeric enzyme cleaves such aggregates, and mutations in HtrA2 are causative for various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. The mechanism by which cleavage occurs has been studied using small peptides, but little information is available as to how HtrA2 protects cells from the pathologic effects of aggregation involving protein molecules that can form well-folded structures. Using solution NMR spectroscopy, we investigated the structural dynamics of the interaction between HtrA2 and a model protein substrate, demonstrating that HtrA2 preferentially binds to an unfolded substrate ensemble and providing insights into how HtrA2 function is regulated.
    Keywords:  conformational selection; ligand-binding thermodynamics; methyl transverse relaxation optimized NMR spectroscopy; mitochondrial proteostasis; protein–protein interaction
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2203172119
  37. Cell Calcium. 2022 Mar 28. pii: S0143-4160(22)00061-6. [Epub ahead of print]104 102586
    VDAC2 as a novel target for heart failure: Ca2+ at the sarcomere, mitochondria and SR.
    Paul Rosenberg.
      Despite a growing number of successful therapies, heart failure remains the most common cause of death and disability worldwide. Thus, new and novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Mitochondria of cardiomyocytes generate ATP that is needed to power cardiac contraction. Mitochondrial-derived ATP activate myosin ATPase at the sarcomere and the sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) ATPase Ca2+ pump, both which intersect with Ca2+ during contraction. Failure to maintain the relationship between mitochondria and SR can lead to cardiomyocyte dysfunction and heart failure. Here, we discuss recent discoveries that reveal Ca2+ transport via the voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC) into the mitochondria can favorably impact cardiac contraction and prevent cardiac arrhythmias. In a broader view, discussion of the opening of a new era for HF therapeutics that will address the sarcomere, SR and mitochondria as a functional unit.
    Keywords:  Calcium; Contractility; Excitation contraction coupling; Heart failure; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake transporter; Voltage dependent anion channels
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceca.2022.102586
  38. Nat Biomed Eng. 2022 Apr 18.
    Reduction of mtDNA heteroplasmy in mitochondrial replacement therapy by inducing forced mitophagy.
    Xiao-Yan Fan, Lei Guo, Lei-Ning Chen, Shen Yin, Jiarong Wen, Sen Li, Jun-Yu Ma, Tao Jing, Man-Xi Jiang, Xiao-Hong Sun, Meilan Chen, Feng Wang, Zhen-Bo Wang, Chang-Fa Zhang, Xing-Hua Wang, Zhao-Jia Ge, Chun Hu, Lizhang Zeng, Wei Shen, Qing-Yuan Sun, Xiang-Hong Ou, Shi-Ming Luo.
      Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) has been used to prevent maternal transmission of disease-causing mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). However, because MRT requires nuclear transfer, it carries the risk of mtDNA carryover and hence of the reversion of mtDNA to pathogenic levels owing to selective replication and genetic drift. Here we show in HeLa cells, mouse embryos and human embryos that mtDNA heteroplasmy can be reduced by pre-labelling the mitochondrial outer membrane of a donor zygote via microinjection with an mRNA coding for a transmembrane peptide fused to an autophagy receptor, to induce the degradation of the labelled mitochondria via forced mitophagy. Forced mitophagy reduced mtDNA carryover in newly reconstructed embryos after MRT, and had negligible effects on the growth curve, reproduction, exercise capacity and other behavioural characteristics of the offspring mice. The induction of forced mitophagy to degrade undesired donor mtDNA may increase the clinical feasibility of MRT and could be extended to other nuclear transfer techniques.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-022-00881-7
  39. J Cell Biol. 2022 Jun 06. pii: e202104076. [Epub ahead of print]221(6):
    GET pathway mediates transfer of mislocalized tail-anchored proteins from mitochondria to the ER.
    Shunsuke Matsumoto, Suzuka Ono, Saori Shinoda, Chika Kakuta, Satoshi Okada, Takashi Ito, Tomoyuki Numata, Toshiya Endo.
      Tail-anchored (TA) membrane proteins have a potential risk to be mistargeted to the mitochondrial outer membrane (OM). Such mislocalized TA proteins can be extracted by the mitochondrial AAA-ATPase Msp1 from the OM and transferred to the ER for ER protein quality control involving ubiquitination by the ER-resident Doa10 complex. Yet it remains unclear how the extracted TA proteins can move to the ER crossing the aqueous cytosol and whether this transfer to the ER is essential for the clearance of mislocalized TA proteins. Here we show by time-lapse microscopy that mislocalized TA proteins, including an authentic ER-TA protein, indeed move from mitochondria to the ER in a manner strictly dependent on Msp1 expression. The Msp1-dependent mitochondria-to-ER transfer of TA proteins is blocked by defects in the GET system, and this block is not due to impaired Doa10 functions. Thus, the GET pathway facilitates the transfer of mislocalized TA proteins from mitochondria to the ER.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202104076
  40. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Apr 14. pii: 4337. [Epub ahead of print]23(8):
    Mitochondrial and Neuronal Dysfunctions in L1 Mutant Mice.
    Ludovica Congiu, Viviana Granato, Gabriele Loers, Ralf Kleene, Melitta Schachner.
      Adhesion molecules regulate cell proliferation, migration, survival, neuritogenesis, synapse formation and synaptic plasticity during the nervous system's development and in the adult. Among such molecules, the neural cell adhesion molecule L1 contributes to these functions during development, and in synapse formation, synaptic plasticity and regeneration after trauma. Proteolytic cleavage of L1 by different proteases is essential for these functions. A proteolytic fragment of 70 kDa (abbreviated L1-70) comprising part of the extracellular domain and the transmembrane and intracellular domains was shown to interact with mitochondrial proteins and is suggested to be involved in mitochondrial functions. To further determine the role of L1-70 in mitochondria, we generated two lines of gene-edited mice expressing full-length L1, but no or only low levels of L1-70. We showed that in the absence of L1-70, mitochondria in cultured cerebellar neurons move more retrogradely and exhibit reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, impaired Complex I activity and lower ATP levels compared to wild-type littermates. Neither neuronal migration, neuronal survival nor neuritogenesis in these mutants were stimulated with a function-triggering L1 antibody or with small agonistic L1 mimetics. These results suggest that L1-70 is important for mitochondrial homeostasis and that its absence contributes to the L1 syndrome phenotypes.
    Keywords:  ATP; Complex I activity; L1CAM; cell adhesion molecule L1; mitochondria; neurite outgrowth; neuronal survival
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084337
  41. Front Genet. 2022 ;13 852374
    Case Report: Identification of a De novo C19orf12 Variant in a Patient With Mitochondrial Membrane Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration.
    Yue Yang, Shijie Zhang, Wenming Yang, Taohua Wei, Wenjie Hao, Ting Cheng, Jiuxiang Wang, Wei Dong, Nannan Qian.
      Background: Mitochondrial membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration (MPAN) mostly arises as an autosomal recessive disease and is caused by variants in the chromosome 19 open reading frame 12 (C19orf12) gene. However, a few C19orf12 monoallelic truncating de novo variants have been reported and segregated as autosomal dominant traits in some cases. Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing and analyzed genes related to neurodegeneration associated with brain iron accumulation for pathogenic variants. The identified variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and tested using in silico tools. Results: The patient had an onset of depression at the age of 22 years, which rapidly progressed to severe dystonia, dementia, and bladder and bowel incontinence. Neuroimaging showed hypointensity in the substantia nigra and the globus pallidum, with additional frontotemporal atrophy. Genetic analysis revealed a single complex de novo variant [c.336_338delinsCACA (p.Trp112CysfsTer40)] in the C19orf12 gene. Conclusion: This study enriches the genetic spectrum and clinical features of C19orf12 variants and provides additional evidence of the variable inheritance pattern of MPAN.
    Keywords:  C19orf12; de novo variant; iron accumulation; mitochondrial membrane protein–associated neurodegeneration; whole-exome sequencing
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.852374
  42. Dev Cell. 2022 Apr 14. pii: S1534-5807(22)00229-5. [Epub ahead of print]
    Mitochondrial dynamics regulate genome stability via control of caspase-dependent DNA damage.
    Kai Cao, Joel S Riley, Rosalie Heilig, Alfredo E Montes-Gómez, Esmee Vringer, Kevin Berthenet, Catherine Cloix, Yassmin Elmasry, David G Spiller, Gabriel Ichim, Kirsteen J Campbell, Andrew P Gilmore, Stephen W G Tait.
      Mitochondrial dysfunction is interconnected with cancer. Nevertheless, how defective mitochondria promote cancer is poorly understood. We find that mitochondrial dysfunction promotes DNA damage under conditions of increased apoptotic priming. Underlying this process, we reveal a key role for mitochondrial dynamics in the regulation of DNA damage and genome instability. The ability of mitochondrial dynamics to regulate oncogenic DNA damage centers upon the control of minority mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), a process that enables non-lethal caspase activation leading to DNA damage. Mitochondrial fusion suppresses minority MOMP and its associated DNA damage by enabling homogeneous mitochondrial expression of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins. Finally, we find that mitochondrial dysfunction inhibits pro-apoptotic BAX retrotranslocation, causing BAX mitochondrial localization and thereby promoting minority MOMP. Unexpectedly, these data reveal oncogenic effects of mitochondrial dysfunction that are mediated via mitochondrial dynamics and caspase-dependent DNA damage.
    Keywords:  DNA damage; MOMP; apoptosis; cancer; caspase; cell death; fission; fusion; mitochondrial dynamics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2022.03.019
  43. Cell Res. 2022 Apr 22.
    Discovery of small-molecule activators of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and their preclinical neuroprotective activity.
    Hong Yao, Minghui Liu, Leibo Wang, Yumeng Zu, Chou Wu, Chenyu Li, Ruoxi Zhang, Haigen Lu, Feifei Li, Shuang Xi, Shuangquan Chen, Xuanyu Gu, Tianya Liu, Jie Cai, Shirong Wang, Maojun Yang, Guo-Gang Xing, Wei Xiong, Lan Hua, Yefeng Tang, Gelin Wang.
      The decline of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) occurs in a variety of human pathologies including neurodegeneration. NAD-boosting agents can provide neuroprotective benefits. Here, we report the discovery and development of a class of potent activators (NATs) of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD salvage pathway. We obtained the crystal structure of NAMPT in complex with the NAT, which defined the allosteric action of NAT near the enzyme active site. The optimization of NAT further revealed the critical role of K189 residue in boosting NAMPT activity. NATs effectively increased intracellular levels of NAD and induced subsequent metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming. Importantly, NATs exhibited strong neuroprotective efficacy in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) without any overt toxicity. These findings demonstrate the potential of NATs in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or conditions associated with NAD level decline.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-022-00651-9
  44. Nat Commun. 2022 Apr 22. 13(1): 2201
    Supraphysiological activation of TAK1 promotes skeletal muscle growth and mitigates neurogenic atrophy.
    Anirban Roy, Ashok Kumar.
      Skeletal muscle mass is regulated through coordinated activation of multiple signaling pathways. TAK1 signalosome has been found to be activated in various conditions of muscle atrophy and hypertrophy. However, the role and mechanisms by which TAK1 regulates skeletal muscle mass remain less understood. Here, we demonstrate that supraphysiological activation of TAK1 in skeletal muscle of adult mice stimulates translational machinery, protein synthesis, and myofiber growth. TAK1 causes phosphorylation of elongation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) independent of mTOR. Inactivation of TAK1 disrupts neuromuscular junction morphology and causes deregulation of Smad signaling. Using genetic approaches, we demonstrate that TAK1 prevents excessive loss of muscle mass during denervation. TAK1 favors the nuclear translocation of Smad4 and cytoplasmic retention of Smad6. TAK1 is also required for the phosphorylation of eIF4E in denervated skeletal muscle. Collectively, our results demonstrate that TAK1 supports skeletal muscle growth and prevents neurogenic muscle atrophy in adult mice.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29752-0
  45. Sci Rep. 2022 Apr 21. 12(1): 6556
    Clinical diagnosis of metabolic disorders using untargeted metabolomic profiling and disease-specific networks learned from profiling data.
    Lillian R Thistlethwaite, Xiqi Li, Lindsay C Burrage, Kevin Riehle, Joseph G Hacia, Nancy Braverman, Michael F Wangler, Marcus J Miller, Sarah H Elsea, Aleksandar Milosavljevic.
      Untargeted metabolomics is a global molecular profiling technology that can be used to screen for inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs). Metabolite perturbations are evaluated based on current knowledge of specific metabolic pathway deficiencies, a manual diagnostic process that is qualitative, has limited scalability, and is not equipped to learn from accumulating clinical data. Our purpose was to improve upon manual diagnosis of IEMs in the clinic by developing novel computational methods for analyzing untargeted metabolomics data. We employed CTD, an automated computational diagnostic method that "connects the dots" between metabolite perturbations observed in individual metabolomics profiling data and modules identified in disease-specific metabolite co-perturbation networks learned from prior profiling data. We also extended CTD to calculate distances between any two individuals (CTDncd) and between an individual and a disease state (CTDdm), to provide additional network-quantified predictors for use in diagnosis. We show that across 539 plasma samples, CTD-based network-quantified measures can reproduce accurate diagnosis of 16 different IEMs, including adenylosuccinase deficiency, argininemia, argininosuccinic aciduria, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency, cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome type 2, citrullinemia, cobalamin biosynthesis defect, GABA-transaminase deficiency, glutaric acidemia type 1, maple syrup urine disease, methylmalonic aciduria, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, phenylketonuria, propionic acidemia, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, and the Zellweger spectrum disorders. Our approach can be used to supplement information from biochemical pathways and has the potential to significantly enhance the interpretation of variants of uncertain significance uncovered by exome sequencing. CTD, CTDdm, and CTDncd can serve as an essential toolset for biological interpretation of untargeted metabolomics data that overcomes limitations associated with manual diagnosis to assist diagnosticians in clinical decision-making. By automating and quantifying the interpretation of perturbation patterns, CTD can improve the speed and confidence by which clinical laboratory directors make diagnostic and treatment decisions, while automatically improving performance with new case data.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10415-5
  46. Membranes (Basel). 2022 Mar 31. pii: 383. [Epub ahead of print]12(4):
    Phosphatidylglycerol Supplementation Alters Mitochondrial Morphology and Cardiolipin Composition.
    I Chu, Ying-Chih Chen, Ruo-Yun Lai, Jui-Fen Chan, Ya-Hui Lee, Maria Balazova, Yuan-Hao Howard Hsu.
      The pathogenic variant of the TAZ gene is directly associated with Barth syndrome. Because tafazzin in the mitochondria is responsible for cardiolipin (CL) remodeling, all molecules related to the metabolism of CL can affect or be affected by TAZ mutation. In this study, we intend to recover the distortion of the mitochondrial lipid composition, especially CL, for Barth syndrome treatment. The genetically edited TAZ knockout HAP1 cells were demonstrated to be a suitable cellular model, where CL desaturation occurred and monolyso-CL (MLCL) was accumulated. From the species analysis by mass spectrometry, phosphatidylethanolamine showed changed species content after TAZ knockout. TAZ knockout also caused genetic down-regulation of PGS gene and up-regulation of PNPLA8 gene, which may decrease the biosynthesis of CLs and increase the hydrolysis product MLCL. Supplemented phosphatidylglycerol(18:1)2 (PG(18:1)2) was successfully biosynthesized to mature symmetrical CL and drastically decrease the concentration of MLCL to recover the morphology of mitochondria and the cristae shape of inner mitochondria. Newly synthesized mature CL may induce the down-regulation of PLA2G6 and PNPLA8 genes to potentially decrease MLCL production. The excess supplemented PG was further metabolized into phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.
    Keywords:  cardiolipin; mass spectrometry; phosphatidylglycerol; tafazzin
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12040383
  47. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022 Mar 23. pii: 390. [Epub ahead of print]15(4):
    Paeoniflorin Alleviates Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Ovariectomized Mice through the ERα/NRF1 Mitochondrial Biogenesis Pathway.
    Ki-Sun Park, Hyungjun Kim, Hye Jin Kim, Kang-In Lee, Seo-Young Lee, Jieun Kim.
      Muscle atrophy in postmenopausal women is caused by estrogen deficiency and a variety of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Paeoniflorin (PNF), a natural compound with anti-inflammatory properties, improves estradiol synthesis. Here, we demonstrate that PNF inhibits the progression of TNFα-induced skeletal muscle atrophy after menopause by restoring mitochondrial biosynthesis. Differentiated myoblasts damaged by TNFα were restored by PNF, as evident by the increase in the expression of myogenin (MyoG) and myosin heavy chain 3 (Myh3)-the markers of muscle differentiation. Moreover, diameter of atrophied myotubes was restored by PNF treatment. TNFα-repressed nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) (a major regulator of mitochondrial biosynthesis) were restored by PNF, via regulation by estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), an upregulator of NRF1. This mechanism was confirmed in ovariectomized (OVX) mice with a ~40% reduction in the cross-sectional area of the anterior tibialis muscle. OVX mice administered PNF (100, 300 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks recovered more than ~20%. Behavioral, rotarod, and inverted screen tests showed that PNF enhances reduced muscle function in OVX mice. ERα restored expression of mitofusin 1 (MFN1) and mitofusin 2 (MFN2) (mitochondrial fusion markers) and dynamin-related protein (DRP1) and fission 1 (FIS1) (mitochondrial fission markers). Therefore, PNF can prevent muscle atrophy in postmenopausal women by inhibiting dysfunctional mitochondrial biogenesis.
    Keywords:  anti-inflammation; estrogen insufficiency; mitochondrial biogenesis; muscle atrophy; muscle differentiation; paeoniflorin; post-menopausal women
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15040390
  48. Methods Mol Biol. 2022 ;2486 315-334
    Personal Dense Dynamic Data Clouds Connect Systems Biomedicine to Scientific Wellness.
    Gilbert S Omenn, Andrew T Magis, Nathan D Price, Leroy Hood.
      The dramatic convergence of molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence has provided a substrate for deep understanding of the biological basis of health and disease. Systems biology is a holistic, dynamic, integrative, cross-disciplinary approach to biological complexity that embraces experimentation, technology, computation, and clinical translation. Systems Medicine integrates genome analyses and longitudinal deep phenotyping with biological pathways and networks to understand mechanisms of disease, identify relevant blood biomarkers, define druggable molecular targets, and enhance the maintenance or restoration of wellness. Two programs initiated our understanding of data-driven population-based wellness. The Pioneer 100 Study of Scientific Wellness and the much larger Arivale commercial program that followed had two spectacular results: demonstrating the feasibility and utility of collecting longitudinal multiomic data, and then generating dense, dynamic data clouds for each individual to utilize actionable metrics for promoting health and preventing disease when combined with personalized coaching. Future developments in these domains will enable better population health and personal, preventive, predictive, participatory (P4) health care.
    Keywords:  Biological aging; Correlation networks; Dense dynamic data clouds; Metabolome; Microbiome; P4 health care; Personalized coaching; Polygenic risk scores; Scientific wellness; Systems biology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2265-0_15
  49. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken). 2022 Apr 23.
    Septins promote caspase activity and coordinate mitochondrial apoptosis.
    Hoan Van Ngo, Stevens Robertin, Dominik Brokatzky, Magdalena K Bielecka, Damián Lobato-Márquez, Vincenzo Torraca, Serge Mostowy.
      Apoptosis is a form of regulated cell death essential for embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Apoptosis also plays key roles during bacterial infection, yet some intracellular bacterial pathogens (such as Shigella flexneri, whose lipopolysaccharide can block apoptosis) can manipulate cell death programs as an important survival strategy. Septins are a component of the cytoskeleton essential for mitochondrial dynamics and host defense, however the role of septins in regulated cell death is mostly unknown. Here, we discover that septins promote mitochondrial (i.e., intrinsic) apoptosis in response to treatment with staurosporine (a pan-kinase inhibitor) or etoposide (a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor). Consistent with a role for septins in mitochondrial dynamics, septins promote the release of mitochondrial protein cytochrome c in apoptotic cells and are required for the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-7 and caspase-9 (core components of the apoptotic machinery). Apoptosis of HeLa cells induced in response to infection by S. flexneri ΔgalU (a lipopolysaccharide mutant unable to block apoptosis) is also septin-dependent. In vivo, zebrafish larvae are significantly more susceptible to infection with S. flexneri ΔgalU (as compared to infection with wildtype S. flexneri), yet septin deficient larvae are equally susceptible to infection with S. flexneri ΔgalU and wildtype S. flexneri. These data provide a new molecular framework to understand the complexity of mitochondrial apoptosis and its ability to combat bacterial infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
    Keywords:  Shigella; apoptosis; cytoskeleton; mitochondria; septins; zebrafish
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/cm.21696
  50. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2022 Apr 20.
    Improving Mitochondrial Function in Viral Infection: Targeting Cellular Metabolism.
    Brydie R Huckestein, John F Alcorn.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2022-0096ED
  51. Bioinformatics. 2022 Apr 21. pii: btac191. [Epub ahead of print]
    VisuStatR-Visualizing Motility and Morphology Statistics on Images in R.
    Christoph Harmel, Samy Sid Ahmed, Robin Koch, Jana Tünnermann, Tania Distler, Andrea Imle, Luca Giorgetti, Emanuel Bahn, Oliver T Fackler, Frederik Graw.
      MOTIVATION: Live-cell microscopy has become an essential tool for analyzing dynamic processes in various biological applications. Thereby, high-throughput and automated tracking analyses allow the simultaneous evaluation of large numbers of objects. However, to critically assess the influence of individual objects on calculated summary statistics, and to detect heterogeneous dynamics or possible artifacts, such as misclassified or -tracked objects, a direct mapping of gained statistical information onto the actual image data would be necessary.RESULTS: We present VisuStatR as a platform independent software package that allows the direct visualization of time-resolved summary statistics of morphological characteristics or motility dynamics onto raw images. The software contains several display modes to compare user-defined summary statistics and the underlying image data in various levels of detail.
    AVAILABILITY: VisuStatR is a free and open-source R-package, containing a user-friendly graphical-user interface and is available via GitHub at https://github.com/grrchrr/VisuStatR/ under the MIT+ license.
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Examples and additional information are available online and on the project's webpage.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btac191
  52. Genome Biol. 2022 Apr 21. 23(1): 103
    Predicting RNA splicing from DNA sequence using Pangolin.
    Tony Zeng, Yang I Li.
      Recent progress in deep learning has greatly improved the prediction of RNA splicing from DNA sequence. Here, we present Pangolin, a deep learning model to predict splice site strength in multiple tissues. Pangolin outperforms state-of-the-art methods for predicting RNA splicing on a variety of prediction tasks. Pangolin improves prediction of the impact of genetic variants on RNA splicing, including common, rare, and lineage-specific genetic variation. In addition, Pangolin identifies loss-of-function mutations with high accuracy and recall, particularly for mutations that are not missense or nonsense, demonstrating remarkable potential for identifying pathogenic variants.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-022-02664-4
  53. Metabolites. 2022 Apr 14. pii: 351. [Epub ahead of print]12(4):
    Untargeted Metabolomics of Slc13a5 Deficiency Reveal Critical Liver-Brain Axis for Lipid Homeostasis.
    Sofia Milosavljevic, Kevin E Glinton, Xiqi Li, Cláudia Medeiros, Patrick Gillespie, John R Seavitt, Brett H Graham, Sarah H Elsea.
      Though biallelic variants in SLC13A5 are known to cause severe encephalopathy, the mechanism of this disease is poorly understood. SLC13A5 protein deficiency reduces citrate transport into the cell. Downstream abnormalities in fatty acid synthesis and energy generation have been described, though biochemical signs of these perturbations are inconsistent across SLC13A5 deficiency patients. To investigate SLC13A5-related disorders, we performed untargeted metabolic analyses on the liver, brain, and serum from a Slc13a5-deficient mouse model. Metabolomic data were analyzed using the connect-the-dots (CTD) methodology and were compared to plasma and CSF metabolomics from SLC13A5-deficient patients. Mice homozygous for the Slc13a5tm1b/tm1b null allele had perturbations in fatty acids, bile acids, and energy metabolites in all tissues examined. Further analyses demonstrated that for several of these molecules, the ratio of their relative tissue concentrations differed widely in the knockout mouse, suggesting that deficiency of Slc13a5 impacts the biosynthesis and flux of metabolites between tissues. Similar findings were observed in patient biofluids, indicating altered transport and/or flux of molecules involved in energy, fatty acid, nucleotide, and bile acid metabolism. Deficiency of SLC13A5 likely causes a broader state of metabolic dysregulation than previously recognized, particularly regarding lipid synthesis, storage, and metabolism, supporting SLC13A5 deficiency as a lipid disorder.
    Keywords:  SLC13A5; SLC13A5 deficiency; bile acid metabolism; citrate transport; lipid synthesis; lipid utilization; liver-brain axis; untargeted metabolomics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12040351
  54. Blood Adv. 2022 Apr 20. pii: bloodadvances.2021005910. [Epub ahead of print]
    ATG4A regulates human erythroid maturation and mitochondrial clearance.
    Massiel Chavez Stolla, Andreea Reilly, Rochelle Bergantinos, Sintra Stewart, Neele Thom, Courtnee A Clough, Rachel Courtney Wellington, Raisa Stolitenko, Janis L Abkowitz, Sergei Doulatov.
      Autophagy is a self-degradation pathway that is essential for erythropoiesis. During erythroid differentiation, autophagy facilitates the degradation of macromolecules and the programmed clearance of mitochondria. Impaired mitochondrial clearance results in anemia and alters the lifespan of red blood cells in vivo. While several essential autophagy genes contribute to autophagy in erythropoiesis, little is known about erythroid-specific mediators of this pathway. Genetic analysis of primary human erythroid and non-erythroid cells revealed the selective upregulation of the core autophagy gene ATG4A in maturing human erythroid cells. Since the function of ATG4A in erythropoiesis is unknown, we evaluated its role using an ex vivo model of human erythropoiesis. Depletion of ATG4A in primary human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells selectively impaired erythroid but not myeloid lineage differentiation, resulting in reduced red cell production, delayed terminal differentiation, and impaired enucleation. Loss of ATG4A impaired autophagy and mitochondrial clearance, giving rise to reticulocytes with retained mitochondria and autophagic vesicles. In summary, our study identifies ATG4A as a cell type-specific regulator of autophagy in erythroid development.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005910
  55. Sci Rep. 2022 Apr 20. 12(1): 6512
    Multiplex structural variant detection by whole-genome mapping and nanopore sequencing.
    Lahari Uppuluri, Yilin Wang, Eleanor Young, Jessica S Wong, Heba Z Abid, Ming Xiao.
      Identification of structural variants (SVs) breakpoints is important in studying mutations, mutagenic causes, and functional impacts. Next-generation sequencing and whole-genome optical mapping are extensively used in SV discovery and characterization. However, multiple platforms and computational approaches are needed for comprehensive analysis, making it resource-intensive and expensive. Here, we propose a strategy combining optical mapping and cas9-assisted targeted nanopore sequencing to analyze SVs. Optical mapping can economically and quickly detect SVs across a whole genome but does not provide sequence-level information or precisely resolve breakpoints. Furthermore, since only a subset of all SVs is known to affect biology, we attempted to type a subset of all SVs using targeted nanopore sequencing. Using our approach, we resolved the breakpoints of five deletions, five insertions, and an inversion, in a single experiment.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10483-7
  56. Nature. 2022 Apr;604(7906): 437-446
    The Human Pangenome Project: a global resource to map genomic diversity.
    Human Pangenome Reference Consortium
      The human reference genome is the most widely used resource in human genetics and is due for a major update. Its current structure is a linear composite of merged haplotypes from more than 20 people, with a single individual comprising most of the sequence. It contains biases and errors within a framework that does not represent global human genomic variation. A high-quality reference with global representation of common variants, including single-nucleotide variants, structural variants and functional elements, is needed. The Human Pangenome Reference Consortium aims to create a more sophisticated and complete human reference genome with a graph-based, telomere-to-telomere representation of global genomic diversity. Here we leverage innovations in technology, study design and global partnerships with the goal of constructing the highest-possible quality human pangenome reference. Our goal is to improve data representation and streamline analyses to enable routine assembly of complete diploid genomes. With attention to ethical frameworks, the human pangenome reference will contain a more accurate and diverse representation of global genomic variation, improve gene-disease association studies across populations, expand the scope of genomics research to the most repetitive and polymorphic regions of the genome, and serve as the ultimate genetic resource for future biomedical research and precision medicine.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04601-8
  57. Mol Cell. 2022 Apr 21. pii: S1097-2765(22)00270-2. [Epub ahead of print]82(8): 1467-1476
    Codon optimality-mediated mRNA degradation: Linking translational elongation to mRNA stability.
    Haneui Bae, Jeff Coller.
      Messenger RNA (mRNA) translation by the ribosome represents the final step of a complicated molecular dance from DNA to protein. Although classically considered a decipherer that translates a 64-word genetic code into a proteome of astonishing complexity, the ribosome can also shape the transcriptome by controlling mRNA stability. Recent work has discovered that the ribosome is an arbiter of the general mRNA degradation pathway, wherein the ribosome transit rate serves as a major determinant of transcript half-lives. Specifically, members of the degradation complex sense ribosome translocation rates as a function of ribosome elongation rates. Central to this notion is the concept of codon optimality: although all codons impact translation rates, some are deciphered quickly, whereas others cause ribosome hesitation as a consequence of relative cognate tRNA concentration. These transient pauses induce a unique ribosome conformational state that is probed by the deadenylase complex, thereby inducing an orchestrated set of events that enhance both poly(A) shortening and cap removal. Together, these data imply that the coding region of an mRNA not only encodes for protein content but also impacts protein levels through determining the transcript's fate.
    Keywords:  codon optimality; deadenylation; decapping; genetic code; mRNA degradation; mRNA stability; protein synthesis; ribosomes; translation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2022.03.032
  58. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Apr 18. pii: 4460. [Epub ahead of print]23(8):
    The Structural and the Functional Aspects of Intercellular Communication in iPSC-Cardiomyocytes.
    Eva Kiss, Carolin Fischer, Jan-Mischa Sauter, Jinmeng Sun, Nina D Ullrich.
      Recent advances in the technology of producing novel cardiomyocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-cardiomyocytes) fuel new hope for future clinical applications. The use of iPSC-cardiomyocytes is particularly promising for the therapy of cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction, where these cells could replace scar tissue and restore the functionality of the heart. Despite successful cardiogenic differentiation, medical applications of iPSC-cardiomyocytes are currently limited by their pronounced immature structural and functional phenotype. This review focuses on gap junction function in iPSC-cardiomyocytes and portrays our current understanding around the structural and the functional limitations of intercellular coupling and viable cardiac graft formation involving these novel cardiac muscle cells. We further highlight the role of the gap junction protein connexin 43 as a potential target for improving cell-cell communication and electrical signal propagation across cardiac tissue engineered from iPSC-cardiomyocytes. Better insight into the mechanisms that promote functional intercellular coupling is the foundation that will allow the development of novel strategies to combat the immaturity of iPSC-cardiomyocytes and pave the way toward cardiac tissue regeneration.
    Keywords:  cell replacement therapy; connexin 43; gap junctions; iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes; intercalated disc
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084460
  59. Bioengineering (Basel). 2022 Apr 10. pii: 168. [Epub ahead of print]9(4):
    Bioengineering Strategies to Create 3D Cardiac Constructs from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
    Fahimeh Varzideh, Pasquale Mone, Gaetano Santulli.
      Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be used to generate various cell types in the human body. Hence, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) represent a significant cell source for disease modeling, drug testing, and regenerative medicine. The immaturity of hiPSC-CMs in two-dimensional (2D) culture limit their applications. Cardiac tissue engineering provides a new promise for both basic and clinical research. Advanced bioengineered cardiac in vitro models can create contractile structures that serve as exquisite in vitro heart microtissues for drug testing and disease modeling, thereby promoting the identification of better treatments for cardiovascular disorders. In this review, we will introduce recent advances of bioengineering technologies to produce in vitro cardiac tissues derived from hiPSCs.
    Keywords:  3D bioprinting; 3D models; CPVT; ECM; Layer-by-Layer; cardiac organoid; cardiac tissue engineering; cardiomyocytes; differentiation; disease modeling; drug development; drug screening; heart-on-a-chip; hiPSC-CMs; human induced pluripotent stem cell; iPSC; maturation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9040168
  60. Physiol Rep. 2022 Apr;10(8): e15281
    Mitochondrial fusion- and fission-related protein expression in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass.
    Daiki Nakano, Shuichi Machida.
      Mitochondria in the skeletal muscle are essential for maintaining metabolic plasticity and function. Mitochondrial quality control encompasses the dynamics of the biogenesis and remodeling of mitochondria, characterized by the constant fission and fusion of mitochondria in response to metabolic stressors. However, the roles of mitochondrial fission or fusion in muscle hypertrophy and atrophy remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether mitochondrial fusion and fission events are influenced by muscle hypertrophy or atrophy stimulation. Twenty-six male F344 rats were randomly assigned to a control group or were subjected to up to 14 days of either plantaris overload (via tenotomy of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles; hypertrophy group) or hindlimb cast immobilization (atrophy group). After 14 days of treatment, plantaris muscle samples were collected to determine the expression levels of mitochondrial fusion- and fission-related proteins. Muscle weight and total muscle protein content increased following plantaris overload in the hypertrophy group, but decreased following immobilization for 14 days in the atrophy group. In the hypertrophied muscle, the level of activated dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), phosphorylated at Ser616, significantly increased by 25.8% (p = 0.014). Moreover, the protein expression level of mitochondrial fission factor significantly decreased by 36.5% in the hypertrophy group compared with that of the control group (p = 0.017). In contrast, total Drp1 level significantly decreased in the atrophied plantaris muscle (p = 0.011). Our data suggest that mitochondrial fission events may be influenced by both muscle hypertrophy and atrophy stimulation, and that mitochondrial fission- related protein Drp1 plays an important role in the regulation of skeletal muscle in response to mechanical stimulation.
    Keywords:  Drp1; atrophy; hypertrophy; mitochondrial quality control
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15281
  61. Genet Med. 2022 Apr 19. pii: S1098-3600(22)00703-1. [Epub ahead of print]
    The Clinical Variant Analysis Tool: Analyzing the evidence supporting reported genomic variation in clinical practice.
    Hui-Lin Chin, Nour Gazzaz, Stephanie Huynh, Iulia Handra, Lynn Warnock, Ashley Moller-Hansen, Pierre Boerkoel, Julius O B Jacobsen, Christèle du Souich, Nan Zhang, Kent Shefchek, Leah M Prentice, Nicole Washington, Melissa Haendel, Linlea Armstrong, Lorne Clarke, Wenhui Laura Li, Damian Smedley, Peter N Robinson, Cornelius F Boerkoel.
      PURPOSE: Genomic test results, regardless of laboratory variant classification, require clinical practitioners to judge the applicability of a variant for medical decisions. Teaching and standardizing clinical interpretation of genomic variation calls for a methodology or tool.METHODS: To generate such a tool, we distilled the Clinical Genome Resource framework of causality and the American College of Medical Genetics/Association of Molecular Pathology and Quest Diagnostic Laboratory scoring of variant deleteriousness into the Clinical Variant Analysis Tool (CVAT). Applying this to 289 clinical exome reports, we compared the performance of junior practitioners with that of experienced medical geneticists and assessed the utility of reported variants.
    RESULTS: CVAT enabled performance comparable to that of experienced medical geneticists. In total, 124 of 289 (42.9%) exome reports and 146 of 382 (38.2%) reported variants supported a diagnosis. Overall, 10.5% (1 pathogenic [P] or likely pathogenic [LP] variant and 39 variants of uncertain significance [VUS]) of variants were reported in genes without established disease association; 20.2% (23 P/LP and 54 VUS) were in genes without sufficient phenotypic concordance; 7.3% (15 P/LP and 13 VUS) conflicted with the known molecular disease mechanism; and 24% (91 VUS) had insufficient evidence for deleteriousness.
    CONCLUSION: Implementation of CVAT standardized clinical interpretation of genomic variation and emphasized the need for collaborative and transparent reporting of genomic variation.
    Keywords:  Exome sequencing; Genomic medicine; Precision medicine; Variant classification; Variant interpretation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2022.03.013
  62. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2022 Apr 08. pii: S0006-291X(22)00535-6. [Epub ahead of print]609 169-175
    Grpel2 alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting MCU-mediated mitochondrial calcium overload.
    Rongjin Yang, Xiaomeng Zhang, Pingping Xing, Shun Zhang, Feiyu Zhang, Jianbang Wang, Jun Yu, Xiaoling Zhu, Pan Chang.
      Mitochondrial calcium ([Ca2+]m) overload is considered a major trigger of cardiomyocyte death during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Grpel2 is located in mitochondria and facilitates the mtHSP70 protein folding cycle in oxidative stress. However, Grpel2 expression during I/R injury and its impact on I/R injury remain poorly understood. This study explored the role of Grpel2 in I/R injury and its underlying mechanism. Mice were intramyocardially injected with recombinant adenovirus vectors to knockdown cardiac Grpel2 expression, and a myocardial I/R model was established. We confirmed that cardiac Grpel2 is upregulated during I/R injury. Cardiac-specific Grpel2 knockdown exacerbates mitochondrial fission, cardiomyocyte death and cardiac contractile dysfunction induced by I/R injury. Moreover, our study revealed that Grpel2 knockdown increased both MCU expression and [Ca2+]m content. Excessive mitochondrial fission and apoptosis were rescued by Ru360, an inhibitor of MCU opening. In summary, our findings suggest that Grpel2 alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting MCU-mediated mitochondrial calcium overload and provide new insights into the mechanism of MCU-mediated [Ca2+]m homeostasis during I/R injury.
    Keywords:  Grpel2; Ischemia/reperfusion; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU)
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.04.014
  63. Diagnostics (Basel). 2022 Mar 25. pii: 809. [Epub ahead of print]12(4):
    Genetic Testing for Rare Diseases.
    José M Millán, Gema García-García.
      The term rare disease was coined in the 1970s to refer to diseases that have a low prevalence [...].
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040809
  64. Genes (Basel). 2022 Mar 24. pii: 573. [Epub ahead of print]13(4):
    Advancements in Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery Using iPSC-Derived Hepatocyte-like Cells.
    Josef Blaszkiewicz, Stephen A Duncan.
      Serving as the metabolic hub of the human body, the liver is a vital organ that performs a variety of important physiological functions. Although known for its regenerative potential, it remains vulnerable to a variety of diseases. Despite decades of research, liver disease remains a leading cause of mortality in the United States with a multibillion-dollar-per-year economic burden. Prior research with model systems, such as primary hepatocytes and murine models, has provided many important discoveries. However, progress has been impaired by numerous obstacles associated with these models. In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based systems have emerged as advantageous platforms for studying liver disease. Benefits, including preserved differentiation and physiological function, amenability to genetic manipulation via tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, and availability for high-throughput screening, make these systems increasingly attractive for both mechanistic studies of disease and the identification of novel therapeutics. Although limitations exist, recent studies have made progress in ameliorating these issues. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in iPSC-based models of liver disease, including improvements in model system construction as well as the use of high-throughput screens for genetic studies and drug discovery.
    Keywords:  drug discovery; high-throughput screening; induced pluripotent stem cells; liver diseases
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13040573
  65. J Vis Exp. 2022 Mar 31.
    High-Throughput Optical Controlling and Recording Calcium Signal in iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Toxicity Testing and Phenotypic Drug Screening.
    Yu-Fen Chang, Wan-Chi Su, Chih-Chuan Su, Min-Wen Chung, Jin Chang, You-Yi Li, Yi-Ju Kao, Wen-Pin Chen, Matthew J Daniels.
      Understanding how excitable cells work in health and disease and how that behavior can be altered by small molecules or genetic manipulation is important. Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) with multiple emission windows can be combined (e.g., for simultaneous observation of distinct subcellular events) or used in extended applications with other light-dependent actuators in excitable cells (e.g., combining genetically encoded optogenetic control with spectrally compatible calcium indicators). Such approaches have been used in primary or stem cell-derived neurons, cardiomyocytes, and pancreatic beta-cells. However, it has been challenging to increase the throughput, or duration of observation, of such approaches due to limitations of the instruments, analysis software, indicator performance, and gene delivery efficiency. Here, a high-performance green GECI, mNeonGreen-GECO (mNG-GECO), and red-shifted GECI, K-GECO, is combined with optogenetic control to achieve all-optical control and visualization of cellular activity in a high-throughput imaging format using a High-Content Imaging System. Applications demonstrating cardiotoxicity testing and phenotypic drug screening with healthy and patient-derived iPSC-CMs are shown. In addition, multi-parametric assessments using combinations of spectral and calcium affinity indicator variants (NIR-GECO, LAR-GECO, and mtGCEPIA or Orai1-G-GECO) are restricted to different cellular compartments are also demonstrated in the iPSC-CM model.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3791/63175
  66. Nat Commun. 2022 Apr 19. 13(1): 2025
    Distinct and additive effects of calorie restriction and rapamycin in aging skeletal muscle.
    Daniel J Ham, Anastasiya Börsch, Kathrin Chojnowska, Shuo Lin, Aurel B Leuchtman, Alexander S Ham, Marco Thürkauf, Julien Delezie, Regula Furrer, Dominik Burri, Michael Sinnreich, Christoph Handschin, Lionel A Tintignac, Mihaela Zavolan, Nitish Mittal, Markus A Rüegg.
      Preserving skeletal muscle function is essential to maintain life quality at high age. Calorie restriction (CR) potently extends health and lifespan, but is largely unachievable in humans, making "CR mimetics" of great interest. CR targets nutrient-sensing pathways centering on mTORC1. The mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin, is considered a potential CR mimetic and is proven to counteract age-related muscle loss. Therefore, we tested whether rapamycin acts via similar mechanisms as CR to slow muscle aging. Here we show that long-term CR and rapamycin unexpectedly display distinct gene expression profiles in geriatric mouse skeletal muscle, despite both benefiting aging muscles. Furthermore, CR improves muscle integrity in mice with nutrient-insensitive, sustained muscle mTORC1 activity and rapamycin provides additive benefits to CR in naturally aging mouse muscles. We conclude that rapamycin and CR exert distinct, compounding effects in aging skeletal muscle, thus opening the possibility of parallel interventions to counteract muscle aging.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29714-6
  67. Methods Mol Biol. 2022 ;2467 77-112
    Building a Calibration Set for Genomic Prediction, Characteristics to Be Considered, and Optimization Approaches.
    Simon Rio, Alain Charcosset, Tristan Mary-Huard, Laurence Moreau, Renaud Rincent.
      The efficiency of genomic selection strongly depends on the prediction accuracy of the genetic merit of candidates. Numerous papers have shown that the composition of the calibration set is a key contributor to prediction accuracy. A poorly defined calibration set can result in low accuracies, whereas an optimized one can considerably increase accuracy compared to random sampling, for a same size. Alternatively, optimizing the calibration set can be a way of decreasing the costs of phenotyping by enabling similar levels of accuracy compared to random sampling but with fewer phenotypic units. We present here the different factors that have to be considered when designing a calibration set, and review the different criteria proposed in the literature. We classified these criteria into two groups: model-free criteria based on relatedness, and criteria derived from the linear mixed model. We introduce criteria targeting specific prediction objectives including the prediction of highly diverse panels, biparental families, or hybrids. We also review different ways of updating the calibration set, and different procedures for optimizing phenotyping experimental designs.
    Keywords:  CDmean; Calibration population; Genomic selection; Optimization; PEVmean; Prediction accuracy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2205-6_3
  68. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Apr 08. pii: 745. [Epub ahead of print]11(4):
    Carnitines as Mitochondrial Modulators of Oocyte and Embryo Bioenergetics.
    Martina Placidi, Giovanna Di Emidio, Ashraf Virmani, Angela D'Alfonso, Paolo Giovanni Artini, Anna Maria D'Alessandro, Carla Tatone.
      Recently, the importance of bioenergetics in the reproductive process has emerged. For its energetic demand, the oocyte relies on numerous mitochondria, whose activity increases during embryo development under a fine regulation to limit ROS production. Healthy oocyte mitochondria require a balance of pyruvate and fatty acid oxidation. Transport of activated fatty acids into mitochondria requires carnitine. In this regard, the interest in the role of carnitines as mitochondrial modulators in oocyte and embryos is increasing. Carnitine pool includes the un-esterified l-carnitine (LC) and carnitine esters, such as acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) and propionyl-l-carnitine (PLC). In this review, carnitine medium supplementation for counteracting energetic and redox unbalance during in vitro culture and cryopreservation is reported. Although most studies have focused on LC, there is new evidence that the addition of ALC and/or PLC may boost LC effects. Pathways activated by carnitines include antiapoptotic, antiglycative, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory signaling. Nevertheless, the potential of carnitine to improve energetic metabolism and oocyte and embryo competence remains poorly investigated. The importance of carnitine as a mitochondrial modulator may suggest that this molecule may exert a beneficial role in ovarian disfunctions associated with metabolic and mitochondrial alterations, including PCOS and reproductive aging.
    Keywords:  acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC); beta-oxidation; bioenergetics; embryo; l-carnitine (LC); mitochondria; oocyte; propionyl-l-carnitine (PLC)
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11040745
  69. Metabolites. 2022 Apr 17. pii: 360. [Epub ahead of print]12(4):
    Exploring Thermal Sensitivities and Adaptations of Oxidative Phosphorylation Pathways.
    Hélène Lemieux, Pierre U Blier.
      Temperature shifts are a major challenge to animals; they drive adaptations in organisms and species, and affect all physiological functions in ectothermic organisms. Understanding the origin and mechanisms of these adaptations is critical for determining whether ectothermic organisms will be able to survive when faced with global climate change. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is thought to be an important metabolic player in this regard, since the capacity of the mitochondria to produce energy greatly varies according to temperature. However, organism survival and fitness depend not only on how much energy is produced, but, more precisely, on how oxidative phosphorylation is affected and which step of the process dictates thermal sensitivity. These questions need to be addressed from a new perspective involving a complex view of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and its related pathways. In this review, we examine the effect of temperature on the commonly measured pathways, but mainly focus on the potential impact of lesser-studied pathways and related steps, including the electron-transferring flavoprotein pathway, glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, choline dehydrogenase, proline dehydrogenase, and sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. Our objective is to reveal new avenues of research that can address the impact of temperature on oxidative phosphorylation in all its complexity to better portray the limitations and the potential adaptations of aerobic metabolism.
    Keywords:  NADH pathway; choline dehydrogenase; dihydroorotate dehydrogenase; electron-transferring flavoprotein; glycerophosphate dehydrogenase; mitochondrial function; proline dehydrogenase; succinate pathway; sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase; thermal sensitivity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12040360
  70. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Mar 31. pii: 685. [Epub ahead of print]11(4):
    Enzymatic Depletion of Mitochondrial Inorganic Polyphosphate (polyP) Increases the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the Activity of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) in Mammalian Cells.
    Vedangi Hambardikar, Mariona Guitart-Mampel, Ernest R Scoma, Pedro Urquiza, Gowda G A Nagana, Daniel Raftery, John A Collins, Maria E Solesio.
      Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is an ancient biopolymer that is well preserved throughout evolution and present in all studied organisms. In mammals, it shows a high co-localization with mitochondria, and it has been demonstrated to be involved in the homeostasis of key processes within the organelle, including mitochondrial bioenergetics. However, the exact extent of the effects of polyP on the regulation of cellular bioenergetics, as well as the mechanisms explaining these effects, still remain poorly understood. Here, using HEK293 mammalian cells under Wild-type (Wt) and MitoPPX (cells enzymatically depleted of mitochondrial polyP) conditions, we show that depletion of polyP within mitochondria increased oxidative stress conditions. This is characterized by enhanced mitochondrial O2- and intracellular H2O2 levels, which may be a consequence of the dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) that we have demonstrated in MitoPPX cells in our previous work. These findings were associated with an increase in basal peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx1), superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2), and thioredoxin (Trx) antioxidant protein levels. Using 13C-NMR and immunoblotting, we assayed the status of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in Wt and MitoPPX cells. Our results show that MitoPPX cells display a significant increase in the activity of the PPP and an increase in the protein levels of transaldolase (TAL), which is a crucial component of the non-oxidative phase of the PPP and is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress. In addition, we observed a trend towards increased glycolysis in MitoPPX cells, which corroborates our prior work. Here, for the first time, we show the crucial role played by mitochondrial polyP in the regulation of mammalian redox homeostasis. Moreover, we demonstrate a significant effect of mitochondrial polyP on the regulation of global cellular bioenergetics in these cells.
    Keywords:  ROS; antioxidants; mammalian bioenergetics; mitochondria; mitochondrial inorganic polyphosphate; pentose phosphate pathway; polyP
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11040685
  71. Nat Commun. 2022 Apr 19. 13(1): 2099
    Normalizing and denoising protein expression data from droplet-based single cell profiling.
    Matthew P Mulè, Andrew J Martins, John S Tsang.
      Multimodal single-cell profiling methods that measure protein expression with oligo-conjugated antibodies hold promise for comprehensive dissection of cellular heterogeneity, yet the resulting protein counts have substantial technical noise that can mask biological variations. Here we integrate experiments and computational analyses to reveal two major noise sources and develop a method called "dsb" (denoised and scaled by background) to normalize and denoise droplet-based protein expression data. We discover that protein-specific noise originates from unbound antibodies encapsulated during droplet generation; this noise can thus be accurately estimated and corrected by utilizing protein levels in empty droplets. We also find that isotype control antibodies and the background protein population average in each cell exhibit significant correlations across single cells, we thus use their shared variance to correct for cell-to-cell technical noise in each cell. We validate these findings by analyzing the performance of dsb in eight independent datasets spanning multiple technologies, including CITE-seq, ASAP-seq, and TEA-seq. Compared to existing normalization methods, our approach improves downstream analyses by better unmasking biologically meaningful cell populations. Our method is available as an open-source R package that interfaces easily with existing single cell software platforms such as Seurat, Bioconductor, and Scanpy and can be accessed at "dsb [ https://cran.r-project.org/package=dsb ]".
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29356-8
  72. Fed Pract. 2022 Mar;39(3): 142-146
    Clinical Presentation of Subacute Combined Degeneration in a Patient With Chronic B12 Deficiency.
    Nathan Kostick, Evan Chen, Tabitha Eckert, Igor Sirotkin, Esther Baldinger, Alfred Frontera.
      Background: Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) is a rare complication of chronic vitamin B12 deficiency that presents with a variety of neurologic findings, including decreased sensation in the extremities, increased falls, and visual changes. Treatment of SCD involves prompt replacement of vitamin B12 and addressing the underlying conditions that cause the deficiency. Given the prevalence of B12 deficiency in the older adult population, clinicians should remain alert to its possibility in patients who present with progressive neuropathy.Case Presentation: This report presents a case of a patient with progressive SCD secondary to chronic B12 deficiency despite monthly intramuscular B12 injections.
    Conclusions: Appropriate B12 replacement is aggressive and involves intramuscular B12 1000 mcg every other day for 2 to 3 weeks, followed by additional IM administration every 2 months before transitioning to oral therapy. Failure to adequately replenish B12 can lead to progression or lack of resolution of SCD symptoms.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12788/fp.0228
  73. Bioinformatics. 2022 Apr 20. pii: btac272. [Epub ahead of print]
    STAAR Workflow: A cloud-based workflow for scalable and reproducible rare variant analysis.
    Sheila M Gaynor, Kenneth E Westerman, Lea L Ackovic, Xihao Li, Zilin Li, Alisa K Manning, Anthony Philippakis, Xihong Lin.
      SUMMARY: We developed the STAAR WDL workflow to facilitate the analysis of rare variants in whole genome sequencing association studies. The open-access STAAR workflow written in the workflow description language (WDL) allows a user to perform rare variant testing for both gene-centric and genetic region approaches, enabling genome-wide, candidate, and conditional analyses. It incorporates functional annotations into the workflow as introduced in the STAAR method in order to boost the rare variant analysis power. This tool was specifically developed and optimized to be implemented on cloud-based platforms such as BioData Catalyst Powered by Terra. It provides easy-to-use functionality for rare variant analysis that can be incorporated into an exhaustive whole genome sequencing analysis pipeline.AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The workflow is freely available from https://dockstore.org/workflows/github.com/sheilagaynor/STAAR_workflow.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btac272
  74. Nucleic Acids Res. 2022 Apr 21. pii: gkac247. [Epub ahead of print]
    The Galaxy platform for accessible, reproducible and collaborative biomedical analyses: 2022 update.
    Galaxy Community
      Galaxy is a mature, browser accessible workbench for scientific computing. It enables scientists to share, analyze and visualize their own data, with minimal technical impediments. A thriving global community continues to use, maintain and contribute to the project, with support from multiple national infrastructure providers that enable freely accessible analysis and training services. The Galaxy Training Network supports free, self-directed, virtual training with >230 integrated tutorials. Project engagement metrics have continued to grow over the last 2 years, including source code contributions, publications, software packages wrapped as tools, registered users and their daily analysis jobs, and new independent specialized servers. Key Galaxy technical developments include an improved user interface for launching large-scale analyses with many files, interactive tools for exploratory data analysis, and a complete suite of machine learning tools. Important scientific developments enabled by Galaxy include Vertebrate Genome Project (VGP) assembly workflows and global SARS-CoV-2 collaborations.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkac247
  75. Cells. 2022 Apr 16. pii: 1363. [Epub ahead of print]11(8):
    Organismal and Cellular Stress Responses upon Disruption of Mitochondrial Lonp1 Protease.
    Eirini Taouktsi, Eleni Kyriakou, Stefanos Smyrniotis, Fivos Borbolis, Labrina Bondi, Socratis Avgeris, Efstathios Trigazis, Stamatis Rigas, Gerassimos E Voutsinas, Popi Syntichaki.
      Cells engage complex surveillance mechanisms to maintain mitochondrial function and protein homeostasis. LonP1 protease is a key component of mitochondrial quality control and has been implicated in human malignancies and other pathological disorders. Here, we employed two experimental systems, the worm Caenorhabditis elegans and human cancer cells, to investigate and compare the effects of LONP-1/LonP1 deficiency at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. Deletion of the lonp-1 gene in worms disturbed mitochondrial function, provoked reactive oxygen species accumulation, and impaired normal processes, such as growth, behavior, and lifespan. The viability of lonp-1 mutants was dependent on the activity of the ATFS-1 transcription factor, and loss of LONP-1 evoked retrograde signaling that involved both the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic unfolded protein response (UPRmt and UPRcyt) pathways and ensuing diverse organismal stress responses. Exposure of worms to triterpenoid CDDO-Me, an inhibitor of human LonP1, stimulated only UPRcyt responses. In cancer cells, CDDO-Me induced key components of the integrated stress response (ISR), the UPRmt and UPRcyt pathways, and the redox machinery. However, genetic knockdown of LonP1 revealed a genotype-specific cellular response and induced apoptosis similar to CDDO-Me treatment. Overall, the mitochondrial dysfunction ensued by disruption of LonP1 elicits adaptive cytoprotective mechanisms that can inhibit cancer cell survival but diversely modulate organismal stress response and aging.
    Keywords:  C. elegans; CDDO-Me; LonP1; aging; cancer; mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11081363
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