bims-lypmec Biomed News
on Lysosomal positioning and metabolism in cardiomyocytes
Issue of 2023–10–08
four papers selected by
Satoru Kobayashi, New York Institute of Technology



  1. J Cell Biol. 2023 Dec 04. pii: e202303078. [Epub ahead of print]222(12):
      Cells harness multiple pathways to maintain lysosome integrity, a central homeostatic process. Damaged lysosomes can be repaired or targeted for degradation by lysophagy, a selective autophagy process involving ATG8/LC3. Here, we describe a parallel ATG8/LC3 response to lysosome damage, mechanistically distinct from lysophagy. Using a comprehensive series of biochemical, pharmacological, and genetic approaches, we show that lysosome damage induces non-canonical autophagy and Conjugation of ATG8s to Single Membranes (CASM). Following damage, ATG8s are rapidly and directly conjugated onto lysosome membranes, independently of ATG13/WIPI2, lipidating to PS (and PE), a molecular hallmark of CASM. Lysosome damage drives V-ATPase V0-V1 association, direct recruitment of ATG16L1 via its WD40-domain/K490A, and is sensitive to Salmonella SopF. Lysosome damage-induced CASM is associated with formation of dynamic, LC3A-positive tubules, and promotes robust LC3A engagement with ATG2, a lipid transfer protein central to lysosome repair. Together, our data identify direct ATG8 conjugation as a rapid response to lysosome damage, with important links to lipid transfer and dynamics.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202303078
  2. J Cell Biol. 2023 Dec 04. pii: e202204048. [Epub ahead of print]222(12):
      Membrane rupture of lysosomes results in leakage of their contents, which is harmful to cells. Recent studies have reported that several systems contribute to the repair or elimination of damaged lysosomes. Lysophagy is a type of selective autophagy that plays a crucial role in the lysosomal damage response. Because multiple pathways are involved in this response, an assay that specifically evaluates lysophagy is needed. Here, we developed the TMEM192-mKeima probe to evaluate lysophagy. By comparing the use of this probe with the conventional galectin-3 assay, we showed that this probe is more specific to lysophagy. Using TMEM192-mKeima, we showed that TFEB and p62 are important for the lysosomal damage response but not for lysophagy, although they have previously been considered to be involved in lysophagy. We further investigated the initial steps in lysophagy and identified UBE2L3, UBE2N, TRIM10, 16, and 27 as factors involved in it. Our results demonstrate that the TMEM192-mKeima probe is a useful tool for investigating lysophagy.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202204048
  3. Life Sci Alliance. 2023 Dec;pii: e202302116. [Epub ahead of print]6(12):
      Myocardial mitochondria are primary sites of myocardial energy metabolism. Mitochondrial disorders are associated with various cardiac diseases. We previously showed that mice with cardiomyocyte-specific knockout of the mitochondrial translation factor p32 developed heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy. Mitochondrial translation defects cause not only mitochondrial dysfunction but also decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, leading to impaired lysosomal acidification and autophagy. In this study, we investigated whether nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) administration, which compensates for decreased NAD+ levels, improves heart failure because of mitochondrial dysfunction. NMN administration reduced damaged lysosomes and improved autophagy, thereby reducing heart failure and extending the lifespan in p32cKO mice. We found that lysosomal damage due to mitochondrial dysfunction induced ferroptosis, involving the accumulation of iron in lysosomes and lipid peroxide. The ameliorative effects of NMN supplementation were found to strongly affect lysosomal function rather than mitochondrial function, particularly lysosome-mediated ferroptosis. NMN supplementation can improve lysosomal, rather than mitochondrial, function and prevent chronic heart failure.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202302116
  4. Front Immunol. 2023 ;14 1243104
      Amino acid transporters are generally recognized as machinery that transport amino acids from the extracellular environment into the cytoplasm. Although their primary function is the uptake of amino acids to supply the cell with nutrients and energy, endolysosome-resident amino acid (EL-aa) transporters possess several unique functions in accordance with their localization in intracellular vesicular membranes. They play pivotal roles in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis via direct involvement in the amino acid sensing pathway, which regulates the activity of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a master regulator of cellular metabolism. Additionally, some EL-aa transporters contribute to the maintenance of dynamic homeostasis of endolysosomes, including the regulation of endolysosomal acidity, by carrying amino acids out of endolysosomes. In addition, EL-aa transporters act as a scaffold to gather signaling molecules and multiple enzymes to control cellular metabolism on the endolysosomal membrane. Among EL-aa transporters, solute carrier family 15 member 4 (SLC15A4) is preferentially expressed in immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells, and plays a key role in the integration of metabolic and inflammatory signals. In this review, we summarize our recent findings on EL-aa transporter contributions to inflammatory and metabolic signaling in the endolysosomes of immune cells by focusing on the SLC15 family, including SLC15A4 and SLC15A3, and discuss their uniqueness and universality. We also discuss the potential of targeting these EL-aa transporters in immune cells for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases. Because these transporters are highly expressed in immune cells and significantly alter the functions of immune cells, targeting them would provide a great advantage in ensuring a wide safety margin.
    Keywords:  amino acid transporter; endolysosome; immune cells; inflammation; mTORC1; metabolism; solute carrier family 15; therapeutic target
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1243104