bims-mibica Biomed News
on Mitochondrial bioenergetics in cancer
Issue of 2021–06–06
79 papers selected by
Kelsey Fisher-Wellman, East Carolina University
  1. STAT1 potentiates oxidative stress revealing a targetable vulnerability that increases phenformin efficacy in breast cancer.
  2. Assessment of Mitochondrial Cell Metabolism by Respiratory Chain Electron Flow Assays.
  3. Assessment of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and NADH Redox State in Acute Brain Slices.
  4. How rotating ATP synthases can modulate membrane structure.
  5. Simultaneous Quantification of Mitochondrial ATP and ROS Production Using ATP Energy Clamp Methodology.
  6. Mitochondrial apoptotic priming is a key determinant of cell fate upon p53 restoration.
  7. Loss of Fis1 impairs proteostasis during skeletal muscle aging in Drosophila.
  8. Cholesterol-Induced Metabolic Reprogramming in Breast Cancer Cells Is Mediated via the ERRα Pathway.
  9. Isolation and Electron Microscopic Analysis of Liver Cancer Cell Mitochondria.
  10. The NDUFS4 Knockout Mouse: A Dual Threat Model of Childhood Mitochondrial Disease and Normative Aging.
  11. Hyperosmolarity Triggers the Warburg Effect in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells and Reveals a Reduced Mitochondria Horsepower.
  12. Modified Blue Native Gel Approach for Analysis of Respiratory Supercomplexes.
  13. Assessment of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake.
  14. PINK1 and parkin shape the organism-wide distribution of a deleterious mitochondrial genome.
  15. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mitochondrial Medicine: Current Limitations, Pitfalls, and Tomorrow.
  16. Mitochondrial Diagnostics: A Discovery-Based Biochemical Platform for Phenotyping Human Peripheral Blood Cell Mitochondria.
  17. Mitochondrial quality control: Just walk away.
  18. Assessing Impact of Platinum Complexes on Mitochondrial Functions.
  19. Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1: a novel prognostic biomarker that predicts favourable patient survival in cancer.
  20. Shedding light on the mitochondrial matrix through a functional membrane transporter.
  21. Melatonin reshapes the mitochondrial network and promotes intercellular mitochondrial transfer via tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) after ischemic-like injury in hippocampal HT22 cells.
  22. Proline oxidase silencing inhibits p53-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
  23. Accessory Subunits of the Matrix Arm of Mitochondrial Complex I with a Focus on Subunit NDUFS4 and Its Role in Complex I Function and Assembly.
  24. Rapamycin Ameliorates Defects in Mitochondrial Fission and Mitophagy in Glioblastoma Cells.
  25. A proximity-dependent biotinylation map of a human cell.
  26. Cell Energy Budget Platform for Multiparametric Assessment of Cell and Tissue Metabolism.
  27. The Interplay between Dysregulated Ion Transport and Mitochondrial Architecture as a Dangerous Liaison in Cancer.
  28. Mitochondria in epithelial ovarian carcinoma exhibit abnormal phenotypes and blunted associations with biobehavioral factors.
  29. Measuring Mitochondrial Hydrogen Peroxide Levels and Glutathione Redox Equilibrium in Drosophila Neuron Subtypes Using Redox-Sensitive Fluorophores and 3D Imaging.
  30. The Mitochondrial Response to DNA Damage.
  31. A near-infrared fluorescent probe reveals decreased mitochondrial polarity during mitophagy.
  32. Aberrant activity of mitochondrial NCLX is linked to impaired synaptic transmission and is associated with mental retardation.
  33. Accurate Measurement of Cellular and Cell-Free Circulating Mitochondrial DNA Content from Human Blood Samples Using Real-Time Quantitative PCR.
  34. Targeting Mitochondrial Oncometabolites: A New Approach to Overcome Drug Resistance in Cancer.
  35. Mitochondrial metabolism: powering new directions in acute myeloid leukemia.
  36. Mitochondrial Succinate Metabolism and Reactive Oxygen Species Are Important but Not Essential for Eliciting Carotid Body and Ventilatory Responses to Hypoxia in the Rat.
  37. Visualizing the effects of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) inhibition and LDH-A genetic ablation in breast and lung cancer with hyperpolarized pyruvate NMR.
  38. Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms and biogenesis genes in primary and metastatic uveal melanoma cell lines.
  39. The glutathionylation agent disulfiram augments superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production when liver mitochondria are oxidizing ubiquinone pool-linked and branched chain amino acid substrates.
  40. In Silico Modeling of the Mitochondrial Pumping Complexes with Markov State Models.
  41. Native Gel Electrophoresis and Immunoblotting to Analyze Electron Transport Chain Complexes.
  42. Oxidative phosphorylation system and cell culture media.
  43. Mitochondrial Transplantation for Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.
  44. Perilipin 5 links mitochondrial uncoupled respiration in brown fat to healthy white fat remodeling and systemic glucose tolerance.
  45. The Mitochondria-to-Cytosol H2O2 Gradient Is Caused by Peroxiredoxin-Dependent Cytosolic Scavenging.
  46. ATP-responsive mitochondrial probes for monitoring metabolic processes of glioma stem cells in a 3D model.
  47. Guaiazulene derivative 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroazuleno[1,2-b] tropone (TAT) reduces the production of ATP by inhibiting electron transfer complex II.
  48. Efficient extra-mitochondrial aerobic ATP synthesis in neuronal membrane systems.
  49. Drug Discovery Assay to Identify Modulators of the Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter.
  50. Quantitatively Controlled Intercellular Mitochondrial Transfer by Cell Fusion-Based Method Using a Microfluidic Device.
  51. Diet-Induced Obesity Impairs Outcomes and Induces Multi-Factorial Deficiencies in Effector T Cell Responses Following Anti-CTLA-4 Combinatorial Immunotherapy in Renal Tumor-Bearing Mice.
  52. Identification of a Novel Variant in MT-CO3 Causing MELAS.
  53. Pharmacological Vitamin C Treatment Impedes the Growth of Endogenous Glutamine-Dependent Cancers by Targeting Glutamine Synthetase.
  54. High-Throughput Image Analysis of Lipid-Droplet-Bound Mitochondria.
  55. Tracing oncogene-driven remodelling of the intestinal stem cell niche.
  56. Apc-mutant cells act as supercompetitors in intestinal tumour initiation.
  57. Assessment of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species and Redox Regulation in Stem Cells.
  58. Isolation of Mitochondria from Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Cultures and an Application of High-Resolution Respirometric Assay (XFe96 Seahorse Assay).
  59. Nujiangexanthone A Inhibits Cervical Cancer Cell Proliferation by Promoting Mitophagy.
  60. Lipophilic Conjugates for Carrier-Free Delivery of RNA Importable into Human Mitochondria.
  61. Patch-Clamp Recording of the Activity of Ion Channels in the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane.
  62. The Isolation and Deep Sequencing of Mitochondrial DNA.
  63. Can tumor cells take it all away?
  64. Lactate dehydrogenase A-dependent aerobic glycolysis promotes natural killer cell anti-viral and anti-tumor function.
  65. Evaluation of Mitochondria Content and Function in Live Cells by Multicolor Flow Cytometric Analysis.
  66. In Vitro Analysis of Energy Metabolism in Bone-Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.
  67. Analysis of Mitochondrial Dysfunction During Cell Death.
  68. Purification of Functional Platelet Mitochondria Using a Discontinuous Percoll Gradient.
  69. Mitochondrial Fission Governed by Drp1 Regulates Exogenous Fatty Acid Usage and Storage in Hela Cells.
  70. Tissue-Specific Warburg Effect in Breast Cancer and Cancer-Associated Adipose Tissue-Relationship between AMPK and Glycolysis.
  71. Isolation of Mitochondria-Associated ER Membranes (MAMs), Synaptic MAMs, and Glycosphingolipid Enriched Microdomains (GEMs) from Brain Tissues and Neuronal Cells.
  72. Assessment of Mitochondrial Protein Glutathionylation as Signaling for CO Pathway.
  73. Allotopic Expression of ATP6 in Mouse as a Transgenic Model of Mitochondrial Disease.
  74. Creatine promotes metastatic dissemination.
  75. Prohibitin 1 is essential to preserve mitochondria and myelin integrity in Schwann cells.
  76. Investigation of Mitochondrial ADP-Ribosylation Via Immunofluorescence.
  77. The effects of mitochondrial transplantation in acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity in rats.
  78. Model-based analysis uncovers mutations altering autophagy selectivity in human cancer.
  79. Preparation of "Functional" Mitochondria: A Challenging Business.
  1. Nat Commun. 2021 06 03. 12(1): 3299
    STAT1 potentiates oxidative stress revealing a targetable vulnerability that increases phenformin efficacy in breast cancer.
    Stephanie P Totten, Young Kyuen Im, Eduardo Cepeda Cañedo, Ouafa Najyb, Alice Nguyen, Steven Hébert, Ryuhjin Ahn, Kyle Lewis, Benjamin Lebeau, Rachel La Selva, Valérie Sabourin, Constanza Martínez, Paul Savage, Hellen Kuasne, Daina Avizonis, Nancy Santos Martínez, Catherine Chabot, Adriana Aguilar-Mahecha, Marie-Line Goulet, Matthew Dankner, Michael Witcher, Kevin Petrecca, Mark Basik, Michael Pollak, Ivan Topisirovic, Rongtuan Lin, Peter M Siegel, Claudia L Kleinman, Morag Park, Julie St-Pierre, Josie Ursini-Siegel.
      Bioenergetic perturbations driving neoplastic growth increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), requiring a compensatory increase in ROS scavengers to limit oxidative stress. Intervention strategies that simultaneously induce energetic and oxidative stress therefore have therapeutic potential. Phenformin is a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor that induces bioenergetic stress. We now demonstrate that inflammatory mediators, including IFNγ and polyIC, potentiate the cytotoxicity of phenformin by inducing a parallel increase in oxidative stress through STAT1-dependent mechanisms. Indeed, STAT1 signaling downregulates NQO1, a key ROS scavenger, in many breast cancer models. Moreover, genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of NQO1 using β-lapachone (an NQO1 bioactivatable drug) increases oxidative stress to selectively sensitize breast cancer models, including patient derived xenografts of HER2+ and triple negative disease, to the tumoricidal effects of phenformin. We provide evidence that therapies targeting ROS scavengers increase the anti-neoplastic efficacy of mitochondrial complex I inhibitors in breast cancer.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23396-2
  2. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 129-141
    Assessment of Mitochondrial Cell Metabolism by Respiratory Chain Electron Flow Assays.
    Flavia Radogna, Déborah Gérard, Mario Dicato, Marc Diederich.
      Cellular energy metabolism is regulated by complex metabolic pathways. Although anaerobic glycolysis was reported as a primary source of energy in cancer leading to a high rate of lactate production, current evidence shows that the main energy source supporting cancer cell metabolism relies on mitochondrial metabolism. Mitochondria are the key organelle maintaining optimal cellular energy levels. MitoPlate™ S-1 provides a highly reproducible bioenergetics tool to analyze the electron flow rate in live cells. Measuring the rates of electron flow into and through the electron transport chain using different NADH and FADH2-producing metabolic substrates enables the assessment of mitochondrial functionality. MitoPlate™ S-1 are 96-well microplates pre-coated with different substrates used as probes to examine the activity of mitochondrial metabolic pathways based on a colorimetric assay. A comparative metabolic analysis between cell lines or primary cells allows to establish a specific metabolic profile and to detect possible alterations of the mitochondrial function of a tumor cell. Moreover, the direct measurements of electron flux triggered by metabolic pathway activation could highlight targets for potential drug candidates.
    Keywords:  Bioinformatics; Cancer metabolism; Electron transport chain; Mitochondrial respiration; Tricarboxylic acid cycle
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_9
  3. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 193-202
    Assessment of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and NADH Redox State in Acute Brain Slices.
    Andrey Y Vinokurov, Viktor V Dremin, Gennadii A Piavchenko, Olga A Stelmashchuk, Plamena R Angelova, Andrey Y Abramov.
      Brain is one of the most energy-demanding organs. Energy in the form of ATP is produced in brain cells predominantly in oxidative phosphorylation coupled to mitochondrial respiration. Any alteration of the mitochondrial metabolism or prolonged ischemic or anoxic conditions can lead to serious neurological conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders. Assessment of mitochondrial metabolism is important for understanding physiological and pathological processes in the brain. Bioenergetics in central nervous system is dependent on multiple parameters including neuron-glia interactions and considering this, in vivo or ex vivo, the measurements of mitochondrial metabolism should also be complimenting the experiments on isolated mitochondria or cell cultures. To assess the mitochondrial function, there are several key bioenergetic parameters which indicate mitochondrial health. One of the major characteristics of mitochondria is the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) which is used as a proton motive force for ATP production and generated by activity of the electron transport chain. Major donor of electrons for the mitochondrial respiratory chain is NADH. Here we demonstrate how to measure mitochondrial NADH/NAD(P)H autofluorescence and ΔΨm in acute brain slices in a time-dependent manner and provide information for the identification of NADH redox index, mitochondrial NADH pool, and the rate of NADH production in the Krebs cycle. Additionally, non-mitochondrial NADH/NADPH autofluorescence can signify the level of activity of the pentose phosphate pathway.
    Keywords:  Acute brain slices; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial membrane potential; NADH
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_14
  4. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2021 May 27. pii: S0003-9861(21)00188-0. [Epub ahead of print] 108939
    How rotating ATP synthases can modulate membrane structure.
    Víctor Almendro-Vedia, Paolo Natale, David Valdivieso González, M Pilar Lillo, Juan L Aragones, Iván López-Montero.
      F1Fo-ATP synthase (ATP Synthase) is a central membrane protein that synthetizes most of the ATP in the cell through a rotational movement driven by a proton gradient across the hosting membrane. In mitochondria, ATP synthases can form dimers through specific interactions between some subunits of the protein. The dimeric form of ATP synthase provides the protein with a spontaneous curvature that sustain their arrangement at the rim of the high-curvature edges of mitochondrial membrane (cristae). Also, a direct interaction with cardiolipin, a lipid present in the inner mitochondrial membrane, induces the dimerization of ATP synthase molecules along cristae. The deletion of those biochemical interactions abolishes the protein dimerization producing an altered mitochondrial function and morphology. Mechanically, membrane bending is one of the key deformation modes by which mitochondrial membranes can be shaped. In particular, bending rigidity and spontaneous curvature are important physical factors for membrane remodelling. Here, we discuss a complementary mechanism whereby the rotatory movement of the ATP synthase might modify the mechanical properties of lipid bilayers and contribute to the formation and regulation of the membrane invaginations.
    Keywords:  Cristae; F(1)-F(o) ATP synthase; Membrane mechanics; Mitochondria; Rotation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2021.108939
  5. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 271-283
    Simultaneous Quantification of Mitochondrial ATP and ROS Production Using ATP Energy Clamp Methodology.
    Liping Yu, Brian D Fink, William I Sivitz.
      Several methods are available to measure ATP production by isolated mitochondria or permeabilized cells but have several limitations, depending upon the particular assay employed. These limitations may include poor sensitivity or specificity, complexity of the method, poor throughput, changes in mitochondrial inner membrane potential as ATP is consumed, and/or inability to simultaneously assess other mitochondrial functional parameters. Here we describe a novel nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based assay that can be carried out with high efficiency in a manner that alleviates the above problems.
    Keywords:  ATP; Bioenergetics; H2O2; Mitochondria; NMR; Reactive oxygen species; Superoxide
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_21
  6. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Jun 08. pii: e2019740118. [Epub ahead of print]118(23):
    Mitochondrial apoptotic priming is a key determinant of cell fate upon p53 restoration.
    Francisco J Sánchez-Rivera, Jeremy Ryan, Yadira M Soto-Feliciano, Mary Clare Beytagh, Lucius Xuan, David M Feldser, Michael T Hemann, Jesse Zamudio, Nadya Dimitrova, Anthony Letai, Tyler Jacks.
      Reactivation of p53 in established tumors typically results in one of two cell fates, cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, but it remains unclear how this cell fate is determined. We hypothesized that high mitochondrial priming prior to p53 reactivation would lead to apoptosis, while low priming would lead to survival and cell cycle arrest. Using a panel of Kras-driven, p53 restorable cell lines derived from genetically engineered mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma and sarcoma (both of which undergo cell cycle arrest upon p53 restoration), as well as lymphoma (which instead undergo apoptosis), we show that the level of mitochondrial apoptotic priming is a critical determinant of p53 reactivation outcome. Cells with high initial priming (e.g., lymphomas) lacked sufficient reserve antiapoptotic capacity and underwent apoptosis after p53 restoration. Forced BCL-2 or BCL-XL expression reduced priming and resulted in survival and cell cycle arrest. Cells with low initial priming (e.g., lung adenocarcinoma and sarcoma) survived and proceeded to arrest in the cell cycle. When primed by inhibition of their antiapoptotic proteins using genetic (BCL-2 or BCL-XL deletion or BAD overexpression) or pharmacologic (navitoclax) means, apoptosis resulted upon p53 restoration in vitro and in vivo. These data demonstrate that mitochondrial apoptotic priming is a key determining factor of cell fate upon p53 activation. Moreover, it is possible to enforce apoptotic cell fate following p53 activation in less primed cells using p53-independent drugs that increase apoptotic priming, including BH3 mimetic drugs.
    Keywords:  apoptosis; cell cycle arrest; cell fate; p53
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2019740118
  7. Aging Cell. 2021 Jun 01. e13379
    Loss of Fis1 impairs proteostasis during skeletal muscle aging in Drosophila.
    Tai-Ting Lee, Po-Lin Chen, Matthew P Su, Jian-Chiuan Li, Yi-Wen Chang, Rei-Wen Liu, Hsueh-Fen Juan, Jinn-Moon Yang, Shih-Peng Chan, Yu-Chen Tsai, Sophia von Stockum, Elena Ziviani, Azusa Kamikouchi, Horng-Dar Wang, Chun-Hong Chen.
      Increased levels of dysfunctional mitochondria within skeletal muscle are correlated with numerous age-related physiopathological conditions. Improving our understanding of the links between mitochondrial function and muscle proteostasis, and the role played by individual genes and regulatory networks, is essential to develop treatments for these conditions. One potential player is the mitochondrial outer membrane protein Fis1, a crucial fission factor heavily involved in mitochondrial dynamics in yeast but with an unknown role in higher-order organisms. By using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, we explored the effect of Fis1 mutations generated by transposon Minos-mediated integration. Mutants exhibited a higher ratio of damaged mitochondria with age as well as elevated reactive oxygen species levels compared with controls. This caused an increase in oxidative stress, resulting in large accumulations of ubiquitinated proteins, accelerated muscle function decline, and mitochondrial myopathies in young mutant flies. Ectopic expression of Fis1 isoforms was sufficient to suppress this phenotype. Loss of Fis1 led to unbalanced mitochondrial proteostasis within fly muscle, decreasing both flight capabilities and lifespan. Fis1 thus clearly plays a role in fly mitochondrial dynamics. Further investigations into the detailed function of Fis1 are necessary for exploring how mitochondrial function correlates with muscle health during aging.
    Keywords:   Drosophila melanogaster ; Fis1; aging; mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13379
  8. Cancers (Basel). 2021 May 26. pii: 2605. [Epub ahead of print]13(11):
    Cholesterol-Induced Metabolic Reprogramming in Breast Cancer Cells Is Mediated via the ERRα Pathway.
    Faegheh Ghanbari, Anne-Marie Fortier, Morag Park, Anie Philip.
      The molecular mechanism underlying the metabolic reprogramming associated with obesity and high blood cholesterol levels is poorly understood. We previously reported that cholesterol is an endogenous ligand of the estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα). Using functional assays, metabolomics, and genomics, here we show that exogenous cholesterol alters the metabolic pathways in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, and that this involves increased oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and TCA cycle intermediate levels. In addition, cholesterol augments aerobic glycolysis in TNBC cells although it remains unaltered in ER+ cells. Interestingly, cholesterol does not alter the metabolite levels of glutaminolysis, one-carbon metabolism, or the pentose phosphate pathway, but increases the NADPH levels and cellular proliferation, in both cell types. Importantly, we show that the above cholesterol-induced modulations of the metabolic pathways in breast cancer cells are mediated via ERRα. Furthermore, analysis of the ERRα metabolic gene signature of basal-like breast tumours of overweight/obese versus lean patients, using the GEO database, shows that obesity may modulate ERRα gene signature in a manner consistent with our in vitro findings with exogenous cholesterol. Given the close link between high cholesterol levels and obesity, our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the association between cholesterol/obesity and metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer patients.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13112605
  9. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 277-287
    Isolation and Electron Microscopic Analysis of Liver Cancer Cell Mitochondria.
    Yaschar Kabiri, Carola Eberhagen, Sabine Schmitt, Percy A Knolle, Hans Zischka.
      Isolation of mitochondria is a crucial method for examining molecular details of this organelle's manifold functions. Historically, mitochondrial isolations required large amounts of sample material which impeded their isolation from cultured cells. We have therefore developed a method allowing for controlled and reproducible isolation of intact and functional mitochondria from diverse cell types in culture. Here we provide a methodological update of this approach together with a protocol for the subsequent analysis of such isolated mitochondria by electron microscopy. Combining the isolation procedure with this powerful imaging method can reveal ultrastructural mitochondrial peculiarities in disease settings that might not be evident in intact cells and allows for assessment of mitochondrial membrane integrity and sample purity.
    Keywords:  Balch homogenizer; Cell culture; Electron microscopy; Image analysis; Mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_17
  10. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 143-155
    The NDUFS4 Knockout Mouse: A Dual Threat Model of Childhood Mitochondrial Disease and Normative Aging.
    Anthony S Grillo, Alessandro Bitto, Matt Kaeberlein.
      Mice missing the Complex I subunit NADH:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase Fe-S Protein 4 (NDUFS4) of the electron transport chain are a leading model of the severe mitochondrial disease Leigh syndrome. These mice have enabled a better understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction in human disease, as well as in the discovery of interventions that can potentially suppress mitochondrial disease manifestations. In addition, increasing evidence suggests significant overlap between interventions that increase survival in NDUFS4 knockout mice and that extend life span during normative aging. This chapter discusses the practical aspects of handling and studying these mice, which can be challenging due to their severe disease phenotype. Common procedures such as breeding, genotyping, weaning, or treating these transgenic mice are also discussed.
    Keywords:  Aging; Complex I; Electron transport chain; Hypoxia; Leigh syndrome; Mitochondrial disease; Mitochondrial dysfunction; NAD; NDUFS4; Rapamycin; mTOR
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_10
  11. Metabolites. 2021 May 26. pii: 344. [Epub ahead of print]11(6):
    Hyperosmolarity Triggers the Warburg Effect in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells and Reveals a Reduced Mitochondria Horsepower.
    Jorgelindo da Veiga Moreira, Lenny De Staercke, Pablo César Martínez-Basilio, Sandrine Gauthier-Thibodeau, Léa Montégut, Laurent Schwartz, Mario Jolicoeur.
      Tumor cells are known to favor a glycolytic metabolism over oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos), which takes place in mitochondria, to produce the energy and building blocks essential for cell maintenance and cell growth. This phenotypic property of tumor cells gives them several advantages over normal cells and is known as the Warburg effect. Tumors can be treated as a metabolic disease by targeting their bioenergetics capacity. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and calcium hydroxycitrate (HCA) are two drugs known to target the Warburg effect in tumor cells and hence induce the mitochondria for ATP production. However, tumor cells, known to have an increased flux through glycolysis, are not able to handle the activation of their mitochondria by drugs or any other condition, leading to decoupling of gene regulation. In this study, these drug effects were studied by mimicking an inflammatory condition through the imposition of a hyperosmotic condition in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which behave similarly to tumor cells. Indeed, CHO cells grown in high osmolarity conditions, using 200 mM mannitol, showed a pronounced Warburg effect phenotype. Our results show that hyperosmolar conditions triggered high-throughput glycolysis and enhanced glutaminolysis in CHO cells, such as during cancer cell proliferation in inflammatory tissue. Finally, we found that the hyperosmolar condition was correlated with increased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) but mitochondrial horsepower seemed to vanish (h = Δp/ΔΨm), which may be explained by mitochondrial hyperfusion.
    Keywords:  CHO cells; Warburg effect; hydroxycitrate; hyperosmolarity; lipoic acid; mitochondrial hyperfusion
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11060344
  12. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 227-234
    Modified Blue Native Gel Approach for Analysis of Respiratory Supercomplexes.
    Sergiy M Nadtochiy, Megan Ngai, Paul S Brookes.
      In mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (Ox-Phos), individual electron transport chain complexes are thought to assemble into supramolecular entities termed supercomplexes (SCs). The technique of blue native (BN) gel electrophoresis has emerged as the method of choice for analyzing SCs. However, the process of sample extraction for BN gel analysis is somewhat tedious and introduces the possibility for experimental artifacts. Here we outline a streamlined method that eliminates a centrifugation step and provides a more representative sampling of a population of mitochondria on the final gel. Using this method, we show that SC composition does not appear to change dynamically with altered mitochondrial function.
    Keywords:  Blue-native; Clear-native; Mitochondria; Permeability transition pore; Respiration; Supercomplexes
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_17
  13. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 173-191
    Assessment of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake.
    András T Deak, Claire Jean-Quartier, Alexander I Bondarenko, Lukas N Groschner, Roland Malli, Wolfgang F Graier, Markus Waldeck-Weiermair.
      Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake regulates mitochondrial function and contributes to cell signaling. Accordingly, quantifying mitochondrial Ca2+ signals and elaborating the mechanisms that accomplish mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake are essential to gain our understanding of cell biology. Here, we describe the benefits and drawbacks of various established old and new techniques to assess dynamic changes of mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]mito) in a wide range of applications.
    Keywords:  Ca2+ Imaging; Calcium Green; FRET; Fura-2; Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake; Mitochondrial membrane potential; Mitoplast; Oxidative phosphorylation; Patch-clamp recording; Rhod-2
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_13
  14. Cell Rep. 2021 Jun 01. pii: S2211-1247(21)00552-0. [Epub ahead of print]35(9): 109203
    PINK1 and parkin shape the organism-wide distribution of a deleterious mitochondrial genome.
    Arnaud Ahier, Chuan-Yang Dai, Ina Kirmes, Nadia Cummins, Grace Ching Ching Hung, Jürgen Götz, Steven Zuryn.
      In multiple species, certain tissue types are prone to acquiring greater loads of mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations relative to others, but the mechanisms that drive these heteroplasmy differences are unknown. We find that the conserved PTEN-induced putative kinase (PINK1/PINK-1) and the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase parkin (PDR-1), which are required for mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy), underlie stereotyped differences in heteroplasmy of a deleterious mitochondrial genome mutation (ΔmtDNA) between major somatic tissues types in Caenorhabditis elegans. We demonstrate that tissues prone to accumulating ΔmtDNA have lower mitophagy responses than those with low mutation levels. Moreover, we show that ΔmtDNA heteroplasmy increases when proteotoxic species that are associated with neurodegenerative disease and mitophagy inhibition are overexpressed in the nervous system. These results suggest that PINK1 and parkin drive organism-wide patterns of heteroplasmy and provide evidence of a causal link between proteotoxicity, mitophagy, and mtDNA mutation levels in neurons.
    Keywords:  Alzheimer's disease; PINK1; heteroplasmy; mitochondria; mitophagy; mtDNA; parkin; polyglutamate; proteotoxicity; tau
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109203
  15. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 1-29
    Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mitochondrial Medicine: Current Limitations, Pitfalls, and Tomorrow.
    Naig Gueguen, Guy Lenaers, Pascal Reynier, Volkmar Weissig, Marvin Edeas.
      Until recently restricted to hereditary mitochondrial diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction is now recognized as a key player and strategic factor in the pathophysiological of many human diseases, ranging from the metabolism, vascular, cardiac, and neurodegenerative diseases to cancer. Because of their participation in a myriad of cellular functions and signaling pathways, precisely identifying the cause of mitochondrial "dysfunctions" can be challenging and requires robust and controlled techniques. Initially limited to the analysis of the respiratory chain functioning, these analytical techniques now enlarge to the analyses of mitochondrial and cellular metabolism, based on metabolomic approaches.Here, we address the methods used to assay mitochondrial dysfunction, with a highlight on the techniques used in diagnosis on tissues and cells derived from patients, the information they provide, and their strength and weakness.Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction by various strategies is a huge challenge, requires robust methods of evaluation, and should be able to take into consideration the mitochondria dynamics and localization. The future of mitochondrial medicine is strongly related to a perfect comprehension of its dysfunction.
    Keywords:  Bioenergetics; Devices; Metabolomics; Mitochondria evaluation; Mitochondrial dysfunctions
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_1
  16. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 371-389
    Mitochondrial Diagnostics: A Discovery-Based Biochemical Platform for Phenotyping Human Peripheral Blood Cell Mitochondria.
    Margaret A M Nelson, Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman.
      In vitro experiments using permeabilized cells and/or isolated mitochondria represent a powerful biochemical tool for elucidating the role of the mitochondrion in driving disease. Such analyses have routinely been utilized across multiple scientific fields to shed valuable insight on mitochondrial-linked pathologies. The present chapter is intended to serve as a methodological blueprint for comprehensively phenotyping peripheral blood cell mitochondria. While primarily adapted for peripheral blood cells, the protocols outlined herein could easily be made amenable to most all cell types with minimal modifications.
    Keywords:  ATP synthesis; Creatine kinase clamp; Matrix dehydrogenase activity; Mitochondrial bioenergetics; Peripheral blood cells; Respiratory flux
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_23
  17. Cell Metab. 2021 Jun 01. pii: S1550-4131(21)00228-X. [Epub ahead of print]33(6): 1069-1071
    Mitochondrial quality control: Just walk away.
    Douglas R Green.
      The repair and removal of damaged mitochondria is essential for sustaining cellular and tissue homeostasis. Now in Cell, Jiao et al. (2021) describe a novel mechanism of such quality control in which damaged mitochondria move to the plasma membrane where they are "packaged" and left behind the trailing edge of migrating cells.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2021.05.011
  18. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 409-423
    Assessing Impact of Platinum Complexes on Mitochondrial Functions.
    Suxing Jin, Xiaoyong Wang.
      Platinum-based antitumor drugs play important roles in the clinical treatment of various tumors. Nevertheless, some deficiencies such as poor targeting ability, low bioavailability, in vivo deactivation, drug resistance, and side effects undermine the efficacy of these drugs. Mitochondria are important organelles which regulate the energy metabolism, physiological function, life span, and survival of the cells. Regulating or interfering with mitochondrial metabolism is of great significance in the prevention or treatment of cancers. Thus, a series of mitochondrion-targeted platinum complexes were prepared by modifying triphenylphosphine (TPP+) through chemical modifications, which endow traditional platinum drugs with new properties and mechanisms through interfering with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial bioenergetics, or production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby opening a new path for the clinical application of platinum drugs. Here we introduce the synthesis of some TPP+-modified platinum (II, IV) complexes in details and the detection method of the activity parameters related to the mitochondrial functions.
    Keywords:  Detection; Mitochondrion; Platinum complex; Synthesis; Triphenylphosphine
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_30
  19. Cancer Cell Int. 2021 May 31. 21(1): 288
    Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1: a novel prognostic biomarker that predicts favourable patient survival in cancer.
    Chen Xue, Ganglei Li, Zhengyi Bao, Ziyuan Zhou, Lanjuan Li.
      Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) is a key metabolic protein that regulates the transport of pyruvate into the mitochondrial inner membrane. MPC1 deficiency may cause metabolic reprogramming. However, whether and how MPC1 controls mitochondrial oxidative capacity in cancer are still relatively unknown. MPC1 deficiency was recently found to be strongly associated with various diseases and cancer hallmarks. We utilized online databases and uncovered that MPC1 expression is lower in many cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. In addition, MPC1 expression was found to be substantially altered in five cancer types: breast-invasive carcinoma (BRCA), kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), and prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). However, in KIRC, LUAD, PAAD, and PRAD, high MPC1 expression is closely associated with favourable prognosis. Low MPC1 expression in BRCA is significantly associated with shorter overall survival time. MPC1 expression shows strong positive and negative correlations with immune cell infiltration in thymoma (THYM) and thyroid carcinoma (THCA). Furthermore, we have comprehensively summarized the current literature regarding the metabolic reprogramming effects of MPC1 in various cancers. As shown in the literature, MPC1 expression is significantly decreased in cancer tissue and associated with poor prognosis. We discuss the potential metabolism-altering effects of MPC1 in cancer, including decreased pyruvate transport ability; impaired pyruvate-driven oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS); and increased lactate production, glucose consumption, and glycolytic capacity, and the underlying mechanisms. These activities facilitate tumour progression, migration, and invasion. MPC1 is a novel cancer biomarker and potentially powerful therapeutic target for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Further studies aimed at slowing cancer progression are in progress.
    Keywords:  Cancer; Glycolytic; MPC1; Metabolic reprogramming
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-021-01996-8
  20. Chem Sci. 2019 Dec 09. 11(4): 1052-1065
    Shedding light on the mitochondrial matrix through a functional membrane transporter.
    Alberto Blázquez-Moraleja, Ines Sáenz-de-Santa María, María D Chiara, Delia Álvarez-Fernández, Inmaculada García-Moreno, Ruth Prieto-Montero, Virginia Martínez-Martínez, Iñigo López Arbeloa, Jose Luis Chiara.
      The first fluorescent probes that are actively channeled into the mitochondrial matrix by a specific mitochondrial membrane transporter in living cells have been developed. The new functional probes (BCT) have a minimalist structural design based on the highly efficient and photostable BODIPY chromophore and carnitine as a biotargeting element. Both units are orthogonally bonded through the common boron atom, thus avoiding the use of complex polyatomic connectors. In contrast to known mitochondria-specific dyes, BCTs selectively label these organelles regardless of their transmembrane potential and in an enantioselective way. The obtained experimental evidence supports carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) as the key transporter protein for BCTs, which behave therefore as acylcarnitine biomimetics. This simple structural design can be readily extended to other structurally diverse starting F-BODIPYs to obtain BCTs with varied emission wavelengths along the visible and NIR spectral regions and with multifunctional capabilities. BCTs are the first fluorescent derivatives of carnitine to be used in cell microscopy and stand as promising research tools to explore the role of the carnitine shuttle system in cancer and metabolic diseases. Extension of this approach to other small-molecule mitochondrial transporters is envisaged.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sc04852a
  21. J Pineal Res. 2021 Jun 04. e12747
    Melatonin reshapes the mitochondrial network and promotes intercellular mitochondrial transfer via tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) after ischemic-like injury in hippocampal HT22 cells.
    Maria Gemma Nasoni, Silvia Carloni, Barbara Canonico, Sabrina Burattini, Erica Cesarini, Stefano Papa, Marica Pagliarini, Patrizia Ambrogini, Walter Balduini, Francesca Luchetti.
      Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered one of the hallmarks of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Mitochondria are plastic organelles that undergo continuous biogenesis, fusion and fission. They can be transferred between cells through tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), dynamic structures that allow the exchange of proteins, soluble molecules and organelles. Maintaining mitochondrial dynamics is crucial to cell function and survival. The present study aimed to assess the effects of melatonin on mitochondrial dynamics, TNT formation and mitochondria transfer in HT22 cells exposed to oxygen/glucose deprivation followed by reoxygenation (OGD/R). The results showed that melatonin treatment during the reoxygenation phase reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, improved cell viability and increased the expression of PGC1α and SIRT3. Melatonin also preserved the expression of the membrane translocase proteins TOM20 and TIM23, and of the matrix protein HSP60, which are involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. Moreover, it promoted mitochondrial fusion and enhanced the expression of MFN2 and OPA1. Remarkably, melatonin also fostered mitochondrial transfer between injured HT22 cells through TNT connections. These results provide new insights into the effect of melatonin on mitochondrial network reshaping and cell survival. Fostering TNTs formation represents a novel mechanism mediating the protective effect of melatonin in ischemia/reperfusion injury.
    Keywords:  HT22; Melatonin; mitochondrial network; oxygen-glucose deprivation; tunneling nanotubes
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12747
  22. Amino Acids. 2021 Jun 04.
    Proline oxidase silencing inhibits p53-dependent apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
    Ilona Oscilowska, Thi Y L Huynh, Weronika Baszanowska, Izabela Prokop, Arkadiusz Surazynski, Mauro Galli, Piotr Zabielski, Jerzy Palka.
      Proline oxidase (POX) is mitochondrial proline-degrading enzyme of dual apoptosis/survival function. POX expression and proline availability are considered an underlying mechanism for differential POX functions. The mechanism for POX-dependent regulation of cell death/survival was studied in wild-type (MCF-7WT) and shRNA POX-silenced breast cancer cells (MCF-7iPOX). Proline concentration and proteomic analyses were determined by LC/MS/QTOF and LC/MS/ORBITRA, respectively. Inhibition of collagen biosynthesis (proline utilizing process) by 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) contributed to induction of apoptosis in MCF-7WT cells, as detected by increase in the expression of active caspase-3, -9 and p53. The process was not shown in MCF-7iPOX. In MCF-7iPOX cells prolidase activity and expression as well as proline concentration were drastically increased, compared to MCF-7WT cells. Down-regulation of p53 in MCF-7iPOX cells was corroborated by proteomic analysis showing decrease in the expression of p53-related proteins. The mechanism for down-regulation of p53 expression in MCF-7iPOX cells was found at the level of p53-PEPD complex formation that was counteracted by hydrogen peroxide treatment. In this study, we found that silencing POX modulate pro-survival phenotype of MCF-7 cells and suggest that the mechanism of this process undergoes through down-regulation of p53-dependent signaling.
    Keywords:  Apoptosis; MCF-7 breast cancer cells; Proline; Proline dehydrogenase; Proline oxidase; p53
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-021-03013-8
  23. Life (Basel). 2021 May 19. pii: 455. [Epub ahead of print]11(5):
    Accessory Subunits of the Matrix Arm of Mitochondrial Complex I with a Focus on Subunit NDUFS4 and Its Role in Complex I Function and Assembly.
    Flora Kahlhöfer, Max Gansen, Volker Zickermann.
      NADH:ubiquinone-oxidoreductase (complex I) is the largest membrane protein complex of the respiratory chain. Complex I couples electron transfer to vectorial proton translocation across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The L shaped structure of complex I is divided into a membrane arm and a matrix arm. Fourteen central subunits are conserved throughout species, while some 30 accessory subunits are typically found in eukaryotes. Complex I dysfunction is associated with mutations in the nuclear and mitochondrial genome, resulting in a broad spectrum of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. Accessory subunit NDUFS4 in the matrix arm is a hot spot for mutations causing Leigh or Leigh-like syndrome. In this review, we focus on accessory subunits of the matrix arm and discuss recent reports on the function of accessory subunit NDUFS4 and its interplay with NDUFS6, NDUFA12, and assembly factor NDUFAF2 in complex I assembly.
    Keywords:  Leigh syndrome; NADH dehydrogenase; assembly factor; mitochondrial disease; oxidative phosphorylation; respiratory chain
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/life11050455
  24. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 20. pii: 5379. [Epub ahead of print]22(10):
    Rapamycin Ameliorates Defects in Mitochondrial Fission and Mitophagy in Glioblastoma Cells.
    Paola Lenzi, Rosangela Ferese, Francesca Biagioni, Federica Fulceri, Carla L Busceti, Alessandra Falleni, Stefano Gambardella, Alessandro Frati, Francesco Fornai.
      Glioblastoma (GBM) cells feature mitochondrial alterations, which are documented and quantified in the present study, by using ultrastructural morphometry. Mitochondrial impairment, which roughly occurs in half of the organelles, is shown to be related to mTOR overexpression and autophagy suppression. The novelty of the present study consists of detailing an mTOR-dependent mitophagy occlusion, along with suppression of mitochondrial fission. These phenomena contribute to explain the increase in altered mitochondria reported here. Administration of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin rescues mitochondrial alterations. In detail, rapamycin induces the expression of genes promoting mitophagy (PINK1, PARKIN, ULK1, AMBRA1) and mitochondrial fission (FIS1, DRP1). This occurs along with over-expression of VPS34, an early gene placed upstream in the autophagy pathway. The topographic stoichiometry of proteins coded by these genes within mitochondria indicates that, a remarkable polarization of proteins involved in fission and mitophagy within mitochondria including LC3 takes place. Co-localization of these proteins within mitochondria, persists for weeks following rapamycin, which produces long-lasting mitochondrial plasticity. Thus, rapamycin restores mitochondrial status in GBM cells. These findings add novel evidence about mitochondria and GBM, while fostering a novel therapeutic approach to restore healthy mitochondria through mTOR inhibition.
    Keywords:  AMBRA1; DRP1; FIS1; OPA1; PARKIN; PINK1; ULK1; VPS34; autophagy; mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22105379
  25. Nature. 2021 Jun 02.
    A proximity-dependent biotinylation map of a human cell.
    Christopher D Go, James D R Knight, Archita Rajasekharan, Bhavisha Rathod, Geoffrey G Hesketh, Kento T Abe, Ji-Young Youn, Payman Samavarchi-Tehrani, Hui Zhang, Lucie Y Zhu, Evelyn Popiel, Jean-Philippe Lambert, Étienne Coyaud, Sally W T Cheung, Dushyandi Rajendran, Cassandra J Wong, Hana Antonicka, Laurence Pelletier, Alexander F Palazzo, Eric A Shoubridge, Brian Raught, Anne-Claude Gingras.
      Compartmentalization is a defining characteristic of eukaryotic cells, and partitions distinct biochemical processes into discrete subcellular locations. Microscopy1 and biochemical fractionation coupled with mass spectrometry2-4 have defined the proteomes of a variety of different organelles, but many intracellular compartments have remained refractory to such approaches. Proximity-dependent biotinylation techniques such as BioID provide an alternative approach to define the composition of cellular compartments in living cells5-7. Here we present a BioID-based map of a human cell on the basis of 192 subcellular markers, and define the intracellular locations of 4,145 unique proteins in HEK293 cells. Our localization predictions exceed the specificity of previous approaches, and enabled the discovery of proteins at the interface between the mitochondrial outer membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum that are crucial for mitochondrial homeostasis. On the basis of this dataset, we created humancellmap.org as a community resource that provides online tools for localization analysis of user BioID data, and demonstrate how this resource can be used to understand BioID results better.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03592-2
  26. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 305-324
    Cell Energy Budget Platform for Multiparametric Assessment of Cell and Tissue Metabolism.
    Dmitri B Papkovsky, Alexander V Zhdanov.
      Specific bioenergetic signature reports on the current metabolic state of the cell, which may be affected by metabolic rearrangement, dysfunction or dysregulation of relevant signaling pathways, altered physiological condition or energy stress. A combined analysis of respiration , glycolytic flux, Krebs cycle activity, ATP levels, and total biomass allows informative initial assessment. Such simple, high-throughput, multiparametric methodology, called cell energy budget (CEB ) platform, is presented here and demonstrated with particular cell and tissue models. The CEB uses a commercial fluorescent lanthanide probe pH-Xtra™ to measure extracellular acidification (ECA) associated with lactate (L-ECA) and combined lactate/CO2 (T-ECA), a phosphorescent probe MitoXpress®-Xtra to measure oxygen consumption rate (OCR), a bioluminescent ATP kit, and an absorbance-based total protein assay. All the assays are performed on a standard multi-label reader. Using the same readouts, the CEB approach can be extended to more detailed mechanistic studies, by targeting specific pathways in cell bioenergetics and measuring other cellular parameters, such as NAD(P)H, Ca2+, mitochondrial pH, membrane potential, redox state, with conventional fluorescent or luminescent probes.
    Keywords:  ATP assay; Bioenergetics; Cell energy budget; Cell metabolism; Extracellular acidification; Glycolysis; O2 and pH sensitive probes; Oxidative phosphorylation; Oxygen consumption rate; Respiration; Time-resolved fluorescence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_23
  27. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 14. pii: 5209. [Epub ahead of print]22(10):
    The Interplay between Dysregulated Ion Transport and Mitochondrial Architecture as a Dangerous Liaison in Cancer.
    Stine F Pedersen, Mette Flinck, Luis A Pardo.
      Transport of ions and nutrients is a core mitochondrial function, without which there would be no mitochondrial metabolism and ATP production. Both ion homeostasis and mitochondrial phenotype undergo pervasive changes during cancer development, and both play key roles in driving the malignancy. However, the link between these events has been largely ignored. This review comprehensively summarizes and critically discusses the role of the reciprocal relationship between ion transport and mitochondria in crucial cellular functions, including metabolism, signaling, and cell fate decisions. We focus on Ca2+, H+, and K+, which play essential and highly interconnected roles in mitochondrial function and are profoundly dysregulated in cancer. We describe the transport and roles of these ions in normal mitochondria, summarize the changes occurring during cancer development, and discuss how they might impact tumorigenesis.
    Keywords:  apoptosis; calcium; cell cycle; membrane potential; metabolism; metastasis; mitochondrial fission; mitochondrial fusion; pH; potassium
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22105209
  28. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 02. 11(1): 11595
    Mitochondria in epithelial ovarian carcinoma exhibit abnormal phenotypes and blunted associations with biobehavioral factors.
    Snehal Bindra, Marlon A McGill, Marina K Triplett, Anisha Tyagi, Premal H Thaker, Laila Dahmoush, Michael J Goodheart, R Todd Ogden, Edward Owusu-Ansah, Kalpita R Karan, Steve Cole, Anil K Sood, Susan K Lutgendorf, Martin Picard.
      Malignant tumor cells exhibit mitochondrial alterations and are also influenced by biobehavioral processes, but the intersection of biobehavioral factors and mitochondria in malignant tumors remains unexplored. Here we examined multiple biochemical and molecular markers of mitochondrial content and function in benign tissue and in high-grade epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) in parallel with exploratory analyses of biobehavioral factors. First, analysis of a publicly-available database (n = 1435) showed that gene expression of specific mitochondrial proteins in EOC is associated with survival. Quantifying multiple biochemical and molecular markers of mitochondrial content and function in tissue from 51 patients with benign ovarian masses and 128 patients with high-grade EOC revealed that compared to benign tissue, EOCs exhibit 3.3-8.4-fold higher mitochondrial content and respiratory chain enzymatic activities (P < 0.001) but similar mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels (- 3.1%), documenting abnormal mitochondrial phenotypes in EOC. Mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was also associated with interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in ascites. In benign tissue, negative biobehavioral factors were inversely correlated with mitochondrial content and respiratory chain activities, whereas positive biobehavioral factors tended to be positively correlated with mitochondrial measures, although effect sizes were small to medium (r = - 0.43 to 0.47). In contrast, serous EOCs showed less pronounced biobehavioral-mitochondrial correlations. These results document abnormal mitochondrial functional phenotypes in EOC and warrant further research on the link between biobehavioral factors and mitochondria in cancer.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89934-6
  29. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 113-127
    Measuring Mitochondrial Hydrogen Peroxide Levels and Glutathione Redox Equilibrium in Drosophila Neuron Subtypes Using Redox-Sensitive Fluorophores and 3D Imaging.
    Lori M Buhlman, Petros P Keoseyan, Kathryn Houlihan, Amber N Juba.
      Disruptions in mitochondrial redox activity are implicated in maladies ranging from those in which cells degenerate to those in which cell division is unregulated. This is not surprising given the pivotal role of mitochondria as ATP producers, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generators, and gatekeepers of apoptosis. While increased ROS are implicated in such a wide variety of disorders, pinpointing the cause of their hyperproduction is challenging. Elevated levels of ROS can result from increases in their production and/or decreases in their turnover. Disruptions in and/or hyperactivity of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase or ubiquinone-cytochrome c oxidoreductase can cause excessive ROS generation. Alternatively, if respiration is functioning in a homeostatic manner, decreases in levels or activity of antioxidants like glutathione, CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase, and catalase could result in excessive ROS. Because of the diversity of disorders in which oxidative damage occurs, the most effective therapeutic strategies may be those that address the putatively diverse causes of increased ROS. Strategies for determining antioxidant activity typically involve semiquantitative measurement of relative protein levels using immunochemistry and mass spectrometry. These methods can be applied to a variety of samples, but they do not lend themselves to detection of cell-specific analyses within tissue like brain.Because we are interested in elucidating the cause of oxidative stress in selectively vulnerable brain neurons, we have taken advantage of the easily manipulatable genetics and high fecundity of the fly. Using a cell type-targeting approach, we have driven redox sensitive green fluorescent proteins (roGFP2 ) into the mitochondria of tyrosine hydroxylase-producing (dopaminergic) neurons. In oxidizing conditions, the fluorophore's maximal excitation wavelength reversibly shifts. Therefore, the relative amount of mitochondrial protein oxidation can be determined by taking the ratio of fluorescence excited with two different lasers. In addition, these GFPs have been independently fused to human glutaredoxin-1 (mito-roGFP2-Grx1) and yeast oxidant receptor peroxidase (mito-roGFP2-Orp1), facilitating measurements of relative mitochondrial glutathione redox potential and H2O2 levels, respectively. In order to obtain a more comprehensive observation of redox states, we capture 3D images of roGFP2 excited by two different lasers. Mito- and cytoplasmic-roGFP2 -Grx1 and -Orp1 expression can be driven by hundreds of genetic drivers in Drosophila , facilitating fixed or living whole organism or tissue- and cell-specific redox measurements.
    Keywords:  3D imaging; Antioxidant; Dopamine; Drosophila; Glutathione; Hydrogen peroxide; Mitochondria; Parkinson’s disease; Reactive oxygen species; Redox
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_8
  30. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 ;9 669379
    The Mitochondrial Response to DNA Damage.
    Ziye Rong, Peipei Tu, Peiqi Xu, Yan Sun, Fangfang Yu, Na Tu, Lixia Guo, Yanan Yang.
      Mitochondria are double membrane organelles in eukaryotic cells that provide energy by generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation. They are crucial to many aspects of cellular metabolism. Mitochondria contain their own DNA that encodes for essential proteins involved in the execution of normal mitochondrial functions. Compared with nuclear DNA, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is more prone to be affected by DNA damaging agents, and accumulated DNA damages may cause mitochondrial dysfunction and drive the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Therefore, understanding better how mtDNA damages are repaired will facilitate developing therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on our current understanding of the mtDNA repair system. We also discuss other mitochondrial events promoted by excessive DNA damages and inefficient DNA repair, such as mitochondrial fusion, fission, and mitophagy, which serve as quality control events for clearing damaged mtDNA.
    Keywords:  DNA repair; mitochondrial DNA; mitochondrial fission; mitochondrial fusion; mitophagy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.669379
  31. Chem Sci. 2019 Dec 18. 11(6): 1617-1622
    A near-infrared fluorescent probe reveals decreased mitochondrial polarity during mitophagy.
    Xiaoyi Li, Xiaohua Li, Huimin Ma.
      Mitophagy is a selective form of autophagy by which dysfunctional and damaged mitochondria are degraded in autolysosomes. Since defective mitophagy is closely related to various pathological processes, investigation on the detailed mitophagy process is of great importance. In this respect, disclosing the alterations of mitochondrial microenvironments is expected to be a promising way. However, an appropriate method for monitoring the fluctuations of mitochondrial polarity during mitophagy is still lacking. Here, we report a near-infrared hydroxyl-hemicyanine fluorescent probe that responds to polarity exclusively. Both the shift of emission maxima and the fluorescence intensity ratios at two different wavelengths of the probe can be applied to quantifying the polarity accurately. With ratiometric fluorescence imaging, the polarity differences of normal and cancer cells are clearly discriminated. Most importantly, the mitochondrial polarity variations during starvation and drug-induced mitophagy are determined for the first time. The observed decrease of mitochondrial polarity during mitophagy, together with the rationally designed probe, may facilitate the study on the vital role of mitophagy in physiological and pathological bioprocesses.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sc05505c
  32. Commun Biol. 2021 Jun 02. 4(1): 666
    Aberrant activity of mitochondrial NCLX is linked to impaired synaptic transmission and is associated with mental retardation.
    Alexandra Stavsky, Ohad Stoler, Marko Kostic, Tomer Katoshevsky, Essam A Assali, Ivana Savic, Yael Amitai, Holger Prokisch, Steffen Leiz, Cornelia Daumer-Haas, Ilya Fleidervish, Fabiana Perrochi, Daniel Gitler, Israel Sekler.
      Calcium dynamics control synaptic transmission. Calcium triggers synaptic vesicle fusion, determines release probability, modulates vesicle recycling, participates in long-term plasticity and regulates cellular metabolism. Mitochondria, the main source of cellular energy, serve as calcium signaling hubs. Mitochondrial calcium transients are primarily determined by the balance between calcium influx, mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), and calcium efflux through the sodium/lithium/calcium exchanger (NCLX). We identified a human recessive missense SLC8B1 variant that impairs NCLX activity and is associated with severe mental retardation. On this basis, we examined the effect of deleting NCLX in mice on mitochondrial and synaptic calcium homeostasis, synaptic activity, and plasticity. Neuronal mitochondria exhibited basal calcium overload, membrane depolarization, and a reduction in the amplitude and rate of calcium influx and efflux. We observed smaller cytoplasmic calcium transients in the presynaptic terminals of NCLX-KO neurons, leading to a lower probability of release and weaker transmission. In agreement, synaptic facilitation in NCLX-KO hippocampal slices was enhanced. Importantly, deletion of NCLX abolished long term potentiation of Schaffer collateral synapses. Our results show that NCLX controls presynaptic calcium transients that are crucial for defining synaptic strength as well as short- and long-term plasticity, key elements of learning and memory processes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02114-0
  33. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 247-268
    Accurate Measurement of Cellular and Cell-Free Circulating Mitochondrial DNA Content from Human Blood Samples Using Real-Time Quantitative PCR.
    Hannah Rosa, Afshan N Malik.
      Changes in circulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are widely used to indicate mitochondrial dysfunction in common non-genetic diseases where mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role. However, the methodology being used is not always specific and reproducible, and most studies use whole blood rather than evaluating cellular and cell-free mtDNA separately. Cellular mtDNA is contained within the mitochondrion and encodes vital subunits of the OXPHOS machinery. Conversely, cell-free mtDNA can have harmful effects, triggering inflammatory responses and potentially contributing to pathogenic processes. In this chapter, we describe a protocol to accurately measure the amount of cellular and cell-free human mtDNA in peripheral blood. Absolute quantification is carried out using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to quantify cellular mtDNA, measured as the mitochondrial genome to nuclear genome ratio (designated the Mt/N ratio) in whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the number of mtDNA copies per μL in plasma and serum. We describe how to (1) separate whole blood into PBMCs, plasma, and serum fractions, (2) prepare DNA from each of these fractions, (3) prepare dilution standards for absolute quantification, (4) carry out qPCR for either relative or absolute quantification from test samples, (5) analyze qPCR data, and (6) calculate the sample size to adequately power studies. The protocol presented here is suitable for high-throughput use and can be modified to quantify mtDNA from other body fluids, human cells, and tissues.
    Keywords:  Absolute quantification; Circulating mtDNA; Mitochondrial DNA; Mt/N ratio; PBMCs; Plasma; Serum; mtDNA; mtDNA content; mtDNA copy number; qPCR
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_15
  34. Pharmaceutics. 2021 May 20. pii: 762. [Epub ahead of print]13(5):
    Targeting Mitochondrial Oncometabolites: A New Approach to Overcome Drug Resistance in Cancer.
    Martina Godel, Giacomo Ortone, Dario Pasquale Anobile, Martina Pasino, Giulio Randazzo, Chiara Riganti, Joanna Kopecka.
      Drug resistance is the main obstacle for a successful cancer therapy. There are many mechanisms by which cancers avoid drug-mediated death, including alterations in cellular metabolism and apoptotic programs. Mitochondria represent the cell's powerhouse and the connection between carbohydrate, lipid and proteins metabolism, as well as crucial controllers of apoptosis, playing an important role not only in tumor growth and progression, but also in drug response. Alterations in tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) caused by mutations in three TCA enzymes-isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and fumarate hydratase-lead to the accumulation of 2-hydroxyglutarate, succinate and fumarate respectively, collectively known as oncometabolites. Oncometabolites have pleiotropic effects on cancer biology. For instance, they generate a pseudohypoxic phenotype and induce epigenetic changes, two factors that may promote cancer drug resistance leading to disease progression and poor therapy outcome. This review sums up the most recent findings about the role of TCA-derived oncometabolites in cancer aggressiveness and drug resistance, highlighting possible pharmacological strategies targeting oncometabolites production in order to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment.
    Keywords:  cancer drug resistance; cancer metabolism; mitochondrial oncometabolites
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13050762
  35. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Jun 01. 1-11
    Mitochondrial metabolism: powering new directions in acute myeloid leukemia.
    Ryan J Stubbins, Irina A Maksakov, David S Sanford, Arefeh Rouhi, Florian Kuchenbauer.
      There has been an explosion of knowledge about the role of metabolism and the mitochondria in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We have also recently seen several waves of novel therapies change the treatment landscape for AML, such as the selective B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitor venetoclax. In this new context, we review the rapidly advancing literature on the role of metabolism and the mitochondria in AML pathogenesis, and how these are interwoven with the mechanisms of action for novel therapeutics in AML. We also review the role of oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) in maintaining leukemia stem cells (LSCs), how recurrent genomic alterations in AML alter downstream metabolism, and focus on how the BCL-2 pathway and the mitochondria are inextricably linked in AML. Thus, we provide an overview of the mitochondria and metabolism in the context of our new therapeutic world for AML and outline how targeting these vulnerabilities may produce novel therapeutic strategies.
    Keywords:  Acute myeloid leukemia; BCL-2; OxPhos; mitochondria; venetoclax therapy resistance
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2021.1910685
  36. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 May 25. pii: 840. [Epub ahead of print]10(6):
    Mitochondrial Succinate Metabolism and Reactive Oxygen Species Are Important but Not Essential for Eliciting Carotid Body and Ventilatory Responses to Hypoxia in the Rat.
    Agnieszka Swiderska, Andrew M Coney, Abdulaziz A Alzahrani, Hayyaf S Aldossary, Nikolaos Batis, Clare J Ray, Prem Kumar, Andrew P Holmes.
      Reflex increases in breathing in response to acute hypoxia are dependent on activation of the carotid body (CB)-A specialised peripheral chemoreceptor. Central to CB O2-sensing is their unique mitochondria but the link between mitochondrial inhibition and cellular stimulation is unresolved. The objective of this study was to evaluate if ex vivo intact CB nerve activity and in vivo whole body ventilatory responses to hypoxia were modified by alterations in succinate metabolism and mitochondrial ROS (mitoROS) generation in the rat. Application of diethyl succinate (DESucc) caused concentration-dependent increases in chemoafferent frequency measuring approximately 10-30% of that induced by severe hypoxia. Inhibition of mitochondrial succinate metabolism by dimethyl malonate (DMM) evoked basal excitation and attenuated the rise in chemoafferent activity in hypoxia. However, approximately 50% of the response to hypoxia was preserved. MitoTEMPO (MitoT) and 10-(6'-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium (SKQ1) (mitochondrial antioxidants) decreased chemoafferent activity in hypoxia by approximately 20-50%. In awake animals, MitoT and SKQ1 attenuated the rise in respiratory frequency during hypoxia, and SKQ1 also significantly blunted the overall hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) by approximately 20%. Thus, whilst the data support a role for succinate and mitoROS in CB and whole body O2-sensing in the rat, they are not the sole mediators. Treatment of the CB with mitochondrial selective antioxidants may offer a new approach for treating CB-related cardiovascular-respiratory disorders.
    Keywords:  carotid body; hypoxia; hypoxic ventilatory response; mitochondrial reactive oxygen species; succinate; succinate dehydrogenase
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060840
  37. NMR Biomed. 2021 Jun 04. e4560
    Visualizing the effects of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) inhibition and LDH-A genetic ablation in breast and lung cancer with hyperpolarized pyruvate NMR.
    Gopal Varma, Pankaj Seth, Patricia Coutinho de Souza, Cody Callahan, Jocelin Pinto, Manushka Vaidya, Olmo Sonzogni, Vikas Sukhatme, Gerburg M Wulf, Aaron K Grant.
      In many tumors, cancer cells take up large quantities of glucose and metabolize it into lactate, even in the presence of sufficient oxygen to support oxidative metabolism. It has been hypothesized that this malignant metabolic phenotype supports cancer growth and metastasis, and that reversal of this so-called "Warburg effect" may selectively harm cancer cells. Conversion of glucose to lactate can be reduced by ablation or inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the enzyme responsible for conversion of pyruvate to lactate at the endpoint of glycolysis. Recently developed inhibitors of LDH provide new opportunities to investigate the role of this metabolic pathway in cancer. Here we show that magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of hyperpolarized pyruvate and its metabolites in models of breast and lung cancer reveal that inhibition of LDH was readily visualized through reduction in label exchange between pyruvate and lactate, while genetic ablation of the LDH-A isoform alone had smaller effects. During the acute phase of LDH inhibition in breast cancer, no discernible bicarbonate signal was observed and small signals from alanine were unchanged.
    Keywords:  GNE140; LDH; LDH-A; MRSI; Warburg effect; cancer metabolism; hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.4560
  38. Cancer Genet. 2021 May 18. pii: S2210-7762(21)00108-3. [Epub ahead of print]256-257 91-99
    Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms and biogenesis genes in primary and metastatic uveal melanoma cell lines.
    Lata Singh, Shari R Atilano, Martine J Jager, M Cristina Kenney.
       PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify mitochondrial (mt) DNA variations in primary and metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) cell lines and their relation with cell metabolism to gain insight into metastatic progression.
    METHOD: The entire mtDNA genomes were sequenced using Sanger sequencing from two primary UM cell lines (92.1 and MEL270) and two cell lines (OMM2.3 and OMM2.5) derived from liver metastases of the MEL270 patient. The mtDNA copy numbers determined by the ratio of nDNA versus mtDNA. qRT-PCR was used to evaluate expression levels of mitochondrial biogenesis genes.
    RESULTS: Sequencing showed that cell line MEL270 and metastases-derived OMM2.3 and OMM2.5 cell lines had homoplasmic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) representing J1c7a haplogroup, whereas 92.1 cells had mtDNA H31a haplogroup. mtDNA copy numbers were significantly higher in primary cell lines. The metastatic UM cells showed down-regulation of POLG, TFAM, NRF-1 and SIRT1 compared to their primary MEL270 cells. PGC-1α was downregulated in 92.1 and upregulated in MEL270, OMM2.3 and OMM2.5.
    CONCLUSIONS: Our finding suggests that within metastatic cells, the heteroplasmic SNPs, copy numbers and mitochondrial biogenesis genes are modulated differentially compared to their primary UM cells. Therefore, investigating pathogenic mtDNA variants associated with cancer metabolic susceptibility may provide future therapeutic strategies in metastatic UM.
    Keywords:  Biogenesis; Eye disease; Mitochondria; Ocular oncology; Uveal melanoma
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cancergen.2021.05.002
  39. Free Radic Biol Med. 2021 May 27. pii: S0891-5849(21)00322-1. [Epub ahead of print]172 1-8
    The glutathionylation agent disulfiram augments superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production when liver mitochondria are oxidizing ubiquinone pool-linked and branched chain amino acid substrates.
    Jonathan Hirschenson, Ryan J Mailloux.
      Our group has previously observed that protein S-glutathionylation serves as an integral feedback inhibitor for the production of superoxide (O2●-)/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), and complex I in muscle and liver mitochondria, respectively. In the present study, we hypothesized that glutathionylation would fulfill a similar role for the O2●-/H2O2 sources sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), proline dehydrogenase (PRODH), and branched chain keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH). Surprisingly, we found that inducing glutathionylation with disulfiram increased the production of O2●-/H2O2 by mitochondria oxidizing glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P), proline (Pro), or α-keto-β-methylvaleric acid (KMV). Treatment of mitochondria oxidizing G3P or Pro with rotenone or myxothiazol increased the rate of ROS production after incubating in 1000 nM disulfiram. Incubating mitochondria treated with disulfiram in both rotenone and myxothiazol prevented this increase in O2●-/H2O2 production. In addition, when adminstered together, ROS production decreased below control levels. Disulfiram-treated mitochondria displayed higher rates of ROS production when oxidizing succinate, which was inhibited by rotenone, myxothiazol, and malonate, respectively. Disulfiram also increased ROS production by mitocondria oxidizing KMV. Treatment of mitochondria oxidizing KMV with disulfiram and rotenone or myxothiazol did not alter the rate O2●-/H2O2 production further when compared to mitochondria treated with disulfiram only. Analysis of BCKDH activity following disulfiram treatment revealed that glutathionylation does not inhibit the enzyme complex, indicating this α-keto acid dehydrogenase is not a target for glutathione modification. However, treatment of mitochondria with rotenone and myxothiazol without disulfiram also augmented ROS production. Overall, we were able to demonstrate for the first time that glutathionylation augments ROS production by the respiratory chain during forward electron transfer (FET) and reverse electron transfer (RET) from the UQ pool. Additionally, we were able to show that BCKDH is not a target for glutathione modification and that glutathionylation can also increase ROS production in mitochondria oxidizing branched chain amino acids following the modification of enzymes upstream of BCKDH.
    Keywords:  Bioenergetics; Glutathionylation; Mitochondria; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.05.030
  40. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 425-439
    In Silico Modeling of the Mitochondrial Pumping Complexes with Markov State Models.
    Roger Springett.
      The mechanism of proton pumping by the mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes is still enigmatic after decades of research. Recently, there has been interest in in silico Markov state models to model the mitochondrial pumping complexes at the microscopic level, and this chapter describes the methods of constructing and simulating such models.
    Keywords:  Gillespie algorithm; Markov state models; Mitochondria; Proton pumping; Rate constants
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_31
  41. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 103-112
    Native Gel Electrophoresis and Immunoblotting to Analyze Electron Transport Chain Complexes.
    Gisela Beutner, George A Porter.
      Native electrophoresis is a powerful tool to analyze the mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes (Cx) I-V and their assembly into supercomplexes. Valuable information regarding the composition and bioenergetic regulation in physiological and pathological conditions can be obtained. This chapter compares different types of native electrophoresis to analyze mitochondrial supercomplexes.
    Keywords:  Mitochondrial supercomplexes; Native electrophoresis (blue native, colorless native, clear native, hybrid)
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_7
  42. Trends Cell Biol. 2021 May 26. pii: S0962-8924(21)00095-7. [Epub ahead of print]
    Oxidative phosphorylation system and cell culture media.
    M Pilar Bayona-Bafaluy, Julio Montoya, Eduardo Ruiz-Pesini.
      Traditional culture media do not resemble the metabolic composition of human blood. The concentration of different metabolites in these media influences mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) function. This knowledge is essential for the interpretation of results obtained from cellular models used for the study of OXPHOS function.
    Keywords:  cell culture media; cell model; mitochondrial biogenesis; oxidative phosphorylation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2021.05.003
  43. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 15-37
    Mitochondrial Transplantation for Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.
    Ilias P Doulamis, James D McCully.
      Mitochondrial transplantation is a novel therapeutic intervention to treat ischemia-reperfusion-related disorders. This approach uses replacement of native mitochondria with viable, respiration-competent mitochondria isolated from non-ischemic tissue obtained from the patient's own body, to overcome the many deleterious effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury on native mitochondria. The safety and efficacy of this methodology has been demonstrated in cell culture, animal models and has been shown to be safe and efficacious in a phase I clinical trial in pediatric cardiac patients with ischemia-reperfusion injury. These studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial transplantation rescues myocardial cellular viability and significantly enhances postischemic myocardial function following ischemia-reperfusion injury. Herein, we describe methodologies for the delivery of isolated mitochondria.
    Keywords:  Direct injection; Intracoronary delivery; Ischemia-reperfusion; Mitochondrial isolation; Mitochondrial transplantation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_2
  44. Nat Commun. 2021 06 03. 12(1): 3320
    Perilipin 5 links mitochondrial uncoupled respiration in brown fat to healthy white fat remodeling and systemic glucose tolerance.
    Violeta I Gallardo-Montejano, Chaofeng Yang, Lisa Hahner, John L McAfee, Joshua A Johnson, William L Holland, Rodrigo Fernandez-Valdivia, Perry E Bickel.
      Exposure of mice or humans to cold promotes significant changes in brown adipose tissue (BAT) with respect to histology, lipid content, gene expression, and mitochondrial mass and function. Herein we report that the lipid droplet coat protein Perilipin 5 (PLIN5) increases markedly in BAT during exposure of mice to cold. To understand the functional significance of cold-induced PLIN5, we created and characterized gain- and loss-of-function mouse models. Enforcing PLIN5 expression in mouse BAT mimics the effects of cold with respect to mitochondrial cristae packing and uncoupled substrate-driven respiration. PLIN5 is necessary for the maintenance of mitochondrial cristae structure and respiratory function during cold stress. We further show that promoting PLIN5 function in BAT is associated with healthy remodeling of subcutaneous white adipose tissue and improvements in systemic glucose tolerance and diet-induced hepatic steatosis. These observations will inform future strategies that seek to exploit thermogenic adipose tissue as a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23601-2
  45. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 May 06. pii: 731. [Epub ahead of print]10(5):
    The Mitochondria-to-Cytosol H2O2 Gradient Is Caused by Peroxiredoxin-Dependent Cytosolic Scavenging.
    Laura de Cubas, Valeriy V Pak, Vsevolod V Belousov, José Ayté, Elena Hidalgo.
      Fluorescent protein-based reporters used to measure intracellular H2O2 were developed to overcome the limitations of small permeable dyes. The two major families of genetically encoded redox reporters are the reduction-oxidation sensitive green fluorescent protein (roGFP)-based proteins fused to peroxiredoxins and HyPer and derivatives. We have used the most sensitive probes of each family, roGFP2-Tpx1.C169S and HyPer7, to monitor steady-state and fluctuating levels of peroxides in fission yeast. While both are able to monitor the nanomolar fluctuations of intracellular H2O2, the former is two-five times more sensitive than HyPer7, and roGFP2-Tpx1.C169S is partially oxidized in the cytosol of wild-type cells while HyPer7 is fully reduced. We have successfully expressed HyPer7 in the mitochondrial matrix, and it is ~40% oxidized, suggesting higher steady-state levels of peroxides, in the low micromolar range, than in the cytosol. Cytosolic HyPer7 can detect negligible H2O2 in the cytosol from mitochondrial origin unless the main H2O2 scavenger, the cytosolic peroxiredoxin Tpx1, is absent, while mitochondrial HyPer7 is oxidized to the same extent in wild-type and ∆tpx1 cells. We conclude that there is a bidirectional flux of H2O2 across the matrix and the cytosol, but Tpx1 rapidly and efficiently scavenges mitochondrial-generated peroxides and stops their steady-state cytosolic levels rising.
    Keywords:  H2O2 gradients; HyPer7; genetically encoded fluorescent H2O2 reporter; mitochondria; roGFP-Tpx1.C169S
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050731
  46. Chem Sci. 2020 Feb 04. 11(10): 2744-2749
    ATP-responsive mitochondrial probes for monitoring metabolic processes of glioma stem cells in a 3D model.
    Ling Lin, Linglu Yi, Fanghao Zhao, Zengnan Wu, Yajing Zheng, Nan Li, Jin-Ming Lin, Jiashu Sun.
      The metastatic cascade of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is always accompanied by elevated levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as well as the alterntion of energy metabolism to support their differentiation and migration. Here we propose a 3D microfluidic tumor model coupled with an ATP-responsive mitochondrial probe (AMP) for investigation of metabolic processes of glioma stem cells (GSCs). The 3D tumor model has a middle matrix gel microchannel mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is sandwiched between a GSC culture chamber and a stimulation chamber. The AMPs consist of structure-switching ATP aptamers and triphenylphosphonium (TPP)-conjugated peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). Under TGF-β stimulation, invasive migration of GSCs accompanied by a high ATP level and spindle mesenchymal morphologies is observed due to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, acidic stress can keep GSCs in a low-energy state, while long-term low pH stimulation screens out more malignant glioma cells. This AMP-assisted 3D microfluidic tumor model provides a tremendous opportunity for studying the biological properties of CSCs.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sc06185a
  47. FEBS Open Bio. 2021 Jun 01.
    Guaiazulene derivative 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroazuleno[1,2-b] tropone (TAT) reduces the production of ATP by inhibiting electron transfer complex II.
    Chieko Kasami, Jun-Ichi Yamaguchi, Hideki Inoue.
      Molecularly targeted therapy has been employed for treatment of various types of cancers. However, cancer cells often acquire resistance to molecularly targeted drugs that inhibit specific molecular abnormalities, such as constitutive activation of kinases. Even in cancer cells that have acquired resistance, enhanced anabolism, including the synthesis of nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids, is common to normal cancer cells. Therefore, there is a renewed interest in effectively eliminating cancer cells by specifically targeting their abnormal energy metabolism. Multiple strategies are currently being developed for mitochondrial-targeted cancer therapy, with agents targeting oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and apoptosis. In this study, we found that one of the guaiazulene derivatives, namely 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroazuleno[1,2-b] tropone (TAT), inhibited the proliferation of cancer cell lines stronger than that of normal cells. Additionally, we showed that AT inhibited energy production in cancer cell lines, resulting in apoptosis. Analyses done in cancer cell lines and in the animal model C. elegans suggested that TAT acts on the mitochondrial electron transfer complex II and suppresses cellular energy production by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation across species. These results suggest that TAT could represent a novel anticancer agent that selectively targets mitochondria.
    Keywords:   C. elegans ; Apoptosis; Metabolism; Mitochondria; OXPHOS; cancer
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13215
  48. J Neurosci Res. 2021 Jun 03.
    Efficient extra-mitochondrial aerobic ATP synthesis in neuronal membrane systems.
    Silvia Ravera, Martina Bartolucci, Daniela Calzia, Alessandro M Morelli, Isabella Panfoli.
      The nervous system displays high energy consumption, apparently not fulfilled by mitochondria, which are underrepresented therein. The oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) activity, a mitochondrial process that aerobically provides ATP, has also been reported also in the myelin sheath and the rod outer segment (OS) disks. Thus, commonalities and differences between the extra-mitochondrial and mitochondrial aerobic metabolism were evaluated in bovine isolated myelin (IM), rod OS, and mitochondria-enriched fractions (MIT). The subcellular fraction quality and the absence of contamination fractions have been estimated by western blot analysis. Oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis were stimulated by conventional (pyruvate + malate or succinate) and unconventional (NADH) substrates, observing that oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis by IM and rod OS are more efficient than by MIT, in the presence of both kinds of respiratory substrates. Mitochondria did not utilize NADH as a respiring substrate. When ATP synthesis by either sample was assayed in the presence of 10-100 µM ATP in the assay medium, only in IM and OS it was not inhibited, suggesting that the ATP exportation by the mitochondria is limited by extravesicular ATP concentration. Interestingly, IM and OS but not mitochondria appear able to synthesize ATP at a later time with respect to exposure to respiratory substrates, supporting the hypothesis that the proton gradient produced by the electron transport chain is buffered by membrane phospholipids. The putative transfer mode of the OxPhos molecular machinery from mitochondria to the extra-mitochondrial structures is also discussed, opening new perspectives in the field of neurophysiology.
    Keywords:  RRID:AB_10696805; RRID:AB_11183050; RRID:AB_1845182; RRID:AB_2818988; RRID:AB_2851910; RRID:SCR_002798; RRID:SCR_014210; aerobic metabolism; bioenergetics; myelin sheath; oxidative phosphorylation; phototransduction; rod outer segments disks
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24865
  49. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 69-89
    Drug Discovery Assay to Identify Modulators of the Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter.
    Daniela M Arduino, Valerie Goh, Dejana Mokranjac, Fabiana Perocchi.
      The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU ) is an essential protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane that mediates the uptake of calcium into mitochondria of virtually all mammalian tissues, regulating cell metabolism, signaling, and death. MCU-mediated calcium uptake has been shown to play a pathophysiological role in diverse human disease contexts, which qualifies this channel as a druggable target for therapeutic intervention.Here, we present a protocol to perform drug screens to identify effective and specific MCU-targeting inhibitors. The methodology is based on the use of cryopreserved mitochondria that are isolated from a yeast strain engineered to express the human MCU and its essential regulator EMRE together with the luminescence calcium sensor aequorin. Yeast mitochondria with a functionally reconstituted MCU-mediated calcium uptake are then employed as a ready-to-use screening reagent. False discovery rate is further minimized by energizing mitochondria with D-lactate in a mannitol/sucrose-based medium, which provides a mean to discriminate between direct and secondary effects of drugs on mitochondrial calcium uptake. This screening assay is sensitive and robust and can be easily implemented in any laboratory.
    Keywords:  Aequorin; Calcium; Drug screening; Luminescence assay; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial calcium uniporter; Yeast
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_5
  50. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 39-47
    Quantitatively Controlled Intercellular Mitochondrial Transfer by Cell Fusion-Based Method Using a Microfluidic Device.
    Ken-Ichi Wada, Kazuo Hosokawa, Yoshihiro Ito, Mizuo Maeda.
      Quantitative control of mitochondrial transfer is a promising approach for genetic manipulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) because it enables precise modulation of heteroplasmy. Furthermore, single mitochondrion transfer from a mtDNA mutation-accumulated cell to a mtDNA-less (ρ0) cell potentially achieves homoplasmy of mutated mtDNA. Here we describe the method for quantitative control of mitochondrial transfer including achieving single mitochondrion transfer between live single cells using a microfluidic device.
    Keywords:  Cell fusion; Heteroplasmy; Homoplasmy; Microfluidics; Microtunnel; Mitochondrial DNA; Mitochondrial transfer
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_3
  51. Cancers (Basel). 2021 May 11. pii: 2295. [Epub ahead of print]13(10):
    Diet-Induced Obesity Impairs Outcomes and Induces Multi-Factorial Deficiencies in Effector T Cell Responses Following Anti-CTLA-4 Combinatorial Immunotherapy in Renal Tumor-Bearing Mice.
    William J Turbitt, Shannon K Boi, Justin T Gibson, Rachael M Orlandella, Lyse A Norian.
      Associations between modifiable factors and the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies remain uncertain. We found previously that diet-induced obesity (DIO) reduces the efficacy of an immunotherapy consisting of adenovirus-encoded TRAIL plus CpG oligonucleotide (AdT/CpG) in mice with renal tumors. To eliminate confounding effects of diet and determine whether outcomes could be improved in DIO mice, we evaluated AdT/CpG combined with anti-CTLA-4 in diet-matched, obese-resistant (OB-RES) versus DIO tumor-bearing mice. Therapy-treated OB-RES mice displayed effective renal tumor control and sustained CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. In contrast, therapy-treated DIO mice exhibited progressive tumor outgrowth and blunted T cell responses, characterized by reduced intratumoral frequencies of IFNγ+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Weak effector T cell responses in therapy-treated DIO mice were accompanied by low intratumoral concentrations of the T cell chemoattractant CCL5, heightened concentrations of pro-tumorigenic GM-CSF, and impaired proliferative capacity of CD44+CD8+ T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes. Our findings demonstrate that in lean mice with renal tumors, combining in situ T cell priming upstream of anti-CTLA-4 enhances outcomes versus anti-CTLA-4 alone. However, host obesity is associated with heightened immunotherapy resistance, characterized by multi-factorial deficiencies in effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses that extend beyond the tumor microenvironment.
    Keywords:  T cells; cancer therapy; diet-induced obesity; immunotherapy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13102295
  52. Front Genet. 2021 ;12 638749
    Identification of a Novel Variant in MT-CO3 Causing MELAS.
    Manting Xu, Robert Kopajtich, Matthias Elstner, Zhaoxia Wang, Zhimei Liu, Junling Wang, Holger Prokisch, Fang Fang.
      Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disease. Most cases of MELAS are caused by the m.3243A > G variant in the MT-TL1 gene encoding tRNALeu(UUR). However, the genetic cause in 10% of patients with MELAS is unknown. We investigated the pathogenicity of the novel mtDNA variant m.9396G > A/MT-CO3 (p.E64K), which affects an extremely conserved amino acid in the CO3 subunit of mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) complex IV (CIV) in a patient with MELAS. Biochemical assays of a muscle biopsy confirmed remarkable CIV deficiency, and pathological examination showed ragged red fibers and generalized COX non-reactive muscle fibers. Transfer of the mutant mtDNA into cybrids impaired CIV assembly, followed by remarkable mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production. Our findings highlight the pathogenicity of a novel m.9396G > A variant and extend the spectrum of pathogenic mtDNA variants.
    Keywords:  MELAS; MT-CO3 gene; complex IV of respiratory chain; mitochondrial diseases; novel mitochondrial DNA variant
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.638749
  53. Front Pharmacol. 2021 ;12 671902
    Pharmacological Vitamin C Treatment Impedes the Growth of Endogenous Glutamine-Dependent Cancers by Targeting Glutamine Synthetase.
    Yali Long, Jia Qiu, Bing Zhang, Peng He, Xinchong Shi, Qiao He, Zhifeng Chen, Wanqing Shen, Zhoulei Li, Xiangsong Zhang.
      Purpose: Glutamine synthetase (GS) is the only currently known enzyme responsible for synthesizing endogenous glutamine (Gln). GS exerts a critical role in the oncogenesis of endogenous Gln-dependent cancers, making it an attractive target for anti-tumor therapies. A mixed-function oxidation system consisting of vitamin C (VC), oxygen, and trace metals can oxidize GS and promote its degradation. The current study aims to explore the effect of pharmacological VC treatment on GS. Methods: Endogenous Gln-dependent cancer lines (breast cancer MCF7 and prostate cancer PC3) were selected to establish chronic Gln-deprived MCF7 and PC3 cell models. The expression of GS in parental and chronic Gln-deprived tumor cells exposed to VC treatment and control was determined by Western blot analysis. The anti-cancer effects of VC on parental and chronic Gln-deprived tumor cells were assessed by CCK-8 and annexin V-FITC/PI FACS assays. In addition, changes in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) levels and NADPH/NADP + ratio were analyzed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, BALB/c nude mice xenografting with parental and chronic Gln-deprived prostate cancer cells were constructed to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic effect of VC. Finally, tumor 13N-ammonia uptake in mice bearing prostate cancer xenografts was analyzed following treatment with VC and the expression of GS in xenografts were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Cells overexpressing GS were obtained by chronic Gln deprivation. We found that the cytotoxic effect of VC on cancer cells was positively correlated with the expression of GS. Additionally, VC treatment led to a significant increase in ROS production, as well as GSH depletion and NADPH/NADP + reduction. These changes could be reversed by the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Furthermore, pharmacological VC treatment exhibited a more significant therapeutic effect on xenografts of prostate cancer cells overexpressing GS, that could be well monitored by 13N-ammonia PET/CT imaging. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that VC can kill cancer cells by targeting glutamine synthetase to induce oxidative stress. VC could be used as an anti-cancer treatment for endogenous glutamine-dependent cancers.
    Keywords:  13N-ammonia PET/CT; endogenous glutamine-dependent cancer; glutamine synthetase; redox stress; vitamin C
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.671902
  54. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 285-303
    High-Throughput Image Analysis of Lipid-Droplet-Bound Mitochondria.
    Nathanael Miller, Dane Wolf, Nour Alsabeeh, Kiana Mahdaviani, Mayuko Segawa, Marc Liesa, Orian S Shirihai.
      Changes to mitochondrial architecture are associated with various adaptive and pathogenic processes. However, quantification of changes to mitochondrial structures is limited by the yet unmet challenge of defining the borders of each individual mitochondrion within an image. Here, we describe a novel method for segmenting primary brown adipocyte (BA) mitochondria images. We describe a granular approach to quantifying subcellular structures, particularly mitochondria in close proximity to lipid droplets: peridroplet mitochondria. In addition, we lay out a novel machine-learning-based mitochondrial segmentation method that eliminates the bias of manual mitochondrial segmentation and improves object recognition compared to conventional thresholding analyses. By applying these methods, we discovered a significant difference between cytosolic and peridroplet BA mitochondrial H2O2 production and validated the machine-learning algorithm in BA via norepinephrine-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and comparing manual analyses to the automated analysis. This approach provides a high-throughput analysis protocol to quantify ratiometric probes in subpopulations of mitochondria in adipocytes.
    Keywords:  Brown adipocyte morphology; Image analysis; Machine learning; Mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_22
  55. Nature. 2021 Jun 02.
    Tracing oncogene-driven remodelling of the intestinal stem cell niche.
    Min Kyu Yum, Seungmin Han, Juergen Fink, Szu-Hsien Sam Wu, Catherine Dabrowska, Teodora Trendafilova, Roxana Mustata, Lemonia Chatzeli, Roberta Azzarelli, Irina Pshenichnaya, Eunmin Lee, Frances England, Jong Kyoung Kim, Daniel E Stange, Anna Philpott, Joo-Hyeon Lee, Bon-Kyoung Koo, Benjamin D Simons.
      Interactions between tumour cells and the surrounding microenvironment contribute to tumour progression, metastasis and recurrence1-3. Although mosaic analyses in Drosophila have advanced our understanding of such interactions4,5, it has been difficult to engineer parallel approaches in vertebrates. Here we present an oncogene-associated, multicolour reporter mouse model-the Red2Onco system-that allows differential tracing of mutant and wild-type cells in the same tissue. By applying this system to the small intestine, we show that oncogene-expressing mutant crypts alter the cellular organization of neighbouring wild-type crypts, thereby driving accelerated clonal drift. Crypts that express oncogenic KRAS or PI3K secrete BMP ligands that suppress local stem cell activity, while changes in PDGFRloCD81+ stromal cells induced by crypts with oncogenic PI3K alter the WNT signalling environment. Together, these results show how oncogene-driven paracrine remodelling creates a niche environment that is detrimental to the maintenance of wild-type tissue, promoting field transformation dominated by oncogenic clones.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03605-0
  56. Nature. 2021 Jun 02.
    Apc-mutant cells act as supercompetitors in intestinal tumour initiation.
    Sanne M van Neerven, Nina E de Groot, Lisanne E Nijman, Brendon P Scicluna, Milou S van Driel, Maria C Lecca, Daniël O Warmerdam, Vaishali Kakkar, Leandro F Moreno, Felipe A Vieira Braga, Delano R Sanches, Prashanthi Ramesh, Sanne Ten Hoorn, Arthur S Aelvoet, Marouska F van Boxel, Lianne Koens, Przemek M Krawczyk, Jan Koster, Evelien Dekker, Jan Paul Medema, Douglas J Winton, Maarten F Bijlsma, Edward Morrissey, Nicolas Léveillé, Louis Vermeulen.
      A delicate equilibrium of WNT agonists and antagonists in the intestinal stem cell (ISC) niche is critical to maintaining the ISC compartment, as it accommodates the rapid renewal of the gut lining. Disruption of this balance by mutations in the tumour suppressor gene APC, which are found in approximately 80% of all human colon cancers, leads to unrestrained activation of the WNT pathway1,2. It has previously been established that Apc-mutant cells have a competitive advantage over wild-type ISCs3. Consequently, Apc-mutant ISCs frequently outcompete all wild-type stem cells within a crypt, thereby reaching clonal fixation in the tissue and initiating cancer formation. However, whether the increased relative fitness of Apc-mutant ISCs involves only cell-intrinsic features or whether Apc mutants are actively involved in the elimination of their wild-type neighbours remains unresolved. Here we show that Apc-mutant ISCs function as bona fide supercompetitors by secreting WNT antagonists, thereby inducing differentiation of neighbouring wild-type ISCs. Lithium chloride prevented the expansion of Apc-mutant clones and the formation of adenomas by rendering wild-type ISCs insensitive to WNT antagonists through downstream activation of WNT by inhibition of GSK3β. Our work suggests that boosting the fitness of healthy cells to limit the expansion of pre-malignant clones may be a powerful strategy to limit the formation of cancers in high-risk individuals.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03558-4
  57. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 289-297
    Assessment of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species and Redox Regulation in Stem Cells.
    Madhavee Thumiah-Mootoo, Tina Podinic, Mireille Khacho.
      Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and redox regulation play an important role in stem cell maintenance and cell fate decisions. Although changes in mtROS and redox homeostasis represent a physiological mechanism to drive stem cell commitment and differentiation, dysregulation of this system can lead to defects in stem cell maintenance and regenerative capacity. This chapter explains the methods used to assess mitochondrial superoxide levels and redox regulation in stem cell populations.
    Keywords:  Antioxidant; Electron transport chain; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species (ROS); Redox; Stem cell fate; Stem cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_18
  58. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 423-431
    Isolation of Mitochondria from Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Cultures and an Application of High-Resolution Respirometric Assay (XFe96 Seahorse Assay).
    Masaaki Ishii, Gyda Beeson, Craig Beeson, Bärbel Rohrer.
      Intracellular Ca2+ is strictly regulated to maintain optimal levels for function of cellular organelles as well as mitochondrial respiratory signaling at the tricarboxylic acid cycle and electron transport chain level. Optimal Ca2+ concentration for these processes vary between cell types. Furthermore, exposure of mitochondria to sustained, elevated levels of Ca2+ induces mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and damage to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production. Isolated mitochondria are widely used to study mitochondrial physiology and drug effects on mitochondrial metabolism and respiratory function. However, isolated mitochondria are easily damaged during the mitochondrial isolation process. The present article describes a mitochondrial isolation method using Ca2+-chelation to minimize mitochondrial damage. We follow up the isolation process with an application that requires an optimized buffer Ca2+ concentration: the characterization of their respiratory function using a high-resolution respirometric assay.
    Keywords:  Calcium chelator; Mitochondrial isolation; Organelle isolation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_26
  59. Molecules. 2021 May 12. pii: 2858. [Epub ahead of print]26(10):
    Nujiangexanthone A Inhibits Cervical Cancer Cell Proliferation by Promoting Mitophagy.
    Jiling Feng, Anahitasadat Mansouripour, Zhichao Xi, Li Zhang, Gang Xu, Hua Zhou, Hongxi Xu.
      Nujiangexanthone A (NJXA), a bioactive component isolated from the leaves of Garcinia nujiangensis, has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. Our previous work has shown that NJXA induced G0/1 arrest and apoptosis, thus suppressing cervical cancer cell growth. The present study provides new evidence that NJXA can induce cell death in HeLa cells by promoting mitophagy. We first identified that NJXA triggered GFP-LC3 and YFP-Parkin puncta accumulation, which are biomarkers of mitophagy. Moreover, NJXA degraded the mitochondrial membrane proteins Tom20 and Tim23 and mitochondrial fusion proteins MFN1 and MFN2, downregulated Parkin, and stabilized PINK1. Additionally, we revealed that NJXA induced lysosome degradation and colocalization of mitochondria and autophagosomes, which was attenuated by knocking down ATG7, the key regulator of mitophagy. Furthermore, since mitophagy is induced under starvation conditions, we detected the cytotoxic effect of NJXA in nutrient-deprived HeLa cells and observed better cytotoxicity. Taken together, our work contributes to the further clarification of the mechanism by which NJXA inhibits cervical cancer cell proliferation and provides evidence that NJXA has the potential to develop anticancer drugs.
    Keywords:  ATG7; mitophagy; nujiangexanthone A; starvation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26102858
  60. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 49-67
    Lipophilic Conjugates for Carrier-Free Delivery of RNA Importable into Human Mitochondria.
    Ilya Dovydenko, Mariya Meschaninova, Anne-Marie Heckel, Ivan Tarassov, Alya Venyaminova, Nina Entelis.
      Defects in human mitochondrial genome can cause a wide range of clinical disorders that still do not have efficient therapies. The natural pathway of small noncoding RNA import can be exploited to address therapeutic RNAs into the mitochondria. To create an approach of carrier-free targeting of RNA into living human cells, we designed conjugates containing a cholesterol residue and developed the protocols of chemical synthesis of oligoribonucleotides conjugated with cholesterol residue through cleavable pH-triggered hydrazone bond. The biodegradable conjugates of importable RNA with cholesterol can be internalized by cells in a carrier-free manner; RNA can then be released in the late endosomes due to a change in pH and partially targeted into mitochondria. Here we provide detailed protocols for solid-phase and "in solution" chemical synthesis of oligoribonucleotides conjugated to a cholesterol residue through a hydrazone bond. We describe the optimization of the carrier-free cell transfection with these conjugated RNA molecules and methods for evaluating the cellular and mitochondrial uptake of lipophilic conjugates.
    Keywords:  Carrier-free cell delivery; Fluorescent microscopy; Mammalian cells transfection; RNA therapeutics; Synthesis of lipophilic conjugates
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_4
  61. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 235-248
    Patch-Clamp Recording of the Activity of Ion Channels in the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane.
    Piotr Bednarczyk, Rafał P Kampa, Shur Gałecka, Aleksandra Sęk, Agnieszka Walewska, Piotr Koprowski.
      Mitochondria are intracellular organelles, which play a crucial role in the generation of ATP. Mitochondria are surrounded by a double membrane, consisting of a smooth outer membrane (OMM) and a markedly folded inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). Mitochondrion that has been stripped of its outer membrane, leaving the inner membrane intact is called mitoplast. There is a number of different transport proteins located in the inner mitochondrial membrane including ion channels that mediate fluxes of potassium, calcium, and chloride ions. These channels regulate the mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration, and production of reactive oxygen species. The stability of mitoplasts offers the possibility of measuring the activity of ion channels from IMM using the patch-clamp technique. Electrophysiological measurements of currents through ion channels in the IMM permit discovery of unique properties of these channels with the aim of new specific pharmacological therapies. In this chapter, we describe the isolation of mitochondria, preparation of mitoplast for patch-clamp recordings and single-mitoplast PCR experiments, which can be helpful in mastering the technique of recording the activity of mitochondrial ion channels.
    Keywords:  Inner mitochondrial membrane; Ion channel; Mitochondria; Mitoplast; PCR; Patch-clamp technique
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_18
  62. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 433-447
    The Isolation and Deep Sequencing of Mitochondrial DNA.
    Alexander G Bury, Fiona M Robertson, Angela Pyle, Brendan A I Payne, Gavin Hudson.
      In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become a powerful tool for studying both inherited and somatic heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation. NGS has proved particularly powerful when combined with single-cell isolation techniques, allowing the investigation of low-level heteroplasmic variants both between cells and within tissues. Nevertheless, there remain significant challenges, especially around the selective enrichment of mtDNA from total cellular DNA and the avoidance of nuclear pseudogenes. This chapter summarizes the techniques needed to enrich, amplify, sequence, and analyse mtDNA using NGS .
    Keywords:  Massively parallel sequencing; Mitochondrial DNA; Mitochondrial isolation deep sequencing
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_27
  63. Cell Metab. 2021 Jun 01. pii: S1550-4131(21)00227-8. [Epub ahead of print]33(6): 1071-1072
    Can tumor cells take it all away?
    Anna Kohl, Kung-Chi Kao, Ping-Chih Ho.
      Tumor cells utilize glucose to engage in aerobic glycolysis, fulfilling their metabolic demands for extensive proliferation. A recent study in Nature discovers that tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells exhibit a superior glucose uptake capacity over tumor cells, which present enhanced glutamine metabolism, suggesting that nutrient partitioning in the TME might be more complex than previously thought.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2021.05.010
  64. Cell Rep. 2021 Jun 01. pii: S2211-1247(21)00559-3. [Epub ahead of print]35(9): 109210
    Lactate dehydrogenase A-dependent aerobic glycolysis promotes natural killer cell anti-viral and anti-tumor function.
    Sam Sheppard, Endi K Santosa, Colleen M Lau, Sara Violante, Paolo Giovanelli, Hyunu Kim, Justin R Cross, Ming O Li, Joseph C Sun.
      Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes capable of rapid cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion, and clonal expansion. To sustain such energetically demanding processes, NK cells must increase their metabolic capacity upon activation. However, little is known about the metabolic requirements specific to NK cells in vivo. To gain greater insight, we investigated the role of aerobic glycolysis in NK cell function and demonstrate that their glycolytic rate increases rapidly following viral infection and inflammation, prior to that of CD8+ T cells. NK cell-specific deletion of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) reveals that activated NK cells rely on this enzyme for both effector function and clonal proliferation, with the latter being shared with T cells. As a result, LDHA-deficient NK cells are defective in their anti-viral and anti-tumor protection. These findings suggest that aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of NK cell activation that is key to their function.
    Keywords:  B16-F10; CD8(+) T cells; Ly49H; MCMV; clonal proliferation; glycolysis; lactate dehydrogenase A; metabolism; natural killer cells; tumor surveillance
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109210
  65. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 203-213
    Evaluation of Mitochondria Content and Function in Live Cells by Multicolor Flow Cytometric Analysis.
    Hsiu-Han Fan, Tsung-Lin Tsai, Ivan L Dzhagalov, Chia-Lin Hsu.
      To evaluate how a cell responds to the external stimuli, treatment, or alteration of the microenvironment, the quantity and quality of mitochondria are commonly used as readouts. However, it is challenging to apply mitochondrial analysis to the samples that are composed of mixed cell populations originating from tissues or when multiple cell populations are of interest, using methods such as Western blot, electron microscopy, or extracellular flux analysis.Flow cytometry is a technique allowing the detection of individual cell status and its identity simultaneously when used in combination with surface markers. Here we describe how to combine mitochondria-specific dyes or the dyes targeting the superoxide produced by mitochondria with surface marker staining to measure the mitochondrial content and activity in live cells by flow cytometry. This method can be applied to all types of cells in suspension and is particularly useful for analysis of samples composed of heterogeneous cell populations.
    Keywords:  FACS; Flow cytometry; Mitochondria; Quantification; Reactive oxygen species
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_15
  66. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2308 59-70
    In Vitro Analysis of Energy Metabolism in Bone-Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.
    Jérôme Bourgeais, Olivier Hérault.
      Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) play an essential role in the regulation of normal and leukemic hematopoiesis. Their multipotent potential of differentiation also makes them an interesting therapeutic tool. Among factors involved in the regulation of MSCs, energy metabolism plays a key role in their proliferation and differentiation. Seahorse Bioscience introduced extracellular flux technology to the life sciences market in 2006. This methodology allows, in living cells and in real time, the concomitant determination of basal oxygen consumption, glycolysis rates, ATP production, and respiratory capacity in a single experiment. Here we describe the protocol used to study concomitantly the respiratory and glycolytic metabolism of primary MSCs from the determination of oxygen consumption (OCR) and extracellular acidification (ECAR) rates.
    Keywords:  Energy metabolism; Glycolysis; Mesenchymal stromal cells; Mitochondrial respiration; Seahorse
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1425-9_5
  67. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 215-225
    Analysis of Mitochondrial Dysfunction During Cell Death.
    Vladimir Gogvadze, Boris Zhivotovsky.
      Mitochondria play a key role in various modes of cell death. Analysis of mitochondrial dysfunction and the release of proteins from the intermembrane space of mitochondria represent essential tools in cell death investigation. Here we describe how to evaluate release of intermembrane space proteins during apoptosis, alterations in the mitochondrial membrane potential, and oxygen consumption in apoptotic cells.
    Keywords:  Cell death; Membrane potential; Mitochondria; Reactive oxygen species; Respiration
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_16
  68. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 57-66
    Purification of Functional Platelet Mitochondria Using a Discontinuous Percoll Gradient.
    Jacob L Léger, Nicolas Pichaud, Luc H Boudreau.
      The isolation of mitochondria is gaining importance in experimental and clinical laboratory settings. Of interest, mitochondria and mitochondrial components (i.e., circular mitochondrial DNA, N-formylated peptides, cardiolipin) have been involved in several human inflammatory pathologies, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. While several mitochondrial isolation methods have been previously published, these techniques are aimed at yielding mitochondria from cell types other than platelets. In addition, little information is known on the number of platelet-derived microvesicles that can contaminate the mitochondrial preparation or even the overall quality as well as functional and structural integrity of mitochondria. Here we describe a purification method, using a discontinuous Percoll gradient, yielding mitochondria of high purity and integrity from human platelets.
    Keywords:  Mitochondria isolation; Mitochondria membrane integrity; Percoll extraction method; Platelet-derived microvesicles; Platelet-derived mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_4
  69. Metabolites. 2021 May 18. pii: 322. [Epub ahead of print]11(5):
    Mitochondrial Fission Governed by Drp1 Regulates Exogenous Fatty Acid Usage and Storage in Hela Cells.
    Jae-Eun Song, Tiago C Alves, Bernardo Stutz, Matija Šestan-Peša, Nicole Kilian, Sungho Jin, Sabrina Diano, Richard G Kibbey, Tamas L Horvath.
      In the presence of high abundance of exogenous fatty acids, cells either store fatty acids in lipid droplets or oxidize them in mitochondria. In this study, we aimed to explore a novel and direct role of mitochondrial fission in lipid homeostasis in HeLa cells. We observed the association between mitochondrial morphology and lipid droplet accumulation in response to high exogenous fatty acids. We inhibited mitochondrial fission by silencing dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1) and observed the shift in fatty acid storage-usage balance. Inhibition of mitochondrial fission resulted in an increase in fatty acid content of lipid droplets and a decrease in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Next, we overexpressed carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1), a key mitochondrial protein in fatty acid oxidation, to further examine the relationship between mitochondrial fatty acid usage and mitochondrial morphology. Mitochondrial fission plays a role in distributing exogenous fatty acids. CPT1A controlled the respiratory rate of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation but did not cause a shift in the distribution of fatty acids between mitochondria and lipid droplets. Our data reveals a novel function for mitochondrial fission in balancing exogenous fatty acids between usage and storage, assigning a role for mitochondrial dynamics in control of intracellular fuel utilization and partitioning.
    Keywords:  fatty acid oxidation; lipid homeostasis; mitochondrial dynamics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11050322
  70. Cancers (Basel). 2021 May 31. pii: 2731. [Epub ahead of print]13(11):
    Tissue-Specific Warburg Effect in Breast Cancer and Cancer-Associated Adipose Tissue-Relationship between AMPK and Glycolysis.
    Andjelika Kalezic, Mirjana Udicki, Biljana Srdic Galic, Marija Aleksic, Aleksandra Korac, Aleksandra Jankovic, Bato Korac.
      Typical features of the breast malignant phenotype rely on metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells and their interaction with surrounding adipocytes. Obesity is strongly associated with breast cancer mortality, yet the effects of obesity on metabolic reprogramming of cancer and cancer-associated adipose tissue remain largely unknown. Paired biopsies of breast tumor tissue and adipose tissue from premenopausal women were divided according to pathohistological analyses and body mass index on normal-weight and overweight/obese with benign or malignant tumors. We investigated the protein expression of key regulatory enzymes of glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and glycogen synthesis. Breast cancer tissue showed a simultaneous increase in 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein expression with typical features of the Warburg effect, including hexokinase 2 (HK 2) overexpression and its association with mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1, associated with an overexpression of rate-limiting enzymes of glycolysis (phosphofructokinase 1-PFK-1) and pentose phosphate pathway (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-G6PDH). In parallel, cancer-associated adipose tissue showed increased AMPK protein expression with overexpression of HK 2 and G6PDH in line with increased PPP activity. Moreover, important obesity-associated differences in glucose metabolism were observed in breast cancer tissue showing prominent glycogen deposition and higher glycogen synthase kinase-3 protein expression in normal-weight women and higher PFK-1 and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) protein expression in overweight/obese women. In conclusion, metabolic reprogramming of glycolysis contributes to tissue-specific Warburg effect in breast cancer and cancer-associated adipose tissue.
    Keywords:  AMPK; breast cancer; cancer-associated adipose tissue; glycogen; glycolysis; hexokinase; obesity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13112731
  71. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 357-370
    Isolation of Mitochondria-Associated ER Membranes (MAMs), Synaptic MAMs, and Glycosphingolipid Enriched Microdomains (GEMs) from Brain Tissues and Neuronal Cells.
    Ida Annunziata, Jason Andrew Weesner, Alessandra d'Azzo.
      Subcellular fractionation is a valuable procedure in cell biology to separate and purify various subcellular constituents from one another, i.e., nucleus, cytosol, membranes/organelles, and cytoskeleton. The procedure relies on the use of differential centrifugation of cell and tissue homogenates. Fractionated subcellular organelles may be subjected to additional purification steps that enable the isolation of specific cellular sub-compartments, including interorganellar membrane contact sites. Here we outline a protocol tailored to the isolation of mitochondria, mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs), and glycosphingolipid enriched microdomains (GEMs) from the adult mouse brain, primary neurospheres, and murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We also provide a detailed protocol for the purification of synaptosomes and their corresponding MAMs .
    Keywords:  Brain; Centrifugation; ER; GEMs; MAMs; Mitochondria; Neuronal cells; Synaptosomes
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_22
  72. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 249-257
    Assessment of Mitochondrial Protein Glutathionylation as Signaling for CO Pathway.
    Ana S Almeida, Cláudia Figueiredo-Pereira, Helena L A Vieira.
      Protein glutathionylation is a posttranslational process that regulates protein function in response to redox cellular changes. Furthermore, carbon monoxide-induced cellular pathways involve reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling and mitochondrial protein glutathionylation. Herein, it is described as a technique to assess mitochondrial glutathionylation due to low concentrations of CO exposure. Mitochondria are isolated from cell culture or tissue, followed by an immunoprecipitation assay, which allows the capture of any glutathionylated mitochondrial protein using a specific antibody coupled to a solid matrix that binds to glutathione antigen. The precipitated protein is further identified and quantified by immunoblotting analysis.
    Keywords:  Carbon monoxide; Glutathione; Glutathionylation; Immunoprecipitation; Mitochondria
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_19
  73. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2277 1-13
    Allotopic Expression of ATP6 in Mouse as a Transgenic Model of Mitochondrial Disease.
    David A Dunn, Carl A Pinkert.
      Progress in animal modeling of polymorphisms and mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is not as developed as nuclear transgenesis due to a host of cellular and physiological distinctions. mtDNA mutation modeling is of critical importance as mutations in the mitochondrial genome give rise to a variety of pathological conditions and play a contributing role in many others. Nuclear localization and transcription of mtDNA genes followed by cytoplasmic translation and transport into mitochondria (allotopic expression, AE) provide an opportunity to create in vivo modeling of a targeted mutation in mitochondrial genes. Accordingly, such technology has been suggested as a strategy for gene replacement therapy in patients harboring mitochondrial DNA mutations. Here, we use our AE approach to transgenic mouse modeling of the pathogenic human T8993G mutation in mtATP6 as a case study for designing AE animal models.
    Keywords:  ATP6; Allotopic expression; Animal modeling; Mitochondrial disease; Transgenic mouse; mtDNA
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1270-5_1
  74. Cell Metab. 2021 Jun 01. pii: S1550-4131(21)00229-1. [Epub ahead of print]33(6): 1065-1067
    Creatine promotes metastatic dissemination.
    Damien Lagarde, Lawrence Kazak.
      The molecular regulation of cancer metastasis is not fully understood. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Zhang et al. (2021) discover that creatine promotes cancer metastasis in mice by promoting activation of the MPS1-Smad2/3 axis.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2021.05.012
  75. Nat Commun. 2021 06 02. 12(1): 3285
    Prohibitin 1 is essential to preserve mitochondria and myelin integrity in Schwann cells.
    Gustavo Della-Flora Nunes, Emma R Wilson, Leandro N Marziali, Edward Hurley, Nicholas Silvestri, Bin He, Bert W O'Malley, Bogdan Beirowski, Yannick Poitelon, Lawrence Wrabetz, M Laura Feltri.
      In peripheral nerves, Schwann cells form myelin and provide trophic support to axons. We previously showed that the mitochondrial protein prohibitin 2 can localize to the axon-Schwann-cell interface and is required for developmental myelination. Whether the homologous protein prohibitin 1 has a similar role, and whether prohibitins also play important roles in Schwann cell mitochondria is unknown. Here, we show that deletion of prohibitin 1 in Schwann cells minimally perturbs development, but later triggers a severe demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. Moreover, mitochondria are heavily affected by ablation of prohibitin 1 and demyelination occurs preferentially in cells with apparent mitochondrial loss. Furthermore, in response to mitochondrial damage, Schwann cells trigger the integrated stress response, but, contrary to what was previously suggested, this response is not detrimental in this context. These results identify a role for prohibitin 1 in myelin integrity and advance our understanding about the Schwann cell response to mitochondrial damage.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23552-8
  76. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 165-171
    Investigation of Mitochondrial ADP-Ribosylation Via Immunofluorescence.
    Ann-Katrin Hopp, Michael O Hottiger.
      ADP-ribosylation is a posttranslational protein modification, involved in various cellular processes, ranging from DNA-damage repair to apoptosis. While its function has been studied amply with respect to genotoxic stress-associated nuclear ADP-ribosylation, the functional relevance of mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation remains so far poorly studied. This is mainly attributed to the absence of powerful techniques able to detect the modification. However, the usage of recently developed anti-ADP-ribose-specific antibodies allows now to investigate mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. In the below method, we describe in detail how to efficiently detect and quantify mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation via immunofluorescence.
    Keywords:  ADP-ribosylation; Antibodies; Immunofluorescence; MacroD1; Mitochondria; NAD+; Posttranslational modifications
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_12
  77. Life Sci. 2021 May 31. pii: S0024-3205(21)00655-X. [Epub ahead of print] 119669
    The effects of mitochondrial transplantation in acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity in rats.
    Oner Ulger, Gokhan Burcin Kubat, Zehra Cicek, Ertugrul Celik, Ozbeyen Atalay, Serpil Suvay, Mehmet Ozler.
       AIMS: Acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity is one of the leading causes of acute liver injury-related death and liver failure worldwide. In many studies, mitochondrial dysfunction has been identified as an important cause of damage in APAP toxicity. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the possible effects of mitochondrial transplantation on liver damage due to APAP toxicity.
    MAIN METHODS: APAP toxicity model was implemented by administering a toxic dose of APAP. To demonstrate the efficiency of mitochondria transplantation, it was compared with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) application, which is now clinically accepted. Mitochondrial transplantation was carried out by delivering mitochondria to the liver via the portal circulation, which was injected into the spleen. In our study, the rats were randomly divided into 6 groups as Sham, APAP, Control 1, APAP+mito, Control 2, and APAP+NAC. In the end of the experiment, histological and biochemical analysis were performed and the biodistribution of the transplanted mitochondria to target cells were also shown.
    KEY FINDINGS: Successful mitochondrial transplantation was confirmed and mitochondrial transplantation improved the liver histological structure to a similar level with healthy rats. Moreover, plasma ALT levels, apoptotic cells, and total oxidant levels were decreased. It was also observed that NAC treatment increased GSH levels to the highest level among the groups. However, mitochondrial transplantation was more effective than NAC application in terms of histological and functional improvement.
    SIGNIFICANCE: It has been evaluated that mitochondrial transplantation can be used as an important alternative or adjunctive treatment method in liver damage caused by toxic dose APAP intake.
    Keywords:  Acetaminophen; Liver toxicity; Mitochondrial transplantation; N-acetylcysteine
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119669
  78. Nat Commun. 2021 05 31. 12(1): 3258
    Model-based analysis uncovers mutations altering autophagy selectivity in human cancer.
    Zhu Han, Weizhi Zhang, Wanshan Ning, Chenwei Wang, Wankun Deng, Zhidan Li, Zehua Shang, Xiaofei Shen, Xiaohui Liu, Otto Baba, Tsuyoshi Morita, Lu Chen, Yu Xue, Da Jia.
      Autophagy can selectively target protein aggregates, pathogens, and dysfunctional organelles for the lysosomal degradation. Aberrant regulation of autophagy promotes tumorigenesis, while it is far less clear whether and how tumor-specific alterations result in autophagic aberrance. To form a link between aberrant autophagy selectivity and human cancer, we establish a computational pipeline and prioritize 222 potential LIR (LC3-interacting region) motif-associated mutations (LAMs) in 148 proteins. We validate LAMs in multiple proteins including ATG4B, STBD1, EHMT2 and BRAF that impair their interactions with LC3 and autophagy activities. Using a combination of transcriptomic, metabolomic and additional experimental assays, we show that STBD1, a poorly-characterized protein, inhibits tumor growth via modulating glycogen autophagy, while a patient-derived W203C mutation on LIR abolishes its cancer inhibitory function. This work suggests that altered autophagy selectivity is a frequently-used mechanism by cancer cells to survive during various stresses, and provides a framework to discover additional autophagy-related pathways that influence carcinogenesis.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23539-5
  79. Methods Mol Biol. 2021 ;2276 31-39
    Preparation of "Functional" Mitochondria: A Challenging Business.
    Stefan Lehr, Sonja Hartwig, Jorg Kotzka.
      As the powerhouse of the cell, mitochondria, plays a crucial role in many aspects of life, whereby mitochondrial dysfunctions are associated with pathogenesis of many diseases, like neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, cancer, and metabolic as well as cardiovascular disorders. Mitochondria analysis frequently starts with isolation and enrichment procedures, which have become increasingly important in biomedical research. Unfortunately, isolation procedures can easily cause changes in the structural integrity of mitochondria during in vitro handling having impact on their function. This carries the risk that conclusions about isolated mitochondria may be drawn on the basis of experimental artifacts. Here we critically review a commonly used isolation procedure for mitochondria utilizing differential (gradient) centrifugation and depict major challenges to achieve "functional" mitochondria as basis for comprehensive physiological studies.
    Keywords:  Differential gradient centrifugation; Isolation of mitochondria; Mitochondrial integrity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1266-8_2
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