bims-midtic 2023-08-27 papers

bims-midtic

Biomed News

on Mitochondrial dynamics and trafficking in cells

Issue of 2023–08–27
25 papers selected by
Omkar Joshi, Turku Bioscience

Mitochondrial Transfer Between Cell Crosstalk - An Emerging Role in Mitochondrial Quality Control.
The actin binding protein profilin 1 is critical for mitochondria function.
Mechanisms of Modulation of Mitochondrial Architecture.
Role of Mitochondria-ER Contact Sites in Mitophagy.
A big picture of the mitochondria-mediated signals: From mitochondria to organism.
AMPK promotes lysosomal and mitochondrial biogenesis via folliculin:FNIP1.
The fate of mitochondria during platelet activation.
Menthol causes mitochondrial Ca2+-influx, affects structure-function relationship and cools mitochondria.
Enrofloxacin (ENR) exposure induces lipotoxicity by promoting mitochondrial fragmentation via dephosphorylation of DRP1 at S627 site.
Alterations of lipid-mediated mitophagy result in aging-dependent sensorimotor defects.
Collective heterogeneity of mitochondrial potential in contact inhibition of proliferation.
G1P3/IFI6, an interferon stimulated protein, promotes the association of RAB5+ endosomes with mitochondria in breast cancer cells.
Glial-derived mitochondrial signals impact neuronal proteostasis and aging.
OPA1 helical structures give perspective to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Lipocalin-2 induces mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular cells via mTOR pathway activation.
Mitochondrial morphology governs ATP production rate.
SIRT1-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis supports therapeutic effects of 4-butyl-polyhydroxybenzophenone compounds against NAFLD.
Structural mechanism of mitochondrial membrane remodelling by human OPA1.
The Transcription Factor ChREBP Links Mitochondrial Lipidomes to Mitochondrial Morphology and Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease.
Targeting mitochondrial dynamics proteins for the treatment of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
Giant mitochondria in human liver disease.
The Role of Swelling in the Regulation of OPA1-Mediated Mitochondrial Function in the Heart In Vitro.
Nix interacts with WIPI2 to induce mitophagy.
Autophagy and mitophagy-related extracellular mitochondrial dysfunction of cerebrospinal fluid cells in patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease.
Mitochondrial function and phenotype are defined by bioenergetics.

Ageing Res Rev. 2023 Aug 23. pii: S1568-1637(23)00197-6. [Epub ahead of print] 102038

Mitochondrial Transfer Between Cell Crosstalk - An Emerging Role in Mitochondrial Quality Control.

Yi Liu, Tinglv Fu, Guorui Li, Boyang Li, Guoqing Luo, Ning Li, Qing Geng.

  Intercellular signaling and component conduction are essential for multicellular organisms' homeostasis, and mitochondrial transcellular transport is a key example of such cellular component exchange. In physiological situations, mitochondrial transfer is linked with biological development, energy coordination, and clearance of harmful components, remarkably playing important roles in maintaining mitochondrial quality. Mitochondria are engaged in many critical biological activities, like oxidative metabolism and biomolecular synthesis, and are exclusively prone to malfunction in pathological processes. Importantly, severe mitochondrial damage will further amplify the defects in the mitochondrial quality control system, which will mobilize more active mitochondrial transfer, replenish exogenous healthy mitochondria, and remove endogenous damaged mitochondria to facilitate disease outcomes. This review explores intercellular mitochondrial transport in cells, its role in cellular mitochondrial quality control, and the linking mechanisms in cellular crosstalk. We also describe advances in therapeutic strategies for diseases that target mitochondrial transfer.

Keywords:  cell crosstalk; intercellular mitochondrial transfer; mitochondrial quality control; therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2023.102038
bioRxiv. 2023 Aug 16. pii: 2023.08.07.552354. [Epub ahead of print]

The actin binding protein profilin 1 is critical for mitochondria function.

Tracy-Ann Read, Bruno A Cisterna, Kristen Skruber, Samah Ahmadieh, Halli L Lindamood, Josefine A Vitriol, Yang Shi, Austin E Y T Lefebvre, Joseph B Black, Mitchell T Butler, James A Bear, Alena Cherezova, Daria V Ilatovskaya, Neil L Weintraub, Eric A Vitriol.

Profilin 1 (PFN1) is an actin binding protein that is vital for the polymerization of monomeric actin into filaments. Here we screened knockout cells for novel functions of PFN1 and discovered that mitophagy, a type of selective autophagy that removes defective or damaged mitochondria from the cell, was significantly upregulated in the absence of PFN1. Despite successful autophagosome formation and fusion with the lysosome, and activation of additional mitochondrial quality control pathways, PFN1 knockout cells still accumulate damaged, dysfunctional mitochondria. Subsequent imaging and functional assays showed that loss of PFN1 significantly affects mitochondria morphology, dynamics, and respiration. Further experiments revealed that PFN1 is located to the mitochondria matrix and is likely regulating mitochondria function from within rather than through polymerizing actin at the mitochondria surface. Finally, PFN1 mutants associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) fail to rescue PFN1 knockout mitochondrial phenotypes and form aggregates within mitochondria, further perturbing them. Together, these results suggest a novel function for PFN1 in regulating mitochondria and identify a potential pathogenic mechanism of ALS-linked PFN1 variants.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.07.552354
Biomolecules. 2023 Aug 07. pii: 1225. [Epub ahead of print]13(8):

Mechanisms of Modulation of Mitochondrial Architecture.

Juan Pablo Muñoz, Fernanda Luisa Basei, María Laura Rojas, David Galvis, Antonio Zorzano.

  Mitochondrial network architecture plays a critical role in cellular physiology. Indeed, alterations in the shape of mitochondria upon exposure to cellular stress can cause the dysfunction of these organelles. In this scenario, mitochondrial dynamics proteins and the phospholipid composition of the mitochondrial membrane are key for fine-tuning the modulation of mitochondrial architecture. In addition, several factors including post-translational modifications such as the phosphorylation, acetylation, SUMOylation, and o-GlcNAcylation of mitochondrial dynamics proteins contribute to shaping the plasticity of this architecture. In this regard, several studies have evidenced that, upon metabolic stress, mitochondrial dynamics proteins are post-translationally modified, leading to the alteration of mitochondrial architecture. Interestingly, several proteins that sustain the mitochondrial lipid composition also modulate mitochondrial morphology and organelle communication. In this context, pharmacological studies have revealed that the modulation of mitochondrial shape and function emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy for metabolic diseases. Here, we review the factors that modulate mitochondrial architecture.

Keywords:  lipids; membrane contact sites (MCSs); metabolic disease; metabolism; mitochondria; mitochondrial dynamics; pharmacology; post-translational modification; tethers

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13081225
Biomolecules. 2023 Jul 31. pii: 1198. [Epub ahead of print]13(8):

Role of Mitochondria-ER Contact Sites in Mitophagy.

Alina Rühmkorf, Angelika Bettina Harbauer.

  Mitochondria are often referred to as the "powerhouse" of the cell. However, this organelle has many more functions than simply satisfying the cells' metabolic needs. Mitochondria are involved in calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism, and they also regulate apoptotic processes. Many of these functions require contact with the ER, which is mediated by several tether proteins located on the respective organellar surfaces, enabling the formation of mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCS). Upon damage, mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can harm the surrounding cell. To circumvent toxicity and to maintain a functional pool of healthy organelles, damaged and excess mitochondria can be targeted for degradation via mitophagy, a form of selective autophagy. Defects in mitochondria-ER tethers and the accumulation of damaged mitochondria are found in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which argues that the interplay between the two organelles is vital for neuronal health. This review provides an overview of the different mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control that are implicated with the different mitochondria-ER tether proteins, and also provides a novel perspective on how MERCS are involved in mediating mitophagy upon mitochondrial damage.

Keywords:  mitochondria; mitophagy; organellar contact sites

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13081198
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2023 Aug 20. pii: S0006-291X(23)00978-6. [Epub ahead of print]678 45-61

A big picture of the mitochondria-mediated signals: From mitochondria to organism.

Neşe Vardar Acar, R Köksal Özgül.

  Mitochondria, well-known for years as the powerhouse and biosynthetic center of the cell, are dynamic signaling organelles beyond their energy production and biosynthesis functions. The metabolic functions of mitochondria, playing an important role in various biological events both in physiological and stress conditions, transform them into important cellular stress sensors. Mitochondria constantly communicate with the rest of the cell and even from other cells to the organism, transmitting stress signals including oxidative and reductive stress or adaptive signals such as mitohormesis. Mitochondrial signal transduction has a vital function in regulating integrity of human genome, organelles, cells, and ultimately organism.

Keywords:  Cellular stress; Mitochondrial crosstalk; Mitochondrial functions; Mitochondrial signaling transduction

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.08.032
Life Metab. 2023 Oct;2(5): load027

AMPK promotes lysosomal and mitochondrial biogenesis via folliculin:FNIP1.

Jordana B Freemantle, D Grahame Hardie.

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is known to maintain the integrity of cellular mitochondrial networks by (i) promoting fission, (ii) inhibiting fusion, (iii) promoting recycling of damaged components via mitophagy, (iv) enhancing lysosomal biogenesis to support mitophagy, and (v) promoting biogenesis of new mitochondrial components. While the AMPK targets underlying the first three of these effects are known, a recent paper suggests that direct phosphorylation of the folliculin-interacting protein 1 (FNIP1) by AMPK may be involved in the remaining two.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/lifemeta/load027
Blood Adv. 2023 Aug 25. pii: bloodadvances.2023010423. [Epub ahead of print]

The fate of mitochondria during platelet activation.

Alexei Grichine, Shancy P Jacob, Anita E Eckly, Joran Villaret, Clotilde Joubert, Florence Appaix, Mylène Pezet, Anne-Sophie Ribba, Eric Denarier, Jacques Mazzega, Jean-Yves Rinckel, Laurence Lafanechère, Bénédicte Elena-Herrmann, Jesse W Rowley, Karin Sadoul.

Blood platelets undergo several successive motor-driven reorganizations of the cytoskeleton when they are recruited to an injured part of a vessel. These reorganizations take place during the platelet activation phase, the spreading process on the injured vessel or between fibrin fibers of the forming clot and during clot retraction. All these steps require a lot of energy, especially the retraction of the clot when platelets develop strong forces similar to those of muscle cells. Platelets can produce energy through glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. However, although resting platelets have only 5-8 individual mitochondria, they produce ATP predominantly via oxidative phosphorylation. Activated, spread platelets show an increase in size compared to resting platelets and the question arises as to where the few mitochondria are located in these larger platelets. Using expansion microscopy, we show that the number of mitochondria per platelet is increased in spread platelets. Live imaging and Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscopy suggest that a mitochondrial fission event takes place during platelet activation. Fission is Drp1 dependent since Drp1 deficient platelets have fused mitochondria. In nucleated cells, mitochondrial fission is associated with a shift to a glycolytic phenotype and using clot retraction assays, we show that platelets have a more glycolytic energy production during clot retraction and Drp1 deficient platelets show a defect in clot retraction.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2023010423
Life Sci. 2023 Aug 19. pii: S0024-3205(23)00667-7. [Epub ahead of print] 122032

Menthol causes mitochondrial Ca2+-influx, affects structure-function relationship and cools mitochondria.

Shamit Kumar, Tusar Kanta Acharya, Ramizur Rahaman Halder, Parnasree Mahapatra, Young-Tae Chang, Chandan Goswami.

  Menthol is a small bioactive compound able to cause several physiological changes and has multiple molecular targets. Therefore, cellular response against menthol is complex, and still poorly understood. In this work, we used a human osteosarcoma cell line (Saos-2) and analysed the effect of menthol, especially in terms of cellular, subcellular and molecular aspects. We demonstrate that menthol causes increased mitochondrial Ca2+ in a complex manner, which is mainly contributed by intracellular sources, including ER. Menthol also changes the Ca2+-load of individual mitochondrial particles in different conditions. Menthol increases ER-mito contact points, causes mitochondrial morphological changes, and increases mitochondrial ATP, cardiolipin, mitochondrial ROS and reduces mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Menthol also prevents the mitochondrial quality damaged by sub-lethal and lethal doses of CCCP. In addition, menthol lowers the mitochondrial temperature within cell and also serves as a cooling agent for the isolated mitochondria in a cell free system too. Notably, menthol-induced reduction of mitochondrial temperature is observed in diverse types of cells, including neuronal, immune and cancer cells. As the higher mitochondrial temperature is a hallmark of several inflammatory, metabolic, disease and age-related disorders, we propose that menthol can serve as an active anti-aging compound against all these disorders. These findings may have relevance in case of several pharmacological and clinical applications of menthol. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Menthol is a plant-derived bioactive compound that is widely used for several physiological, behavioural, addictive, and medicinal purposes. It is a well-established "cooling and analgesic agent". However, the exact cellular and sub-cellular responses of menthol is poorly understood. In this work, we have characterized the effects of menthol on mitochondrial metabolism. Menthol regulates mitochondrial Ca2+, ATP, superoxides, cardiolipin, membrane-potential, and ER-mito contact sites. Moreover, the cooling agent menthol also cools down mitochondria and protects mitochondrial damage by certain toxins. These findings may promote use of menthol as a useful supplementary agent for anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory purposes where higher mitochondrial temperature is prevalent.

Keywords:  Cardiolipin; ER-Mito contact points; Mitochondrial Ca(2+)-influx; Mitochondrial temperature; Neuro-degeneration; ROS

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122032
Chemosphere. 2023 Aug 22. pii: S0045-6535(23)02161-6. [Epub ahead of print]340 139892

Enrofloxacin (ENR) exposure induces lipotoxicity by promoting mitochondrial fragmentation via dephosphorylation of DRP1 at S627 site.

Xiao-Lei Wei, Yi-Chuang Xu, Xiao-Ying Tan, Wu-Hong Lv, Dian-Guang Zhang, Yang He, Zhi Luo.

  Enrofloxacin (ENR) is a kind of widespread hazardous pollutant on aquatic ecosystems and causes toxic effects, such as disorders of metabolism, on aquatic animals. However, its potential mechanisms at an environmental concentration on metabolic disorders of aquatic organisms remain unclear. Herin, we found that hepatic lipotoxicity was induced by ENR exposure, which led to ENR accumulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial fragmentation, and fatty acid transfer blockage from lipid droplets into fragmented mitochondria. ENR-induced lipotoxicity and mitochondrial β-oxidation down-regulation were mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, dynamin-like protein 1 (DRP1) mediated ENR-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and changes of lipid metabolism. Mechanistically, ENR induced increment of DRP1 mitochondrial localization via dephosphorylating DRP1 at S627 and promoted its interaction with mitochondrial fission factor (MFF), leading to mitochondria fragmentation. For the first time, our study provides an innovative mechanistic link between hepatic lipotoxicity and mitochondrial fragmentation under ENR exposure, and thus identifies previously unknown mechanisms for the direct relationship between environmental ENR concentration and lipotoxicity in aquatic animals. Our study provides innovative insights for toxicological mechanisms and environmental risk assessments of antibiotics in aquatic environment.

Keywords:  Enrofloxacin; Environmental risk assessment; Lipotoxicity; Mitochondrial fragmentation; Oxidative stress

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139892
Aging Cell. 2023 Aug 23. e13954

Alterations of lipid-mediated mitophagy result in aging-dependent sensorimotor defects.

Natalia Oleinik, Onder Albayram, Mohamed Faisal Kassir, F Cansu Atilgan, Chase Walton, Eda Karakaya, John Kurtz, Alexander Alekseyenko, Habeeb Alsudani, Megan Sheridan, Zdzislaw M Szulc, Besim Ogretmen.

  The metabolic consequences of mitophagy alterations due to age-related stress in healthy aging brains versus neurodegeneration remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that ceramide synthase 1 (CerS1) is transported to the outer mitochondrial membrane by the p17/PERMIT transporter that recognizes mislocalized mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) via 39-FLRN-42 residues, inducing ceramide-mediated mitophagy. P17/PERMIT-CerS1-mediated mitophagy attenuated the argininosuccinate/fumarate/malate axis and induced d-glucose and fructose accumulation in neurons in culture and brain tissues (primarily in the cerebellum) of wild-type mice in vivo. These metabolic changes in response to sodium-selenite were nullified in the cerebellum of CerS1to/to (catalytically inactive for C18-ceramide production CerS1 mutant), PARKIN-/- or p17/PERMIT-/- mice that have dysfunctional mitophagy. Whereas sodium selenite induced mitophagy in the cerebellum and improved motor-neuron deficits in aged wild-type mice, exogenous fumarate or malate prevented mitophagy. Attenuating ceramide-mediated mitophagy enhanced damaged mitochondria accumulation and age-dependent sensorimotor abnormalities in p17/PERMIT-/- mice. Reinstituting mitophagy using a ceramide analog drug with selenium conjugate, LCL768, restored mitophagy and reduced malate/fumarate metabolism, improving sensorimotor deficits in old p17/PERMIT-/- mice. Thus, these data describe the metabolic consequences of alterations to p17/PERMIT/ceramide-mediated mitophagy associated with the loss of mitochondrial quality control in neurons and provide therapeutic options to overcome age-dependent sensorimotor deficits and related disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Keywords:  CerS1; Drp1; aging; ceramide; mitochondrial metabolism; mitophagy; neurodegeneration; sensorimotor defects

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.13954
Biophys J. 2023 Aug 18. pii: S0006-3495(23)00529-5. [Epub ahead of print]

Collective heterogeneity of mitochondrial potential in contact inhibition of proliferation.

Basil Thurakkal, Kishore Hari, Rituraj Marwaha, Sanjay Karki, Mohit K Jolly, Tamal Das.

  In the epithelium, cell density and cell proliferation are closely connected to each other through contact inhibition of proliferation (CIP). Depending on cell density, CIP proceeds through three distinct stages, namely the free-growing stage at low density, the pre-epithelial transition stage at medium density, and the post-epithelial transition stage at high density. Previous studies have elucidated how cell morphology, motion, and mechanics vary in these stages. However, it remains unknown whether cellular metabolism also has a density-dependent behavior. By measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential at different cell densities, here we reveal a heterogeneous landscape of metabolism in the epithelium, which appears qualitatively distinct in three stages of CIP and did not follow the trend of other CIP-associated parameters, which increases or decreases monotonically with increasing cell density. Importantly, epithelial cells established a collective metabolic heterogeneity exclusively in the pre-epithelial transition stage, where the multicellular clusters of high and low-potential cells emerged. However, in the post-epithelial transition stage, the metabolic potential field became relatively homogeneous. Next, to study the underlying dynamics, we then constructed a system-biological model, which predicted the role of cell proliferation in metabolic potential towards establishing collective heterogeneity. Further experiments indeed revealed that the metabolic pattern spatially correlated with the proliferative capacity of cells, as measured by the nuclear localization of a pro-proliferation protein, YAP. Finally, experiments perturbing the actomyosin contractility revealed that while metabolic heterogeneity was maintained in absence of actomyosin contractility, its ab initio emergence depended on the latter. Taken together, our results revealed a density-dependent collective heterogeneity in the metabolic field of a pre-epithelial transition stage epithelial monolayer, which may have significant implications for epithelial form and function. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Epithelial contact inhibition of proliferation (CIP) plays a key role in tissue homeostasis, morphogenesis, and development. The biochemical changes in cells during different stages of CIP are not as well-documented as the biophysical changes. We unveil a heterogeneous landscape of metabolism which appears distinct in different stages of CIP. Importantly, in the pre-epithelial transition stage, the epithelial cells establish a collective metabolic heterogeneity wherein multicellular clusters of high and low-potential cells emerge, despite the uniform genetic and nutrient conditions for the cells. The collective heterogeneity is correlated to the local fluctuations in geometrical parameters and the proliferative capacity of cells. Finally, we demonstrate the role of cell mechanics in the establishment of collective heterogeneity.

Keywords:  Collective dynamics; Collective heterogeneity; Contact inhibition of proliferation; Epithelial tissue; Metabolism; Mitochondrial potential

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2023.08.014
Cell Biol Int. 2023 Aug 20.

G1P3/IFI6, an interferon stimulated protein, promotes the association of RAB5+ endosomes with mitochondria in breast cancer cells.

Anne M Davenport, Madeleine Morris, Fatima Sabti, Sarah Sabti, Diksha Shakya, DiAnna L Hynds, Venugopalan Cheriyath.

  G1P3/IFI6 is an interferon stimulated gene with antiapoptotic, prometastatic, and antiviral functions. Despite its pleiotropic functions, subcellular localization of G1P3 remains unclear. Using biochemical- and confocal microscopic approaches, this study identified the localization of G1P3 in organelles of the endomembrane system and in the mitochondria of breast cancer cells. In cell fractionation studies, both interferon-induced endogenous- and stably expressed G1P3 cofractionated with affinity-isolated mitochondria. Results of the protease protection assay have suggested that ~24% of mitochondrial G1P3 resides within the mitochondria. Conforming to this, confocal microscopy studies of cells stably expressing epitope-tagged G1P3 (MCF-7/G1P3-FLAG), identified its localization in mitochondria (~38%) as well as in ER, trans-Golgi network (TGN), lysosomes, and in RAB5 positive (RAB5+ ) endosomes. These results suggested the trafficking of G1P3 from TGN into endolysosomes. Both G1P3 and RAB5 were known to confer apoptosis resistance through mitochondrial stabilization. Therefore, the effects of G1P3 on the localization of RAB5 in mitochondria were tested. Compared to vector control, the co-occurrence of RAB5 with the mitochondria was increased by 1.5-fold in MCF-7/G1P3-FLAG expressing cells (p ≤ .005). Taken together, our results demonstrate a role for G1P3 to promote the association of RAB5+ endosomes with mitochondria and provide insight into yet another mechanism of G1P3-induced cancer cell survival.

Keywords:  cancer; cell fractionation; clathrin; endoplasmic reticulum; endosomes; intracellular compartmentalization

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/cbin.12079
bioRxiv. 2023 Aug 08. pii: 2023.07.20.549924. [Epub ahead of print]

Glial-derived mitochondrial signals impact neuronal proteostasis and aging.

Raz Bar-Ziv, Naibedya Dutta, Adam Hruby, Edward Sukarto, Maxim Averbukh, Athena Alcala, Hope R Henderson, Jenni Durieux, Sarah U Tronnes, Qazi Ahmad, Theodore Bolas, Joel Perez, Julian G Dishart, Matthew Vega, Gilberto Garcia, Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria, Andrew Dillin.

The nervous system plays a critical role in maintaining whole-organism homeostasis; neurons experiencing mitochondrial stress can coordinate the induction of protective cellular pathways, such as the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR MT ), between tissues. However, these studies largely ignored non-neuronal cells of the nervous system. Here, we found that UPR MT activation in four, astrocyte-like glial cells in the nematode, C. elegans , can promote protein homeostasis by alleviating protein aggregation in neurons. Surprisingly, we find that glial cells utilize small clear vesicles (SCVs) to signal to neurons, which then relay the signal to the periphery using dense-core vesicles (DCVs). This work underlines the importance of glia in establishing and regulating protein homeostasis within the nervous system, which can then impact neuron-mediated effects in organismal homeostasis and longevity.
One-Sentence Summary: Glial cells sense mitochondrial stress and signal a beneficial stress signal to promote neuronal health and longevity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.20.549924
Nature. 2023 Aug 23.

OPA1 helical structures give perspective to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Sarah B Nyenhuis, Xufeng Wu, Marie-Paule Strub, Yang-In Yim, Abigail E Stanton, Valentina Baena, Zulfeqhar A Syed, Bertram Canagarajah, John A Hammer, Jenny E Hinshaw.

Dominant optic atrophy is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness. Around 60-80% of cases1 are caused by mutations of the gene that encodes optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1), a protein that has a key role in inner mitochondrial membrane fusion and remodelling of cristae and is crucial for the dynamic organization and regulation of mitochondria2. Mutations in OPA1 result in the dysregulation of the GTPase-mediated fusion process of the mitochondrial inner and outer membranes3. Here we used cryo-electron microscopy methods to solve helical structures of OPA1 assembled on lipid membrane tubes, in the presence and absence of nucleotide. These helical assemblies organize into densely packed protein rungs with minimal inter-rung connectivity, and exhibit nucleotide-dependent dimerization of the GTPase domains-a hallmark of the dynamin superfamily of proteins4. OPA1 also contains several unique secondary structures in the paddle domain that strengthen its membrane association, including membrane-inserting helices. The structural features identified in this study shed light on the effects of pathogenic point mutations on protein folding, inter-protein assembly and membrane interactions. Furthermore, mutations that disrupt the assembly interfaces and membrane binding of OPA1 cause mitochondrial fragmentation in cell-based assays, providing evidence of the biological relevance of these interactions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06462-1
Cell Rep. 2023 Aug 24. pii: S2211-1247(23)01043-4. [Epub ahead of print]42(9): 113032

Lipocalin-2 induces mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular cells via mTOR pathway activation.

Eloïse Marques, Maraiza Alves Teixeira, Clément Nguyen, Fabiola Terzi, Morgan Gallazzini.

  Mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical process in renal epithelial cells upon kidney injury. While its implication in kidney disease progression is established, the mechanisms modulating it remain unclear. Here, we describe the role of Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a protein expressed in injured tubular cells, in mitochondrial dysfunction. We show that LCN2 expression decreases mitochondrial mass and function and induces mitochondrial fragmentation. Importantly, while LCN2 expression favors DRP1 mitochondrial recruitment, DRP1 inhibition antagonizes LCN2's effect on mitochondrial shape. Remarkably, LCN2 promotes mitochondrial fragmentation independently of its secretion or transport iron activity. Mechanistically, intracellular LCN2 expression increases mTOR activity, and rapamycin inhibits LCN2's effect on mitochondrial shape. In vivo, Lcn2 gene inactivation prevents mTOR activation and mitochondrial length decrease observed upon ischemia-reperfusion-induced kidney injury (IRI) in Lcn2+/+ mice. Our data identify LCN2 as a key regulator of mitochondrial dynamics and further elucidate the mechanisms leading to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Keywords:  CP: Metabolism; Lipocalin-2; kidney; mTOR pathway; mitochondrial dynamics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113032
J Gen Physiol. 2023 09 04. pii: e202213263. [Epub ahead of print]155(9):

Mitochondrial morphology governs ATP production rate.

Guadalupe C Garcia, Kavya Gupta, Thomas M Bartol, Terrence J Sejnowski, Padmini Rangamani.

Life is based on energy conversion. In particular, in the nervous system, significant amounts of energy are needed to maintain synaptic transmission and homeostasis. To a large extent, neurons depend on oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria to meet their high energy demand. For a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic demands in neuronal signaling, accurate models of ATP production in mitochondria are required. Here, we present a thermodynamically consistent model of ATP production in mitochondria based on previous work. The significant improvement of the model is that the reaction rate constants are set such that detailed balance is satisfied. Moreover, using thermodynamic considerations, the dependence of the reaction rate constants on membrane potential, pH, and substrate concentrations are explicitly provided. These constraints assure that the model is physically plausible. Furthermore, we explore different parameter regimes to understand in which conditions ATP production or its export are the limiting steps in making ATP available in the cytosol. The outcomes reveal that, under the conditions used in our simulations, ATP production is the limiting step and not its export. Finally, we performed spatial simulations with nine 3-D realistic mitochondrial reconstructions and linked the ATP production rate in the cytosol with morphological features of the organelles.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.202213263
Eur J Med Chem. 2023 Aug 18. pii: S0223-5234(23)00695-5. [Epub ahead of print]260 115728

SIRT1-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis supports therapeutic effects of 4-butyl-polyhydroxybenzophenone compounds against NAFLD.

Jiayu Song, Luyao Ren, Zhenzhu Ren, Xing Ren, Yang Qi, Yuxi Qin, Xiaohui Zhang, Yuan Ren, Yunlan Li.

  The mitochondria have been identified as key targets in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most prevalent chronic liver damage diseases globally. Meanwhile, the biological information analysis in this study revealed that SIRT1, PPARG, PPARA, and PPARGC1A (mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins) were NAFLD therapeutic targets. Therefore, the design and synthesis of targeted drugs that promote mitochondrial biogenesis and improve mitochondrial function are particularly important for NAFLD treatment. Recently, we introduced butyls, hydroxyls, and halogens to benzophenone and synthesized a series of NAFLD-related 4-butylpolyhydroxybenzophenone compounds, aiming at investigating the hepatoprotective activity from the aspect of mitochondrial biogenesis. The structure-activity relationship demonstrated that hydroxyl and ketone groups were active groups interacting with mitochondrial biogenesis proteins (SIRT1 and PGC1α), and the activity was stronger when the o-hydroxyl group was present on the benzene ring. In contrast, the activity was little affected by the presence of the p-hydroxyl group, m-hydroxyl group, butyl group type, or halogen. In addition, in vitro studies confirmed that these compounds could directly bind to SIRT1 and PGC1α, markedly promote their interaction, significantly increase the expression of proteins and genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis (SIRT1, PGC1α, NRF1, TFAM, COX1, and ND6) and subsequently ameliorate mitochondria dysfunction, which was evidenced by the decreased ROS, upregulated ATP production, increased MMP, and enhanced mitochondrial number. According to the outcomes of our in vitro and in vivo experiments, 4-butyl-polyhydroxybenzophenone compounds could also effectively reduce the formation of lipid droplets and liver injury index (ALT, AST, LDH, AKP, γ-GT, and GDH) and improve the level of antioxidant enzymes (GSH and SOD). Particularly, the treatment of these compounds after a high-fat diet could significantly reduce body weight, decrease liver coefficient, attenuate liver damage, and ameliorate lipid accumulation in rat liver, demonstrating their therapeutic effects on NAFLD. Mechanistically, 4-butyl-polyhydroxybenzophenone compounds promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and eventually prevented NAFLD liver injury by activating the PGC1α signaling pathway in a SIRT1-dependent manner, which was strongly supported by SIRT1 inhibitor EX527.

Keywords:  4-Butyl-polyhydroxybenzophenone compounds; Mitochondrial biogenesis; NAFLD; PGC1α; SIRT1

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115728
Nature. 2023 Aug 23.

Structural mechanism of mitochondrial membrane remodelling by human OPA1.

Alexander von der Malsburg, Gracie M Sapp, Kelly E Zuccaro, Alexander von Appen, Frank R Moss, Raghav Kalia, Jeremy A Bennett, Luciano A Abriata, Matteo Dal Peraro, Martin van der Laan, Adam Frost, Halil Aydin.

Distinct morphologies of the mitochondrial network support divergent metabolic and regulatory processes that determine cell function and fate1-3. The mechanochemical GTPase optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) influences the architecture of cristae and catalyses the fusion of the mitochondrial inner membrane4,5. Despite its fundamental importance, the molecular mechanisms by which OPA1 modulates mitochondrial morphology are unclear. Here, using a combination of cellular and structural analyses, we illuminate the molecular mechanisms that are key to OPA1-dependent membrane remodelling and fusion. Human OPA1 embeds itself into cardiolipin-containing membranes through a lipid-binding paddle domain. A conserved loop within the paddle domain inserts deeply into the bilayer, further stabilizing the interactions with cardiolipin-enriched membranes. OPA1 dimerization through the paddle domain promotes the helical assembly of a flexible OPA1 lattice on the membrane, which drives mitochondrial fusion in cells. Moreover, the membrane-bending OPA1 oligomer undergoes conformational changes that pull the membrane-inserting loop out of the outer leaflet and contribute to the mechanics of membrane remodelling. Our findings provide a structural framework for understanding how human OPA1 shapes mitochondrial morphology and show us how human disease mutations compromise OPA1 functions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06441-6
J Biol Chem. 2023 Aug 21. pii: S0021-9258(23)02213-5. [Epub ahead of print] 105185

The Transcription Factor ChREBP Links Mitochondrial Lipidomes to Mitochondrial Morphology and Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Li Li, Jianyin Long, Koki Mise, Naravat Poungavrin, Philip L Lorenzi, Iqbal Mahmud, Lin Tan, Pradip K Saha, Yashpal S Kanwar, Benny H Chang, Farhad R Danesh.

  A substantial body of evidence has established the contributions of both mitochondrial dynamics and lipid metabolism to the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the precise interplay between these two key metabolic regulators of DKD is not fully understood. Here, we uncover a link between mitochondrial dynamics and lipid metabolism by investigating the role of carbohydrate-response element-binding protein (ChREBP), a glucose-responsive transcription factor and a master regulator of lipogenesis, in kidney podocytes. We find that inducible podocyte-specific knockdown of ChREBP in diabetic db/db mice improves key biochemical and histological features of DKD in addition to significantly reducing mitochondrial fragmentation. Because of the critical role of ChREBP in lipid metabolism, we interrogated whether and how mitochondrial lipidomes play a role in ChREBP-mediated mitochondrial fission. Our findings suggest a key role for a family of ether phospholipids in ChREBP-induced mitochondrial remodeling. We find that overexpression of glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase (GNPAT), a critical enzyme in the biosynthesis of plasmalogens, reverses the protective phenotype of ChREBP deficiency on mitochondrial fragmentation. Finally, our data also points to Gnpat as a direct transcriptional target of ChREBP. Taken together, our results uncover a distinct mitochondrial lipid signature as the link between ChREBP-induced mitochondrial dynamics and progression of DKD.

Keywords:  diabetic nephropathy; kidney metabolism; lipid metabolism; mitochondria; phospholipid

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105185
Front Mol Biosci. 2023 ;10 1241225

Targeting mitochondrial dynamics proteins for the treatment of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Rui Chen, Mengwen Niu, Xin Hu, Yuquan He.

  Doxorubicin (DOX) is an extensively used chemotherapeutic agent that can cause severe and frequent cardiotoxicity, which limits its clinical application. Although there have been extensive researches on the cardiotoxicity caused by DOX, there is still a lack of effective treatment. It is necessary to understand the molecular mechanism of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and search for new therapeutic targets which do not sacrifice their anticancer effects. Mitochondria are considered to be the main target of cardiotoxicity caused by DOX. The imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics characterized by increased mitochondrial fission and inhibited mitochondrial fusion is often reported in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, which can result in excessive ROS production, energy metabolism disorders, cell apoptosis, and various other problems. Also, mitochondrial dynamics disorder is related to tumorigenesis. Surprisingly, recent studies show that targeting mitochondrial dynamics proteins such as DRP1 and MFN2 can not only defend against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity but also enhance or not impair the anticancer effect. Herein, we summarize mitochondrial dynamics disorder in DOX-induced cardiac injury. Furthermore, we provide an overview of current pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions targeting proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics to alleviate cardiac damage caused by DOX.

Keywords:  anticancer effect; cardiotoxicity; doxorubicin (Dox); mitochondrial dynamics; pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2023.1241225
Liver Int. 2023 Aug 24.

Giant mitochondria in human liver disease.

Gerald J Shami, Iryna V Samarska, Ger H Koek, Amy Li, Elena Palma, Shilpa Chokshi, Eddie Wisse, Filip Braet.

  This thematic review aims to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about the occurrence of giant mitochondria or megamitochondria in liver parenchymal cells. Their presence and accumulation are considered to be a major pathological hallmark of the health and fate of liver parenchymal cells that leads to overall tissue deterioration and eventually results in organ failure. The first description on giant mitochondria dates back to the 1960s, coinciding with the availability of the first generation of electron microscopes in clinical diagnostic laboratories. Detailed accounts on their ultrastructure have mostly been described in patients suffering from alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Interestingly, from this extensive literature survey, it became apparent that giant mitochondria or megamitochondria present themselves with or without highly organised crystal-like intramitochondrial inclusions. The origin, formation and potential role of giant mitochondria remain to-date largely unanswered. Likewise, the biochemical composition of the well-organised crystal-like inclusions and their possible impact on mitochondrial function is unclear. Herein, concepts about the possible mechanism of their formation and three-dimensional architecture will be approached. We will furthermore discuss their importance in diagnostics, including future research outlooks and potential therapeutic interventions to cure liver disease where giant mitochondria are implemented.

Keywords:  crystal-like inclusions; diagnostic microscopy; electron tomography; fatty liver disease; histopathological marker; mitochondrial aberrations; volume electron microscopy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.15711
Cells. 2023 Aug 08. pii: 2017. [Epub ahead of print]12(16):

The Role of Swelling in the Regulation of OPA1-Mediated Mitochondrial Function in the Heart In Vitro.

Xavier R Chapa-Dubocq, Keishla M Rodríguez-Graciani, Jorge García-Báez, Alyssa Vadovsky, Jason N Bazil, Sabzali Javadov.

  Optic atrophy-1 (OPA1) plays a crucial role in the regulation of mitochondria fusion and participates in maintaining the structural integrity of mitochondrial cristae. Here we elucidate the role of OPA1 cleavage induced by calcium swelling in the presence of Myls22 (an OPA1 GTPase activity inhibitor) and TPEN (an OMA1 inhibitor). The rate of ADP-stimulated respiration was found diminished by both inhibitors, and they did not prevent Ca2+-induced mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction, membrane depolarization, or swelling. L-OPA1 cleavage was stimulated at state 3 respiration; therefore, our data suggest that L-OPA1 cleavage produces S-OPA1 to maintain mitochondrial bioenergetics in response to stress.

Keywords:  OPA1; calcium retention capacity; heart mitochondria; membrane potential; mitochondrial respiration; mitochondrial swelling

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12162017
EMBO J. 2023 Aug 25. e113491

Nix interacts with WIPI2 to induce mitophagy.

Eric N Bunker, François Le Guerroué, Chunxin Wang, Marie-Paule Strub, Achim Werner, Nico Tjandra, Richard J Youle.

  Nix is a membrane-anchored outer mitochondrial protein that induces mitophagy. While Nix has an LC3-interacting (LIR) motif that binds to ATG8 proteins, it also contains a minimal essential region (MER) that induces mitophagy through an unknown mechanism. We used chemically induced dimerization (CID) to probe the mechanism of Nix-mediated mitophagy and found that both the LIR and MER are required for robust mitophagy. We find that the Nix MER interacts with the autophagy effector WIPI2 and recruits WIPI2 to mitochondria. The Nix LIR motif is also required for robust mitophagy and converts a homogeneous WIPI2 distribution on the surface of the mitochondria into puncta, even in the absence of ATG8s. Together, this work reveals unanticipated mechanisms in Nix-induced mitophagy and the elusive role of the MER, while also describing an interesting example of autophagy induction that acts downstream of the canonical initiation complexes.

Keywords:  Autophagy; BNIP3; FIP200; LIR; p62

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2023113491
Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 23. 13(1): 13753

Autophagy and mitophagy-related extracellular mitochondrial dysfunction of cerebrospinal fluid cells in patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease.

First Korean Stroke Genetics Association Research (The FirstKSGAR) study

We aimed to investigate whether mitochondrial dysfunction in extracellular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is associated with autophagy and mitophagy, might be involved in neurological outcomes in adult patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (MMD) whose pathogenesis related to poor outcomes is not well-known. CSF samples were collected from 43 adult MMD patients and analyzed according to outcomes at 3 months. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis (FACS) and the JC-1 red/green ratio were used to assess mitochondrial cells and intact mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). We performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analyses of autophagy and mitophagy-related markers, including HIF1α, ATG5, pBECN1, BECN1, BAX, BNIP3L, DAPK1, and PINK1. Finally, FACS analysis with specific fluorescence-conjugated antibodies was performed to evaluate the potential cellular origin of CSF mitochondrial cells. Twenty-seven females (62.8%) with a mean age of 47.4 ± 9.7 years were included in the study. Among 43 patients with hemorrhagic MMD, 23 (53.5%) had poor outcomes. The difference in MMP was evident between the two groups (2.4 ± 0.2 in patients with poor outcome vs. 3.5 ± 0.4 in patients with good outcome; p = 0.02). A significantly higher expression (2-ΔCt) of HIF1α, ATG5, DAPK1 followed by BAX and BNIP3L mRNA and protein was also observed in poor-outcome patients compared to those with good outcomes. Higher percentage of vWF-positive mitochondria, suggesting endothelial cell origins, was observed in patients with good outcome compared with those with poor outcome (25.0 ± 1.4% in patients with good outcome vs. 17.5 ± 1.5% in those with poor outcome; p < 0.01). We observed the association between increased mitochondrial dysfunction concomitant with autophagy and mitophagy in CSF cells and neurological outcomes in adult patients with hemorrhagic MMD. Further prospective multicenter studies are needed to determine whether it has a diagnostic value for risk prediction.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40747-9
Nat Metab. 2023 Aug 21.

Mitochondrial function and phenotype are defined by bioenergetics.

Ryan J Mailloux, Jason Treberg, Cathryn Grayson, Luis B Agellon, Helmut Sies.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-023-00885-w