bims-mitmed Biomed News
on Mitochondrial medicine
Issue of 2022‒11‒06
23 papers selected by
Dario Brunetti
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico
  1. Mitochondrial DNA quality control in the female germline requires a unique programmed mitophagy.
  2. Identification of evolutionarily conserved regulators of muscle mitochondrial network organization.
  3. A Heterozygous Mutation in MFF Associated with a Mild Mitochondrial Phenotype.
  4. Combination of common mtDNA variants results in mitochondrial dysfunction and a connective tissue dysregulation.
  5. Miro1 depletion disrupts spatial distribution of mitochondria and leads to oocyte maturation defects.
  6. Parkin regulates adiposity by coordinating mitophagy with mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipocytes.
  7. Expansion Microscopy-based imaging for visualization of mitochondria in Drosophila ovarian germline stem cells.
  8. Mitochondrial Fission Process 1 controls inner membrane integrity and protects against heart failure.
  9. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation suppresses the detraining-induced reduction of mitochondrial content in mouse skeletal muscle.
  10. V-ATPase/TORC1-mediated ATFS-1 translation directs mitochondrial UPR activation in C. elegans.
  11. ATF5 is a regulator of exercise-induced mitochondrial quality control in skeletal muscle.
  12. Is pancreatitis actually a phenotypic manifestation of Leigh syndrome?
  13. NRG1/ErbB2 axis regulated mitochondrial function and antioxidant enzymes of neural stem cells in the cochlear nucleus partially through PGC-1α.
  14. The top 10 most frequently involved genes in hereditary optic neuropathies in 2186 probands.
  15. Mitochondrial signal transduction.
  16. Detection of mitochondrial DNA mutations in circulating mitochondria-originated extracellular vesicles for potential diagnostic applications in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
  17. Site-specific CRISPR-based mitochondrial DNA manipulation is limited by gRNA import.
  18. Spatial dynamic metabolomics identifies metabolic cell fate trajectories in human kidney differentiation.
  19. Nano-positioning and tubulin conformation contribute to axonal transport regulation of mitochondria along microtubules.
  20. Doxorubicin causes ferroptosis and cardiotoxicity by intercalating into mitochondrial DNA and disrupting Alas1-dependent heme synthesis.
  21. Bridging the Gap: Gene Therapy in a Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 Patient.
  22. TMBIM5 is the Ca2+ /H+ antiporter of mammalian mitochondria.
  23. Cognitive aspects of MELAS and CARASAL.
  1. Cell Metab. 2022 Nov 01. pii: S1550-4131(22)00456-9. [Epub ahead of print]34(11): 1809-1823.e6
    Mitochondrial DNA quality control in the female germline requires a unique programmed mitophagy.
    Jonathan M Palozzi, Swathi P Jeedigunta, Anastasia V Minenkova, Vernon L Monteiro, Zoe S Thompson, Toby Lieber, Thomas R Hurd.
      Mitochondria have their own DNA (mtDNA), which is susceptible to the accumulation of disease-causing mutations. To prevent deleterious mutations from being inherited, the female germline has evolved a conserved quality control mechanism that remains poorly understood. Here, through a large-scale screen, we uncover a unique programmed germline mitophagy (PGM) that is essential for mtDNA quality control. We find that PGM is developmentally triggered as germ cells enter meiosis by inhibition of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1). We identify a role for the RNA-binding protein Ataxin-2 (Atx2) in coordinating the timing of PGM with meiosis. We show that PGM requires the mitophagy receptor BNIP3, mitochondrial fission and translation factors, and members of the Atg1 complex, but not the mitophagy factors PINK1 and Parkin. Additionally, we report several factors that are critical for germline mtDNA quality control and show that pharmacological manipulation of one of these factors promotes mtDNA quality control.
    Keywords:  autophagy; germ line; germline; mitochondria; mitochondrial DNA; mitophagy; mtDNA; purifying selection; quality control
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2022.10.005
  2. Nat Commun. 2022 Nov 04. 13(1): 6622
    Identification of evolutionarily conserved regulators of muscle mitochondrial network organization.
    Prasanna Katti, Peter T Ajayi, Angel Aponte, Christopher K E Bleck, Brian Glancy.
      Mitochondrial networks provide coordinated energy distribution throughout muscle cells. However, pathways specifying mitochondrial networks are incompletely understood and it is unclear how they might affect contractile fiber-type. Here, we show that natural energetic demands placed on Drosophila melanogaster muscles yield native cell-types among which contractile and mitochondrial network-types are regulated differentially. Proteomic analyses of indirect flight, jump, and leg muscles, together with muscles misexpressing known fiber-type specification factor salm, identified transcription factors H15 and cut as potential mitochondrial network regulators. We demonstrate H15 operates downstream of salm regulating flight muscle contractile and mitochondrial network-type. Conversely, H15 regulates mitochondrial network configuration but not contractile type in jump and leg muscles. Further, we find that cut regulates salm expression in flight muscles and mitochondrial network configuration in leg muscles. These data indicate cell type-specific regulation of muscle mitochondrial network organization through evolutionarily conserved transcription factors cut, salm, and H15.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34445-9
  3. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2022 Oct 28.
    A Heterozygous Mutation in MFF Associated with a Mild Mitochondrial Phenotype.
    Daisuke Murata, Christopher Grunseich, Miho Iijima, David Chan, Andrea Corse, Ahmet Hoke, Alice Schindler, Hiromi Sesaki, Ricardo H Roda.
      BACKGROUND: The number of mutations in nuclear encoded genes causing mitochondrial disease is ever increasing. Identification of these mutations is particularly important in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders as their presentation may mimic other acquired disorders.We present a novel heterozygous variant in mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) which mimics myasthenia gravis.OBJECTIVE: To determine if the MFF c.937G>A, p.E313K variant causes a mild mitochondrial phenotype.
    METHODS: We used whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify a novel heterozygous variant in MFF in a patient with ptosis, fatigue and muscle weakness. Using patient derived fibroblasts, we performed assays to evaluate mitochondrial and peroxisome dynamics.
    RESULTS: We show that fibroblasts derived from this patient are defective in mitochondrial fission, despite normal recruitment of Drp1 to the mitochondria.
    CONCLUSIONS: The MFF c.937G>A, p.E313K variant leads to a mild mitochondrial phenotype and is associated with defective mitochondrial fission in patient-derived fibroblasts.
    Keywords:  MFF; Mitochondrial myopathies; mitochondrial dynamics; mitochondrial fission factor
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3233/JND-221532
  4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Nov 08. 119(45): e2212417119
    Combination of common mtDNA variants results in mitochondrial dysfunction and a connective tissue dysregulation.
    Patrick M Schaefer, Leonardo Scherer Alves, Maria Lvova, Jessica Huang, Komal Rathi, Kevin Janssen, Arrienne Butic, Tal Yardeni, Ryan Morrow, Marie Lott, Deborah Murdock, Angela Song, Kierstin Keller, Benjamin A Garcia, Clair A Francomano, Douglas C Wallace.
      Mitochondrial dysfunction can be associated with a range of clinical manifestations. Here, we report a family with a complex phenotype including combinations of connective tissue, neurological, and metabolic symptoms that were passed on to all surviving children. Analysis of the maternally inherited mtDNA revealed a novel genotype encompassing the haplogroup J - defining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND5 m.13708G>A (A458T) variant arising on the mtDNA haplogroup H7A background, an extremely rare combination. Analysis of transmitochondrial cybrids with the 13708A-H7 mtDNA revealed a lower mitochondrial respiration, increased reactive oxygen species production (mROS), and dysregulation of connective tissue gene expression. The mitochondrial dysfunction was exacerbated by histamine, explaining why all eight surviving children inherited the dysfunctional histidine decarboxylase allele (W327X) from the father. Thus, certain combinations of common mtDNA variants can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction can affect extracellular matrix gene expression, and histamine-activated mROS production can augment the severity of mitochondrial dysfunction. Most important, we have identified a previously unreported genetic cause of mitochondrial disorder arising from the incompatibility of common, nonpathogenic mtDNA variants.
    Keywords:  connective tissue disorder; histamine signaling; mitochondrial disorder; mtDNA haplogroups
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2212417119
  5. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 ;10 986454
    Miro1 depletion disrupts spatial distribution of mitochondria and leads to oocyte maturation defects.
    In-Won Lee, Deepak Adhikari, John Carroll.
      Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo regulated microtubule- and actin-mediated trafficking to meet local energy and metabolic needs. Mitochondrial trafficking may be particularly critical in large cells such as eggs and early embryos where spindle formation and polar body extrusion occur in specific regions of the cytoplasm. To investigate the role of mitochondrial distribution in oocytes we have targeted the mitochondrial membrane protein, MIRO1, which couples mitochondria to the motor protein-TRAK complex. Oocyte-specific deletion of MIRO1 leads to the formation of large aggregates of mitochondria in perinuclear and cortical compartments. Mitochondria remain capable of long-range trafficking during maturation, indicating redundancy in the mechanisms coupling mitochondria to motor proteins. Polar body extrusion in the absence of MIRO1 was reduced by approximately 20%. In MIRO1-deleted zygotes, mitochondria showed increased accumulation around the pronuclei but this did not affect mitochondrial distribution to daughter blastomeres. In vitro development of parthenogenetic embryos was also reduced, although no differences were found in the fertility of oocyte-specific Miro1 KO mice. These findings demonstrate MIRO1 acts as a mitochondrial adaptor, setting mitochondrial distribution in oocytes and early embryos, and disrupting this process compromises in vitro oocyte maturation and embryo development.
    Keywords:  Miro1; embryo development; mitochondrial adaptor protein; mitochondrial transport; oocyte
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.986454
  6. Nat Commun. 2022 Nov 04. 13(1): 6661
    Parkin regulates adiposity by coordinating mitophagy with mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipocytes.
    Timothy M Moore, Lijing Cheng, Dane M Wolf, Jennifer Ngo, Mayuko Segawa, Xiaopeng Zhu, Alexander R Strumwasser, Yang Cao, Bethan L Clifford, Alice Ma, Philip Scumpia, Orian S Shirihai, Thomas Q de Aguiar Vallim, Markku Laakso, Aldons J Lusis, Andrea L Hevener, Zhenqi Zhou.
      Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, plays an essential role in mitochondrial quality control. However, the mechanisms by which Parkin connects mitochondrial homeostasis with cellular metabolism in adipose tissue remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Park2 gene (encodes Parkin) deletion specifically from adipose tissue protects mice against high-fat diet and aging-induced obesity. Despite a mild reduction in mitophagy, mitochondrial DNA content and mitochondrial function are increased in Park2 deficient white adipocytes. Moreover, Park2 gene deletion elevates mitochondrial biogenesis by increasing Pgc1α protein stability through mitochondrial superoxide-activated NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (Nqo1). Both in vitro and in vivo studies show that Nqo1 overexpression elevates Pgc1α protein level and mitochondrial DNA content and enhances mitochondrial activity in mouse and human adipocytes. Taken together, our findings indicate that Parkin regulates mitochondrial homeostasis by balancing mitophagy and Pgc1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipocytes, suggesting a potential therapeutic target in adipocytes to combat obesity and obesity-associated disorders.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34468-2
  7. FEBS Open Bio. 2022 Nov 04.
    Expansion Microscopy-based imaging for visualization of mitochondria in Drosophila ovarian germline stem cells.
    Lin Chi-Hung, Tzu-Yang Lin, Shao-Chun Hsu, Hwei-Jan-Hsu.
      Recent studies have shown that mitochondrial morphology can modulate organelle function and greatly affect stem cell behavior, thus affecting tissue homeostasis. As such, we previously showed that the accumulation of fragmented mitochondria in aged Drosophila ovarian germline stem cells (GSCs) contributes to age-dependent GSC loss. However, standard immunofluorescence methods to examine mitochondrial morphology yield images with insufficient resolution for rigorous analysis, while 3-dimensional electron microscopy examination of mitochondrial morphology is labor intensive and allows only limited sampling of mitochondria. To overcome these issues, we utilized the Expansion Microscopy (ExM) technique to expand GSC samples by 4-fold in combination with mitochondrial immunofluorescence labeling. Here, we present a simple, inexpensive method for nanoscale optical imaging of mitochondria in the germline. This protocol may be beneficial for studies that require visualization of mitochondria or other fine subcellular structures in the Drosophila ovary.
    Keywords:  Drosophila; ExM; Expansion Microscopy; GSC; mitochondria; ovary
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13506
  8. Nat Commun. 2022 Nov 04. 13(1): 6634
    Mitochondrial Fission Process 1 controls inner membrane integrity and protects against heart failure.
    Erminia Donnarumma, Michael Kohlhaas, Elodie Vimont, Etienne Kornobis, Thibault Chaze, Quentin Giai Gianetto, Mariette Matondo, Maryse Moya-Nilges, Christoph Maack, Timothy Wai.
      Mitochondria are paramount to the metabolism and survival of cardiomyocytes. Here we show that Mitochondrial Fission Process 1 (MTFP1) is an inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) protein that is dispensable for mitochondrial division yet essential for cardiac structure and function. Constitutive knockout of cardiomyocyte MTFP1 in mice resulted in a fatal, adult-onset dilated cardiomyopathy accompanied by extensive mitochondrial and cardiac remodeling during the transition to heart failure. Prior to the onset of disease, knockout cardiac mitochondria displayed specific IMM defects: futile proton leak dependent upon the adenine nucleotide translocase and an increased sensitivity to the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, with which MTFP1 physically and genetically interacts. Collectively, our data reveal new functions of MTFP1 in the control of bioenergetic efficiency and cell death sensitivity and define its importance in preventing pathogenic cardiac remodeling.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34316-3
  9. FASEB J. 2022 Dec;36(12): e22628
    Branched-chain amino acid supplementation suppresses the detraining-induced reduction of mitochondrial content in mouse skeletal muscle.
    Yutaka Matsunaga, Yuki Tamura, Kenya Takahashi, Yu Kitaoka, Yumiko Takahashi, Daisuke Hoshino, Tomoyasu Kadoguchi, Hideo Hatta.
      Exercise training enhances oxidative capacity whereas detraining reduces mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle. The strategy to suppress the detraining-induced reduction of mitochondrial content has not been fully elucidated. As previous studies reported that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) ingestion increased mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle, we evaluated whether BCAA supplementation could suppress the detraining-induced reduction of mitochondrial content. Six-week-old male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were randomly divided into four groups as follows: control (Con), endurance training (Tr), detraining (DeTr), and detraining with BCAA supplementation (DeTr + BCAA). Mice in Tr, DeTr, and DeTr + BCAA performed treadmill running exercises [20-30 m/min, 60 min, 5 times/week, 4 weeks]. Then, mice in DeTr and DeTr + BCAA were administered with water or BCAA [0.6 mg/g of body weight, twice daily] for 2 weeks of detraining. In whole skeletal muscle, mitochondrial enzyme activities and protein content were decreased after 2 weeks of detraining, but the reduction was suppressed by BCAA supplementation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) protein content, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, was decreased by detraining irrespective of BCAA ingestion. Regarding mitochondrial degradation, BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa protein-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), a mitophagy-related protein, was significantly higher in the Tr group than in the DeTr + BCAA group, but not different from in the DeTr group. With respect to mitochondrial quality, BCAA ingestion did not affect oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in isolated mitochondria. Our findings suggest that BCAA ingestion suppresses the detraining-induced reduction of mitochondrial content partly through inhibiting mitophagy.
    Keywords:  branched-chain amino acid; detraining; mitochondria; mitochondrial biogenesis; mitophagy; skeletal muscle
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202200588R
  10. J Cell Biol. 2023 Jan 02. pii: e202205045. [Epub ahead of print]222(1):
    V-ATPase/TORC1-mediated ATFS-1 translation directs mitochondrial UPR activation in C. elegans.
    Terytty Yang Li, Arwen W Gao, Xiaoxu Li, Hao Li, Yasmine J Liu, Amelia Lalou, Nagammal Neelagandan, Felix Naef, Kristina Schoonjans, Johan Auwerx.
      To adapt mitochondrial function to the ever-changing intra- and extracellular environment, multiple mitochondrial stress response (MSR) pathways, including the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), have evolved. However, how the mitochondrial stress signal is sensed and relayed to UPRmt transcription factors, such as ATFS-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans, remains largely unknown. Here, we show that a panel of vacuolar H+-ATPase (v-ATPase) subunits and the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) activity are essential for the cytosolic relay of mitochondrial stress to ATFS-1 and for the induction of the UPRmt. Mechanistically, mitochondrial stress stimulates v-ATPase/Rheb-dependent TORC1 activation, subsequently promoting ATFS-1 translation. Increased translation of ATFS-1 upon mitochondrial stress furthermore relies on a set of ribosomal components but is independent of GCN-2/PEK-1 signaling. Finally, the v-ATPase and ribosomal subunits are required for mitochondrial surveillance and mitochondrial stress-induced longevity. These results reveal a v-ATPase-TORC1-ATFS-1 signaling pathway that links mitochondrial stress to the UPRmt through intimate crosstalks between multiple organelles.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202205045
  11. Mol Metab. 2022 Nov 01. pii: S2212-8778(22)00192-2. [Epub ahead of print] 101623
    ATF5 is a regulator of exercise-induced mitochondrial quality control in skeletal muscle.
    Mikhaela B Slavin, Rita Kumari, David A Hood.
      OBJECTIVES: The Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (UPRmt) is a compartment-specific mitochondrial quality control (MQC) mechanism that uses the transcription factor ATF5 to induce the expression of protective enzymes to restore mitochondrial function. Acute exercise is a stressor that has the potential to temporarily disrupt organellar protein homeostasis, however, the roles of ATF5 and the UPRmt in maintaining basal mitochondrial content, function and exercise-induced MQC mechanisms in skeletal muscle are not known.METHODS: ATF5 KO and WT mice were examined at rest or after a bout of acute endurance exercise. We measured protein content in whole muscle, nuclear, cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions, in addition to mRNA transcript levels in whole muscle. Using isolated mitochondria, we quantified rates of oxygen consumption and ROS emission to observe the effects of the absence of ATF5 on organelle function.
    RESULTS: ATF5 KO mice exhibited a larger and less functional muscle mitochondrial pool, most likely a culmination of enhanced biogenesis via increased PGC-1 α expression, and attenuated mitophagy. The absence of ATF5 resulted in a reduction in antioxidant proteins and increases in mitochondrial ROS emission, cytosolic cytochrome c, and the expression of mitochondrial chaperones. KO muscle also displayed enhanced exercise-induced stress kinase signaling, but a blunted mitophagic and UPRmt gene expression response, complemented by significant increases in the basal mRNA abundance and nuclear localization of ATF4. Instead of promoting its nuclear translocation, acute exercise caused the enrichment of ATF5 in mitochondrial fractions. We also identified PGC-1 α as an additional regulator of the basal expression of UPRmt genes.
    CONCLUSION: The transcription factor ATF5 retains a critical role in the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and the appropriate response of muscle to acute exercise for the optimization of mitochondrial quality control.
    Keywords:  Exercise; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Quality Control; Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (UPR(mt)); Protein Homeostasis; Skeletal Muscle
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101623
  12. Pediatr Int. 2022 Jan;64(1): e15263
    Is pancreatitis actually a phenotypic manifestation of Leigh syndrome?
    Josef Finsterer.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/ped.15263
  13. Neurosci Lett. 2022 Oct 31. pii: S0304-3940(22)00503-1. [Epub ahead of print] 136942
    NRG1/ErbB2 axis regulated mitochondrial function and antioxidant enzymes of neural stem cells in the cochlear nucleus partially through PGC-1α.
    Jian Wang, Li Wei, Keyong Tian, Min Xu, Xiaodong Chen, Fuquan Chen, Dingjun Zha, Tao Xue.
      Neuregulin-1 (NRG1)/erythroblastic leukaemia viral oncogene homologues 2 (ErbB2) pathway had been implicated in promoting differentiation and suppressing apoptosis of neuronal stem cells (NSCs) isolated from cochlear nucleus. In the current study, we aimed at determining the effects of NRG1/ErbB2 on mitochondrial (mt) function of NSCs. As expected, NRG1 increased the expression of mitofusin (Mfn) 1 and Mfn2 and decreased the expression of mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). However, after ErbB2 knockout, Mfn1 and Mfn2 expression decreased while Fis1 and Drp1 increased. Moreover, the increased mtDNA copy number and intracellular ATP level, elevated ATPase activities as well as decreased lactate production induced by NRG1 were partially reversed by ErbB2 knockout. Additionally, NRG1 treatment increased the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and upregulated the protein expression of catalase, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactlvator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM), which were also reversed by ErbB2 knockout. Furthermore, PGC-1α overexpression partially reversed the above effects of ErbB2 knockout. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the promotion of mitochondrial function of NRG1/ErbB2 axis is at least in part mediated by PGC-1α in NSCs from cochlear nucleus.
    Keywords:  NRG1/ErbB2 axis; PGC-1α; cochlear nucleus; mitochondrial biogenesis; mitochondrial function; neural stem cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136942
  14. Brain. 2022 Nov 01. pii: awac395. [Epub ahead of print]
    The top 10 most frequently involved genes in hereditary optic neuropathies in 2186 probands.
    HON Collaborators Group
      Hereditary optic neuropathies are caused by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells whose axons form the optic nerves, with a consistent genetic heterogeneity. As part of our diagnostic activity, we retrospectively evaluated the combination of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy mutations testing with the exon sequencing of 87 nuclear genes on 2,186 patients referred for suspected hereditary optic neuropathies. The positive diagnosis rate in individuals referred for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy testing was 18% (199/1,126 index cases), with 92% (184/199) carrying one of the three main pathogenic variants of mitochondrial DNA (m.11778G > A, 66.5%; m.3460G > A, 15% and m.14484T > C, 11%). The positive diagnosis rate in individuals referred for autosomal dominant or recessive optic neuropathies was 27% (451/1,680 index cases), with 10 genes accounting together for 96% of this cohort. This represents an overall positive diagnostic rate of 30%. The identified top 10 nuclear genes included OPA1, WFS1, ACO2, SPG7, MFN2, AFG3L2, RTN4IP1, TMEM126A, NR2F1 and FDXR. Eleven additional genes, each accounting for less than 1% of cases, were identified in 17 individuals. Our results show that 10 major genes account for more than 96% of the cases diagnosed with our nuclear gene panel.
    Keywords:  Leber hereditary optic neuropathy; dominant optic atrophy; hereditary optic neuropathy; mitochondrial DNA; recessive optic atrophy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac395
  15. Cell Metab. 2022 Nov 01. pii: S1550-4131(22)00459-4. [Epub ahead of print]34(11): 1620-1653
    Mitochondrial signal transduction.
    Martin Picard, Orian S Shirihai.
      The analogy of mitochondria as powerhouses has expired. Mitochondria are living, dynamic, maternally inherited, energy-transforming, biosynthetic, and signaling organelles that actively transduce biological information. We argue that mitochondria are the processor of the cell, and together with the nucleus and other organelles they constitute the mitochondrial information processing system (MIPS). In a three-step process, mitochondria (1) sense and respond to both endogenous and environmental inputs through morphological and functional remodeling; (2) integrate information through dynamic, network-based physical interactions and diffusion mechanisms; and (3) produce output signals that tune the functions of other organelles and systemically regulate physiology. This input-to-output transformation allows mitochondria to transduce metabolic, biochemical, neuroendocrine, and other local or systemic signals that enhance organismal adaptation. An explicit focus on mitochondrial signal transduction emphasizes the role of communication in mitochondrial biology. This framework also opens new avenues to understand how mitochondria mediate inter-organ processes underlying human health.
    Keywords:  amplification; communication; energy; evolution; health; membrane potential; metabokines; mito-nuclear signaling; mitochondrial networks; mitokines; mitotypes; receptors; signal transduction; steroid hormones; stress responses; tissue-specific
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2022.10.008
  16. Sci Rep. 2022 Nov 02. 12(1): 18455
    Detection of mitochondrial DNA mutations in circulating mitochondria-originated extracellular vesicles for potential diagnostic applications in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
    Kunwar Somesh Vikramdeo, Shashi Anand, Mohammad Aslam Khan, Moh'd Khushman, Martin J Heslin, Seema Singh, Ajay Pratap Singh, Santanu Dasgupta.
      There is a complete lack of highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) diagnosis, limiting multi-modal therapeutic options. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is an excellent resource for biomarker discovery because of its high copy number and increased mutational frequency in cancer cells. We examined if mtDNA mutations can be detected in circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) of PDAC patients and used for discerning between cancer and non-cancer subjects. A greater yield of circulating EVs (~ 1.4 fold; p = 0.002) was obtained in PDAC patients (n = 20) than non-cancer (NC) individuals (n = 10). PDAC-EVs contained a higher quantity of total DNA (~ 5.5 folds; p = 0.0001) than NC-EVs and had greater enrichment of mtDNA (~ 14.02-fold; p = 0.0001). PDAC-EVs also had higher levels of cardiolipin (a mitochondrial inner-membrane phospholipid), suggestive of their mitochondrial origin. All mtDNA mutations in PDAC-EVs were unique and frequency was remarkably higher. Most mtDNA mutations (41.5%) in PDAC-EVs were in the respiratory complex-I (RCI) (ND1-ND6), followed by the RCIII gene (CYTB; 11.2%). Among the non-coding genes, D-Loop and RNR2 exhibited the most mutations (15.2% each). Altogether, our study establishes, for the first time, that mtDNA mutations can be detected in circulating EVs and potentially serve as a tool for reliable PDAC diagnosis.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22006-5
  17. Sci Rep. 2022 Nov 04. 12(1): 18687
    Site-specific CRISPR-based mitochondrial DNA manipulation is limited by gRNA import.
    Ludwig Schmiderer, David Yudovich, Leal Oburoglu, Martin Hjort, Jonas Larsson.
      Achieving CRISPR Cas9-based manipulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been a long-standing goal and would be of great relevance for disease modeling and for clinical applications. In this project, we aimed to deliver Cas9 into the mitochondria of human cells and analyzed Cas9-induced mtDNA cleavage and measured the resulting mtDNA depletion with multiplexed qPCR. In initial experiments, we found that measuring subtle effects on mtDNA copy numbers is challenging because of high biological variability, and detected no significant Cas9-caused mtDNA degradation. To overcome the challenge of being able to detect Cas9 activity on mtDNA, we delivered cytosine base editor Cas9-BE3 to mitochondria and measured its effect (C →  T mutations) on mtDNA. Unlike regular Cas9-cutting, this leaves a permanent mark on mtDNA that can be detected with amplicon sequencing, even if the efficiency is low. We detected low levels of C → T mutations in cells that were exposed to mitochondrially targeted Cas9-BE3, but, surprisingly, these occurred regardless of whether a guide RNA (gRNA) specific to the targeted site, or non-targeting gRNA was used. This unspecific off-target activity shows that Cas9-BE3 can technically edit mtDNA, but also strongly indicates that gRNA import to mitochondria was not successful. Going forward mitochondria-targeted Cas9 base editors will be a useful tool for validating successful gRNA delivery to mitochondria without the ambiguity of approaches that rely on quantifying mtDNA copy numbers.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21794-0
  18. Cell Stem Cell. 2022 Nov 03. pii: S1934-5909(22)00426-X. [Epub ahead of print]29(11): 1580-1593.e7
    Spatial dynamic metabolomics identifies metabolic cell fate trajectories in human kidney differentiation.
    Gangqi Wang, Bram Heijs, Sarantos Kostidis, Rosalie G J Rietjens, Marije Koning, Lushun Yuan, Gesa L Tiemeier, Ahmed Mahfouz, Sébastien J Dumas, Martin Giera, Jesper Kers, Susana M Chuva de Sousa Lopes, Cathelijne W van den Berg, Bernard M van den Berg, Ton J Rabelink.
      Accumulating evidence demonstrates important roles for metabolism in cell fate determination. However, it is a challenge to assess metabolism at a spatial resolution that acknowledges both heterogeneity and cellular dynamics in its tissue microenvironment. Using a multi-omics platform to study cell-type-specific dynamics in metabolism in complex tissues, we describe the metabolic trajectories during nephrogenesis in the developing human kidney. Exploiting in situ analysis of isotopic labeling, a shift from glycolysis toward fatty acid β-oxidation was observed during the differentiation from the renal vesicle toward the S-shaped body and the proximal tubules. In addition, we show that hiPSC-derived kidney organoids are characterized by a metabolic immature phenotype that fails to use mitochondrial long-chain fatty acids for energy metabolism. Furthermore, supplementation of butyrate enhances tubular epithelial differentiation and maturation in cultured kidney organoids. Our findings highlight the relevance of understanding metabolic trajectories to efficiently guide stem cell differentiation.
    Keywords:  MALDI-MSI; cell metabolism; fetal kidney development; hiPSC-derived kidney organoids; multi-omics metabolomics; nephrogenesis; proximal tubule development; single cell; spatial dynamic metabolomics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2022.10.008
  19. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Nov 08. 119(45): e2203499119
    Nano-positioning and tubulin conformation contribute to axonal transport regulation of mitochondria along microtubules.
    Valérie Van Steenbergen, Flavie Lavoie-Cardinal, Youcef Kazwiny, Marianna Decet, Tobie Martens, Patrik Verstreken, Werend Boesmans, Paul De Koninck, Pieter Vanden Berghe.
      Correct spatiotemporal distribution of organelles and vesicles is crucial for healthy cell functioning and is regulated by intracellular transport mechanisms. Controlled transport of bulky mitochondria is especially important in polarized cells such as neurons that rely on these organelles to locally produce energy and buffer calcium. Mitochondrial transport requires and depends on microtubules that fill much of the available axonal space. How mitochondrial transport is affected by their position within the microtubule bundles is not known. Here, we found that anterograde transport, driven by kinesin motors, is susceptible to the molecular conformation of tubulin in neurons both in vitro and in vivo. Anterograde velocities negatively correlate with the density of elongated tubulin dimers like guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-tubulin. The impact of the tubulin conformation depends primarily on where a mitochondrion is positioned, either within or at the rim of microtubule bundle. Increasing elongated tubulin levels lowers the number of motile anterograde mitochondria within the microtubule bundle and increases anterograde transport speed at the microtubule bundle rim. We demonstrate that the increased kinesin velocity and density on microtubules consisting of elongated dimers add to the increased mitochondrial dynamics. Our work indicates that the molecular conformation of tubulin contributes to the regulation of mitochondrial motility and as such to the local distribution of mitochondria along axons.
    Keywords:  STED; microtubules; mitochondria; neuronal axon; transport
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2203499119
  20. Sci Signal. 2022 Nov;15(758): eabn8017
    Doxorubicin causes ferroptosis and cardiotoxicity by intercalating into mitochondrial DNA and disrupting Alas1-dependent heme synthesis.
    Ko Abe, Masataka Ikeda, Tomomi Ide, Tomonori Tadokoro, Hiroko Deguchi Miyamoto, Shun Furusawa, Yoshitomo Tsutsui, Ryo Miyake, Kosei Ishimaru, Masatsugu Watanabe, Shouji Matsushima, Tomoko Koumura, Ken-Ichi Yamada, Hirotaka Imai, Hiroyuki Tsutsui.
      Clinical use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited because of its cardiotoxicity, referred to as DOX-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). Mitochondria-dependent ferroptosis, which is triggered by iron overload and excessive lipid peroxidation, plays a pivotal role in the progression of DIC. Here, we showed that DOX accumulated in mitochondria by intercalating into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), inducing ferroptosis in an mtDNA content-dependent manner. In addition, DOX disrupted heme synthesis by decreasing the abundance of 5'-aminolevulinate synthase 1 (Alas1), the rate-limiting enzyme in this process, thereby impairing iron utilization, resulting in iron overload and ferroptosis in mitochondria in cultured cardiomyocytes. Alas1 overexpression prevented this outcome. Administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), the product of Alas1, to cultured cardiomyocytes and mice suppressed iron overload and lipid peroxidation, thereby preventing DOX-induced ferroptosis and DIC. Our findings reveal that the accumulation of DOX and iron in mitochondria cooperatively induces ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes and suggest that 5-ALA can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for DIC.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.abn8017
  21. Neurology. 2022 Nov 01. pii: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000201294. [Epub ahead of print]
    Bridging the Gap: Gene Therapy in a Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 Patient.
    Gianluca Costamagna, Alessandra Govoni, Adina Wise, Stefania Corti.
      Molecular therapies exploit understanding of pathogenic mechanisms to reconstitute impaired gene function or manipulate flawed RNA expression. These therapies include 1) RNA interference by antisense oligonucleotides, 2) mRNA modification using small molecules, and 3) gene replacement therapy, the viral-mediated intracellular delivery of exogenous nucleic acids to reverse a genetic defect. Several molecular therapies are approved for treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a recessive genetic disorder caused Survival Motor Neuron (SMN)1 gene mutations. SMA involves degeneration of lower motor neurons, which leads to progressive muscle weakness, hypotonia, and hypotrophy. Onasemnogene abeparvovec is a gene replacement therapy for SMA that uses Adeno Associated Virus delivery of functional SMN1 cDNA to motor neurons. Two other molecular therapies modulate SMN2 transcription: nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, and risdiplam, a small molecule designed to modify faulty mRNA expression. The most suitable individualized treatment for SMA is not established. Here, we describe remarkable clinical improvement in a 4-month-old patient with SMA type 1 who received onasemnogene abeparvovec therapy. This case represents an explanatory bridge from bench to bedside with regard to therapeutic approaches for genetic disorders in neurology. Knowledge of the detailed mechanisms underlying genetic neurological disorders, particularly monogenic conditions, is paramount for developing tailored therapies. When multiple disease-modifying therapies are available, early genetic diagnosis is crucial for appropriate therapy selection, highlighting the importance of early identification and intervention. A combination of drugs, each targeting unique genetic pathomechanisms, may provide additional clinical benefits.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000201294
  22. EMBO Rep. 2022 Nov 02. e54978
    TMBIM5 is the Ca2+ /H+ antiporter of mammalian mitochondria.
    Shane Austin, Ronald Mekis, Sami E M Mohammed, Mariafrancesca Scalise, Wen-An Wang, Michele Galluccio, Christina Pfeiffer, Tamara Borovec, Katja Parapatics, Dijana Vitko, Nora Dinhopl, Nicolas Demaurex, Keiryn L Bennett, Cesare Indiveri, Karin Nowikovsky.
      Mitochondrial Ca2+ ions are crucial regulators of bioenergetics and cell death pathways. Mitochondrial Ca2+ content and cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis strictly depend on Ca2+ transporters. In recent decades, the major players responsible for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and release have been identified, except the mitochondrial Ca2+ /H+ exchanger (CHE). Originally identified as the mitochondrial K+ /H+ exchanger, LETM1 was also considered as a candidate for the mitochondrial CHE. Defining the mitochondrial interactome of LETM1, we identify TMBIM5/MICS1, the only mitochondrial member of the TMBIM family, and validate the physical interaction of TMBIM5 and LETM1. Cell-based and cell-free biochemical assays demonstrate the absence or greatly reduced Na+ -independent mitochondrial Ca2+ release in TMBIM5 knockout or pH-sensing site mutants, respectively, and pH-dependent Ca2+ transport by recombinant TMBIM5. Taken together, we demonstrate that TMBIM5, but not LETM1, is the long-sought mitochondrial CHE, involved in setting and regulating the mitochondrial proton gradient. This finding provides the final piece of the puzzle of mitochondrial Ca2+ transporters and opens the door to exploring its importance in health and disease, and to developing drugs modulating Ca2+ exchange.
    Keywords:  LETM1; TMBIM5 (MICS1); mitochondrial Ca2+-H+ exchanger; mitochondrial metabolism; permeability transition pore
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202254978
  23. Cereb Circ Cogn Behav. 2022 ;3 100139
    Cognitive aspects of MELAS and CARASAL.
    I Canavero, N Rifino, V Montano, L Pantoni, L Gatti, G Pollaci, A Potenza, T Carrozzini, J Finsterer, A Bersano.
      Monogenic diseases, although rare, should be always considered in the diagnostic work up of vascular dementia (VaD), particularly in patients with early onset and a familial history of dementia or cerebrovascular disease. They include, other than CADASIL, Fabry disease, Col4A1-A2 related disorders, which are well recognized causes of VaD, other heritable diseases such as mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and cathepsin-A related arteriopathy strokes and leukoencephalopathy (CARASAL). MELAS, caused by mtDNA (80% of adult cases m.3243A>G mutations) and more rarely POLG1 mutations, has minimum prevalence of 3.5/100,000. CARASAL, which is caused by mutations in the CTSA gene, has been described in about 19 patients so far. In both these two disorders cognitive features have not been fully explored and are described only in case series or families. This review paper is aimed at providing an update on the clinical manifestations, with particular focus on cognitive aspects, but also neuroradiological and genetic features of these less frequent monogenic diseases associated with VaD.
    Keywords:  CARASAL; CARASAL, cathepsin-A related arteriopathy strokes and leukoencephalopathy; COL4A1/A2, gene encoding type IV collagen alpha 1–2 chain; Cerebral small vessel disease; Cognitive impairment; EAN, European academy of neurology; Heritable; MELAS; MELAS, mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; Monogenic diseases; OXPHOS, oxidative phosphorylation system; SLEs, stroke-like episodes; TIA, transitory ischemic attack; VCI, vascular cognitive impairment; VaD, vascular dementia; Vascular dementia; WMHs, white matter hyperintensities; cSVD, cerebral small vessel disease
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2022.100139
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