鱼类线粒体DNA研究新进展

线粒体DNA是分子生物学研究中的一个热门领域,已成为鱼类进化生物学和群体遗传学研究的重要分子遗传标记。本文对鱼类线粒体DNA分子生物学的最新研究进展进行了较详细的阐述。重点介绍鱼类线粒体DNA全序列的研究进展、组成及特征,鱼类线粒体DNA非编码区结构研究进展,鱼类线粒体DNA多态性及其主要的检测方法;综述了最近有关鱼类线粒体DNA在鱼类系统学、种间杂交渐渗、种群识别、起源和进化、地理分化等研究中的应用情况。     

线粒体融合/分裂对线粒体的质量控制作用

线粒体是一种结构和功能复杂而敏感的细胞器,拥有独立于细胞核的基因组,在细胞的不同时相,生理过程和环境条件下,线粒体的形态,数量和质量,具有高度的可塑性。线粒体是细胞和生物体内最主要的能量供应场所,几乎存在于所有种类的细胞中,是一种动态变化的细胞器。正常情况下,线粒体的数量、形态以及功能维持相对稳定的状态,称之为线粒体稳态。当上述状态发生紊乱时,细胞乃至生物体形态、功能也将受到影响甚至死亡。线粒体质量控制是在细胞中维持正常状态的关键机制,决定着线粒体的命运。近年,随着线粒体研究的深入和具体,逐渐发现融合/分裂在其形态、数量、遗传物质等质量控制相关的方面挥了重要作用。本文通过探讨融合/分裂对线粒体质量控制的作用机制,总结和讨论相关前沿研究,为后期研究提供一定的理论依据。     

脊椎动物线粒体DNA的进化遗传学

近年来,在分子进化遗传学研究中又产生出一个新的生长点,这就是线粒体DNA(mtDNA)的进化遗传学研究。因为mtDNA结构简单,与拥有4×10~8到4×10~(11)个碱基对的多细胞动物的核基因组相比,比其最小者小25000倍;在不同物种间,mtDNA上的基因成分相对稳定,很少受到序列重排的影响;另一方面,mtDNA又具有广泛的种内和种间多态性,且为母性遗传,在亲缘关系相近的物种间其进化速度比核基因快,因而它为从分子水平上研究种群遗传学和进化遗传学提供了理想的研究对象。     

线粒体形态学改变与细胞凋亡

近年来,对于线粒体形态学以及其在凋亡过程中的改变和作用的研究打破了传统的观点。正常情况下,线粒体在细胞内相互连接成管网状结构,并发生着频繁的融合与分裂。融合和分裂由一系列蛋白质介导,二者之间的动态平衡维持着线粒体的形态和功能。在细胞凋亡的早期,线粒体融合和分裂失平衡,导致线粒体管网状结构碎裂和嵴的重构,这些改变对线粒体随后的变化以及凋亡的发生具有重要的意义。融合和分裂的蛋白质不仅调控线粒体形态和细胞凋亡过程,也和某些凋亡相关疾病有关。此外,促凋亡的Bcl-2蛋白可能通过改变线粒体的构形来调控凋亡过程。     

线粒体DNA在分子进化研究中的应用

线粒体作为古老的细胞器广泛存在于真核生物中,由于线粒体DNA的高进化速率,已被作为DNA标记广泛应用于现代分子生物学研究。长期以来,线粒体DNA一直被认为是中性进化或者受到纯净化选择。线粒体通过氧化呼吸链提供>95%的动物运动所需的自由能,并提供保持体温的热能。据此,近期已有研究推测并验证了线粒体与动物运动能力及气候适应性的相关性。该文简述线粒体基因组成及其进化,通过列举线粒体DNA在分子进化研究中的应用(如利用线粒体DNA重建物种的系统发育关系、从线粒体DNA角度分析生物能量代谢的适应性进化以及线粒体DNA密码子重定义对生物适应性的作用等),概述了线粒体DNA的分子进化研究。     

线粒体动力学调控机制及其在肾脏病理生理学中的作用

线粒体是一种动态变化的细胞器,它通过不断的融合、分裂来维持线粒体的形态、数量和功能稳定,这一过程称为线粒体动力学,是线粒体质量控制的重要机制。线粒体的过度融合与分裂都会导致线粒体动力学的稳态失衡,引起线粒体功能障碍,导致细胞损伤甚至死亡。肾脏的生理活动主要由线粒体供能,线粒体动力学稳态失衡影响着线粒体功能,与急性肾损伤、糖尿病肾病等肾脏疾病密切相关。本文对线粒体动力学的调节、线粒体动力学稳态失衡如何导致线粒体损伤以及线粒体损伤对肾脏病理生理学的影响进行综述,以加深对肾脏疾病中线粒体作用的理解与认识。     

简述调控线粒体形态变化的分子机制

线粒体是细胞内高度动态变化的细胞器,其在细胞内不断运动、融合、分裂并形成动态平衡的网状结构。线粒体的融合和分裂是由多种蛋白精确调控完成。Mfns／Fz01P控制线粒体外膜的融合,而Mgmlp／OPA1则参与线粒体内膜的融合;Dnm1p／Drp1、Fis1p／Fis1和Mdv1p介导线粒体分裂的调控。线粒体形态对于细胞维持正常生理代谢和机体发育起着重要的作用,一旦调控出现障碍会导致严重的疾病。     

HepG2细胞中线粒体形状的动态变化

目的:研究HepG2细胞中线粒体形状动态变化过程中的功能变化及其初步分子机制。方法:HepG2细胞经过HBSS缓冲液饥饿处理后,使用线粒体氧化磷酸化解偶联剂CCCP、脂肪酸受体GPR40/120激动剂GW9508、脂肪酸油酸OA和钙离子载体Ionomycin等4种不同药物处理,通过共聚焦显微镜观察和流式细胞分析的手段检测细胞中线粒体形状和功能发生的改变。然后,通过基因沉默Drp1,Mff或者Fis1蛋白,初步研究调控线粒体形状改变的分子机制。结果:经过CCCP和GW9508处理细胞中产生甜甜圈线粒体,而OA和Ionomycin处理产生球状线粒体。CCCP,OA和Ionomycin使线粒体去极化,CCCP、GW9508、OA或者Ionomycin单独处理在一定程度上影响细胞中活性氧化簇ROS。甜甜圈线粒体产生由Drp1介导,而球状线粒体形成依赖于Drp1和Mff。结论:线粒体的形态与其功能相互联系,Drp1和Mff蛋白对于细胞线粒体形状动态改变过程中形状的调整和适应具有很重要的作用。     

线粒体功能障碍与神经病理性疼痛的关系相关研究进展

神经病理性疼痛是由外周或中枢神经系统受损引起的慢性疼痛,是神经系统疾病的一种,其发病机制尚未完全清楚,目前缺乏有效的治疗策略.线粒体是细胞的重要组成部分,在ATP合成、氧化应激、细胞内Ca2+稳态维持和细胞信号转导过程上发挥着重要作用.最近研究发现,线粒体数量、形态和功能的改变与神经病理性疼痛的发生发展密切相关.因此,...     

病毒感染与宿主细胞线粒体动力学及线粒体自噬

线粒体是细胞的重要功能性细胞器.线粒体动力学与线粒体自噬二者之间可互相调控,共同构成线粒体质量控制的重要环节.线粒体动力学平衡和线粒体自噬极易受到细胞外界环境变化,诸如病毒感染的影响.病毒与宿主细胞线粒体相互作用,可引起宿主细胞线粒体动力学和线粒体自噬发生变化,相关变化在促进病毒感染、抵御细胞凋亡、建立持续感染等重要事...     

Of mitochondrion and COVID-19

COVID-19, a pandemic disease caused by a viral infection, is associated with a high mortality rate. Most of the signs and symptoms, e.g. cytokine storm, electrolytes imbalances, thromboembolism, etc., are related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, targeting mitochondrion will represent a more rational treatment of COVID-19. The current work outlines how COVID-19’s signs and symptoms are related to the mitochondrion. Proper understanding of the underlying causes might enhance the opportunity to treat COVID-19.     

The mitochondrion as Janus Bifrons

The signaling function of mitochondria is considered with a special emphasis on their role in the regulation of redox status of the cell, possibly determining a number of pathologies including cancer and aging. The review summarizes the transport role of mitochondria in energy supply to all cellular compartments (mitochondria as an electric cable in the cell), the role of mitochondria in plastic metabolism of the cell including synthesis of heme, steroids, iron-sulfur clusters, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Mitochondria also play an important role in the Ca(2+)-signaling and the regulation of apoptotic cell death. Knowledge of mechanisms responsible for apoptotic cell death is important for the strategy for prevention of unwanted degradation of postmitotic cells such as cardiomyocytes and neurons.     

Protein translocation pathways of the mitochondrion

The biogenesis of mitochondria depends on the coordinated import of precursor proteins from the cytosol coupled with the export of mitochondrially coded proteins from the matrix to the inner membrane. The mitochondria contain an elaborate network of protein translocases in the outer and inner membrane along with a battery of chaperones and processing enzymes in the matrix and intermembrane space to mediate protein translocation. A mitochondrial protein, often with an amino-terminal targeting sequence, is escorted through the cytosol by chaperones to the TOM complex (translocase of the outer membrane). After crossing the outer membrane, the import pathway diverges; however, one of two TIM complexes (translocase of inner membrane) is generally utilized. This review is focused on the later stages of protein import after the outer membrane has been crossed. An accompanying paper by Lithgow reviews the early stages of protein translocation.     

HIV-1 triggers mitochondrion death

Apoptosis, a phenotype of programmed cell death involved in development and tissue homeostasis of multicellular organisms, brings into two major pathways and implies a central sensor: the mitochondria. Abnormalities in the cell death control can lead to a variety of diseases and many pathogenic agents target the mitochondria, especially affecting its permeability in order to induce cell death. HIV infection is linked to progressive CD4 T cell depletion. Among the different hypothesis that may explain T cell depletion, apoptosis is one of the main described mechanisms. This review provides current knowledge in HIV-mediated mitochondrial damage due to (i) HIV-specific proteins, (ii) death-by-neglect and (iii) side effects of the HIV drugs.     

Transport of phosphatidic acid within the mitochondrion

Transfer of phosphatidic acid from the outer to the inner membrane within intact rat liver mitochondria was assessed by measuring the ratio of lipid 32P to the marker enzyme of the outer membrane, rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase, in the outer and inner membrane fractions obtained after incubation of mitochondria under conditions for net synthesis of [32P]phosphatidic acid. This transfer was found to proceed with time, to occur only under high ionic strength of the external medium and to be insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide and factors reducing the number of contact sites between the two mitochondrial membranes. These results are interpreted as supporting the idea that phosphatidic acid transport within the mitochondrion occurs as free diffusion through the aqueous phase and not being mediated by phospholipid transfer protein(s).     

Gazing at translocation in the mitochondrion

Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and imported into the mitochondrion via molecular machines called translocons on the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. Alder et al. (2008b) examine protein translocation into intact mitochondria by adapting fluorescent techniques first used to study translocation in the endoplasmic reticulum.