Overexpression of Rcan1-1L Inhibits Hypoxia-Induced Cell Apoptosis through Induction of Mitophagy

Mitophagy, a cellular process that selectively targets dysfunctional mitochondria for degradation, is currently a hot topic in research into the pathogenesis and treatment of many human diseases. Considering that hypoxia causes mitochondrial dysfunction, which results in cell death, we speculated that selective activation of mitophagy might promote cell survival under hypoxic conditions. In the present study, we introduced the Regulator of calcineurin 1-1L (Rcan1-1L) to initiate the mitophagy pathway and aimed to evaluate the effect of Rcan1-1L-induced mitophagy on cell survival under hypoxic conditions. Recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying Rcan1-1L were transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human adult cardiac myocytes. Using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide MTT assay and Trypan blue exclusion assay, Rcan1-1L overexpression was found to markedly reverse cell growth inhibition induced by hypoxia. Additionally, Rcan1-1L overexpression inhibited cell apoptosis under hypoxic conditions, as detected by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) apoptosis assay. Meanwhile, the mitochondria-mediated cell apoptotic pathway was inhibited by Rcan1-1L. In contrast, knockdown of Rcan1-1L accelerated hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, Rcan1-1L overexpression significantly reduced mitochondrial mass, decreased depolarized mitochondria, and downregulated ATP and reactive oxygen species production. We further delineated that the loss of mitochondrial mass was due to the activation of mitophagy induced by Rcan1-1L. Rcan1-1L overexpression activated autophagy flux and promoted translocation of the specific mitophagy receptor Parkin into mitochondria from the cytosol, whereas inhibition of autophagy flux resulted in the accumulation of Parkin-loaded mitochondria. Finally, we demonstrated that mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening was significantly increased by Rcan1-1L overexpression, which suggested that Rcan1-1L might evoke mitophagy through regulating mitochondrial permeability transition pores. Taken together, we provide evidence that Rcan1-1L overexpression induces mitophagy, which in turn contributes to cell survival under hypoxic conditions, revealing for the first time that Rcan1-1L-induced mitophagy may be used for cardioprotection.     

Cardiolipin remodeling by TAZ/tafazzin is selectively required for the initiation of mitophagy

Tafazzin (TAZ) is a phospholipid transacylase that catalyzes the remodeling of cardiolipin, a mitochondrial phospholipid required for oxidative phosphorylation. Mutations of TAZ cause Barth syndrome, which is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy, leading to premature death. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cause of mitochondrial dysfunction in Barth syndrome remain poorly understood. Here we investigated the role of TAZ in regulating mitochondrial function and mitophagy. Using primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with doxycycline-inducible knockdown of Taz, we showed that TAZ deficiency in MEFs caused defective mitophagosome biogenesis, but not other autophagic processes. Consistent with a key role of mitophagy in mitochondria quality control, TAZ deficiency in MEFs also led to impaired oxidative phosphorylation and severe oxidative stress. Together, these findings provide key insights on mitochondrial dysfunction in Barth syndrome, suggesting that pharmacological restoration of mitophagy may provide a novel treatment for this lethal condition.     

Cardiolipin in energy transducing membranes

Cardiolipin is a phospholipid located exclusively in energy transducing membranes such as the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and the inner membrane of mitochondria. It plays both a structural and a functional role in many multimeric complexes associated with these membranes. The role of cardiolipin in higher order organization of components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain revealed by a combined molecular genetic and biochemical approach is described.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 2, 2005, pp. 191–196.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Mileykovskaya, Zhang, Dowhan.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with corrections to the post codes.     

线粒体自噬的研究进展

线粒体自噬（mitophagy）是指细胞通过自噬的机制选择性地清除线粒体的过程。选择性清除受损伤或功能不完整的线粒体对于整个线粒体网络的功能完整性和细胞生存来说十分关键。线粒体自噬的异常和很多疾病密切相关,因此对于线粒体自噬的具体分子机制以及生理意义研究有很重要的生物学意义。线粒体自噬的研究是目前生物学领域的研究热点,该文主要综述了近年来在线粒体自噬领域取得的研究进展,旨在为相关领域的研究提供参考。     

氧化应激下植物线粒体自噬分析

线粒体自噬,是指通过选择性的识别并清除损伤、衰老及功能紊乱的线粒体,对维持细胞内线粒体质量和数量的平衡产生了重要作用。与动物和酵母中线粒体自噬的研究进展相比,植物线粒体自噬的途径及具体调控机制尚不明确。基于GFP标签,本文探究了氧化胁迫下植物线粒体自噬发生情况。研究发现甲基紫精诱导线粒体在液泡中积累,并呈现两种状态:1) GFP小体包含的线粒体; 2)不含GFP的线粒体。本研究发展的GFP标签策略可为植物线粒体自噬关键调控因子的筛选提供借鉴。     

Mitophagy in hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are inherently quiescent and self-renewing, yet can differentiate and commit to multiple blood cell types. Intracellular mitochondrial content is dynamic, and there is an increase in mitochondrial content during differentiation and lineage commitment in HSCs. HSCs reside in a hypoxic niche within the bone marrow and rely heavily on glycolysis, while differentiated and committed progenitors rely on oxidative phosphorylation. Increased oxidative phosphorylation during differentiation and commitment is not only due to increased mitochondrial content but also due to changes in mitochondrial cytosolic distribution and efficiency. These changes in the intracellular mitochondrial landscape contribute signals toward regulating differentiation and commitment. Thus, a functional relationship exists between the mitochondria in HSCs and the state of the HSCs (i.e., stemness vs. differentiated). This review focuses on how autophagy-mediated mitochondrial clearance (i.e., mitophagy) may affect HSC mitochondrial content, thereby influencing the fate of HSCs and maintenance of hematopoietic homeostasis.     

Mitophagy receptor FUNDC1 regulates mitochondrial homeostasis and protects the heart from I/R injury

Mitophagy plays pivotal roles in the selective disposal of unwanted mitochondria, and accumulation of damaged mitochondria has been linked to aging-related diseases. However, definitive proof that mitophagy regulates mitochondrial quality in vivo is lacking. It is also largely unclear whether damaged mitochondria are the cause or just the consequence of these diseases. We previously showed that FUNDC1 is a mitophagy receptor that interacts with LC3 to mediate mitophagy in response to hypoxia in cultured cells. We established Fundc1 knockout mouse models and used genetic and biochemical approaches, including a synthetic peptide that blocks the FUNDC1-LC3 interaction, to demonstrate that mitophagy regulates both mitochondrial quantity and quality in vivo in response to hypoxia or hypoxic conditions caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) heart injury. We found that hypoxic mitophagy regulates platelet activities. Furthermore, we found that hypoxic preconditioning induces FUNDC1-dependent mitophagy in platelets and reduces I/R-induced heart injury, suggesting a new strategy to protect cardiac function and fight cardiovascular diseases.     

冷诱导细胞凋亡及其调控机制

冷和细胞凋亡有着密切的关系,冷诱导细胞凋亡的研究已经成为器官移植医学领域里的热点。冷诱导细胞凋亡的信号转导过程错综复杂,细胞内活性氧自由基、Ca2 、Fe2 以及冷相关基因都介导或调控冷引起的细胞凋亡。结合有关冷和细胞凋亡方面的研究进展,综述了与冷引起的细胞凋亡相关的信号转导过程和相关基因的调控机制。     

An Essential Role for ECSIT in Mitochondrial Complex I Assembly and Mitophagy in Macrophages

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Maintenance of Cardiolipin and Crista Structure Requires Cooperative Functions of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Phospholipid Transport

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The cardiolipin-binding domain of Bid affects mitochondrial respiration and enhances cytochrome c release

Bid is cleaved by caspase 8 during apoptosis and the truncated Bid (tBid) translocates to mitochondria by targeting cardiolipin. Amino acids 103-162 of Bid were reported as the cardiolipin-binding domain (CBD). The EGFP-CBD fusion protein targets to mitochondria and induces apoptosis. Using [(3)H]cardiolipin, we proved that recombinant CBD binds cardiolipin similar to tBid and tBid(G94E), a mutant with a defective BH3 domain. CBD could induce cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria, but much less potent than tBid. Free cardiolipin inhibited the CBD-induced cytochrome c release, suggesting that it may be mediated by interfering with mitochondrial cardiolipin, especially with the interaction between cytochrome c and cardiolipin. This is consistent with the findings that CBD induced cytochrome c release in Bax-deficient cells, and that CBD suppressed mitochondrial respiration through directly interfering with cardiolipin, a critical lipid involved in oxidative phosphorylation. These results indicate the functional importance of CBD in tBid-induced apoptosis.     

Mass‐spectrometric characterization of phospholipids and their primary peroxidation products in rat cortical neurons during staurosporine‐induced apoptosis

The molecular diversity of phospholipids is essential for their structural and signaling functions in cell membranes. In the current work, we present, the results of mass spectrometric characterization of individual molecular species in major classes of phospholipids – phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn), phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns), sphingomyelin (CerPCho), and cardiolipin (Ptd₂Gro) – and their oxidation products during apoptosis induced in neurons by staurosporine (STS). The diversity of molecular species of phospholipids in rat cortical neurons followed the order Ptd₂Gro > PtdEtn >> PtdCho >> PtdSer > PtdIns > CerPCho. The number of polyunsaturated oxidizable species decreased in the order Ptd₂Gro >> PtdEtn > PtdCho > PtdSer > PtdIns > CerPCho. Thus a relatively minor class of phospholipids, Ptd₂Gro, was represented in cortical neurons by the greatest variety of both total and peroxidizable molecular species. Quantitative fluorescence HPLC analysis employed to assess the oxidation of different classes of phospholipids in neuronal cells during intrinsic apoptosis induced by STS revealed that three anionic phospholipids – Ptd₂Gro >> PtdSer > PtdIns – underwent robust oxidation. No significant oxidation in the most dominant phospholipid classes – PtdCho and PtdEtn – was detected. MS‐studies revealed the presence of hydroxy‐, hydroperoxy‐ as well as hydroxy‐/hydroperoxy‐species of Ptd₂Gro, PtdSer, and PtdIns. Experiments in model systems where total cortex Ptd₂Gro and PtdSer fractions were incubated in the presence of cytochrome c (cyt c) and H₂O₂, confirmed that molecular identities of the products formed were similar to the ones generated during STS‐induced neuronal apoptosis. The temporal sequence of biomarkers of STS‐induced apoptosis and phospholipid peroxidation combined with recently demonstrated redox catalytic properties of cyt c realized through its interactions with Ptd₂Gro and PtdSer suggest that cyt c acts as a catalyst of selective peroxidation of anionic phospholipids yielding Ptd₂Gro and PtdSer peroxidation products. These oxidation products participate in mitochondrial membrane permeability transition and in PtdSer externalization leading to recognition and uptake of apoptotic cells by professional phagocytes.     

不同强度运动对大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的影响

通过比较不同强度负荷运动中大鼠心肌细胞的凋亡及其相关基因B细胞淋巴瘤-2(Bcl-2)表达变化的实验研究,试图找出它们之间相互关系的一般规律,为训练制定合理的、适宜的运动负荷提供理论依据.采用8周龄雄性SD大鼠30只,随机分为安静对照组(NC)、中等强度运动组(ME)和大强度运动组(HE),测定心肌细胞的凋亡指数和相关基因B细胞淋巴瘤-2,采用HE染色法观察心肌细胞.结果表明:中等强度运动组和大强度运动组的心肌都有细胞凋亡现象.中等强度运动组的心肌细胞凋亡指数显著升高且差异具有显著性意义(P<0.05),不同强度运动组差异无统计学意义.3组均有Bcl-2表达,中等强度运动组和安静对照组相比具有极显著性差异(P<0.01),大强度运动组和安静对照组相比有显著性差异(P<0.05),大强度运动组表达显著低于中等强度运动组(P<0.05).不适宜的运动负荷会造成大鼠心肌细胞凋亡增加,并且可能参与心肌的损害过程.     

TRAIL在细胞中的表达及其诱导凋亡的活性分析

以PCR方法克隆了Trail cDNA全长,构建了其真核表达载体,通过脂质转染HeLa细胞,48小时后利用流式细胞仪分析Trail诱导细胞凋亡的比率,发现发生凋亡的细胞为总细胞数的19％。证实了Trail真核4表达系统的产物的生物学活性高,为从真核表达的途径获得Trail基因工程产品奠定了基础。     

Mitophagy is primarily due to alternative autophagy and requires the MAPK1 and MAPK14 signaling pathways

In cultured cells, not many mitochondria are degraded by mitophagy induced by physiological cellular stress. We observed mitophagy in HeLa cells using a method that relies on the pH-sensitive fluorescent protein Keima. With this approach, we found that mitophagy was barely induced by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone treatment, which is widely used as an inducer of PARK2/Parkin-related mitophagy, whereas a small but modest amount of mitochondria were degraded by mitophagy under conditions of starvation or hypoxia. Mitophagy induced by starvation or hypoxia was marginally suppressed by knockdown of ATG7 and ATG12, or MAP1LC3B, which are essential for conventional macroautophagy. In addition, mitophagy was efficiently induced in Atg5 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts. However, knockdown of RAB9A and RAB9B, which are essential for alternative autophagy, but not conventional macroautophagy, severely suppressed mitophagy. Finally, we found that the MAPKs MAPK1/ERK2 and MAPK14/p38 were required for mitophagy. Based on these findings, we conclude that mitophagy in mammalian cells predominantly occurs through an alternative autophagy pathway, requiring the MAPK1 and MAPK14 signaling pathways.     

Mitophagy is not induced by mitochondrial damage but plays a role in the regulation of cellular autophagic activity

It was postulated that mitophagy removes damaged mitochondria, which is critical for proper cellular homeostasis; dysfunctional mitochondria can generate excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can further damage the organelle as well as other cellular components. Although proper cell physiology requires the maintenance of a healthy pool of mitochondria, little is known about the mechanism underlying the recognition and selection of damaged organelles. We investigated the cellular fate of mitochondria damaged by the action of oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors (antimycin A, myxothiazol, KCN, oligomycin, CCCP). Only antimycin A and KCN effectively induce nonspecific autophagy, but not mitophagy, in a wild-type strain; however, low or no autophagic activity was measured in strains deficient in genes, including ATG32, ATG11 and BCK1, encoding proteins that are involved in mitophagy. These results provide evidence for a major role of specific mitophagy factors in the control of a general autophagic cellular response induced by mitochondrial alteration. Moreover, significant reduction of cytochrome b, one of the components of the respiratory chain, could be the first signal of this induction pathway.     

The RNA-Binding Protein PUM2 Impairs Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitophagy During Aging

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Cardiolipin and mitochondrial carriers

Members of the mitochondrial carrier family interact with cardiolipin (CL) as evident from a variety of functional and structural effects. CL stabilises carrier proteins on isolation with detergents, with the P_i carrier as the prime example. CL is required for transport in reconstituted vesicles, prime examples are the P_i- and ADP/ATP carrier (AAC). CL binds to the AAC in a graded manner; 6 CL/AAC dimer bind tightly as measured on the ³¹P NMR time scale. 2 additional CL/dimer bind reversibly and a fast exchanging envelope of phospholipids includes CL as measured on the ESR time scale. In the crystal structure of the CAT-AAC complex 3 CL bind to the periphery of the AAC in a three-fold pseudo-symmetry. The binding of CL is implicated to contribute lowering the high transition energy barriers in the AAC. Para-functions of the AAC, as in the mitochondrial pore transition (MPT) and in cell death are linked to the CL binding of the AAC. Ca⁺⁺ or oxidants can sequester or destroy AAC bound CL, rendering AAC labile, allowing pore formation and degradation. Thus AAC, by being vital for energy transfer, constitutes an Achilles heel in the eukaryotic cell. AAC together with CL is also engaged in respiratory supercomplexes. Different from AAC the similarly structured uncoupling protein (UCP1) has no tightly bound CL, but CL addition lowers affinity of the inhibitory nucleotide binding that may contribute to the physiological regulation of the uncoupling activity by ATP.