PINK1与α-synuclein相互作用结构域鉴定

目的: 确定PINK1与α-synuclein相互作用的结构域。方法: 将PINK1不同结构域质粒(pcDNA3.1-3xFlag-hPINK1^WT, pcDNA3.1-3xFlag-hPINK1(G309D),pcDNA3.1-3xFlag-hPINK1(ΔN35),pcDNA3.1-3xFlag-hPINK1(ΔC145),pcDNA3.1-3xFlag-hPINK1(156~509), pcDNA3.1-3xFlag-hPINK1(Δ156~581), pcDNA3.1-3xFlag-vector)分别和pCMV-Myc-α-synuclein质粒共转染人胚肾HEK293T细胞,通过免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)技术验证PINK1与α-synuclein相互作用的结构域;同时进行免疫细胞化学染色,利用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察两种蛋白的共定位关系。结果: Co-IP实验结果表明PINK1与α-synuclein相互作用的结构域为PINK1的激酶结构域。免疫细胞化学实验也证实α-synuclein只与含激酶结构域的PINK1蛋白在细胞中存在共定位关系。结论: PINK1与α-synuclein相互作用的结构域位于其激酶结构域。     

α-突触核蛋白N-端结构域参与线粒体功能的调控

目的：确定α-Synuclein蛋白与线粒体相互作用的功能结构域,并检测该结构域对线粒体功能的影响。方法：构建重组融合蛋白质粒pCMV-myc/α-Syn-WT、pCMV-myc/α-Syn-N和pCMV-myc/α-Syn-△N,转染人胚肾HEK293T细胞,通过免疫共沉淀明确α-Synuclein蛋白与线粒体相互作用的功能结构域。使用表达α-Synuclein蛋白的病毒上清感染小鼠多巴胺能神经细胞MN9D,通过免疫荧光、流式细胞术检测线粒体膜电位及Cytochrome c释放。结果：成功构建了pCMV-myc/α-Syn-WT、pCMV-myc/α-Syn-N和pCMV-myc/α-Syn-△N融合蛋白质粒,免疫共沉淀明确α-Synuclein N-端为其功能结构域,JC-1染色发现N-端使线粒体膜电位降低,流式细胞术证实N-端使Cytochrome c释放明显增加。结论：α-Synuclein N-端是其与线粒体相互作用的功能结构域,N-端降低线粒体功能。     

农药鱼藤酮对表达α-突触核蛋白细胞的作用

本研究利用农药鱼藤酮作用于神经细胞 ,观察鱼藤酮对神经细胞的损伤作用以及线粒体功能障碍与α- synuclein积聚之间的关系。方法 :本实验选用人神经母细胞瘤细胞株SH-SY5Y ,实验组为α-synuclein GFP基因转染的细胞 ,鱼藤酮处理的转基因细胞和非转基因细胞 ,对照组为未处理的SH-SY5Y细胞。通过RT-PCR检测α-synuclein基因转染细胞的基因表达情况。荧光显微镜观察细胞内α-synuclein GFP表达产物绿色荧光蛋白。MTT法检测各组细胞活性。DCF检测细胞氧应激。HE染色、免疫组化检测α-synuclein在细胞中的状态。电镜观察细胞超微结构的改变。结果 :RT-PCR显示转基因细胞α-synuclein基因的表达。荧光显微镜观察显示细胞浆内可见绿色荧光蛋白 ,绿色荧光分布不均匀 ,可见蛋白积聚。MTT检测结果显示 ,与对照组相比 ,鱼藤酮处理的细胞增殖速度明显减小 (P <0. 01 )。鱼藤酮的浓度为 75nmol/ L、1 0 0nmol/ L时 ,未转基因与转基因的细胞活性相比较 ,前者的细胞活性低于后者 (P <0 .0 5 )。HE染色 ,鱼藤酮处理的转基因细胞胞浆减少、转基因细胞胞浆内也可见自噬体。胞浆内有嗜酸性包涵体样结构。免疫组化可见鱼藤酮处理高表达α-synuclein细胞明显变成梭形并有很长的突起。电镜显示鱼藤酮处理的细胞线粒体肿胀 ,嵴断裂 ,胞浆内形成自噬体。DCF检测转基因细胞内存在明显的氧化应激 ,并随鱼藤酮处理加重。结论 :农药鱼藤酮对多巴胺能神经细胞有明显的损伤作用 ,转基因细胞显示对较高浓度的鱼藤酮损伤有一定的耐受作用。α-synuclein可引起神经细胞的氧化应激并随鱼藤酮处理加重。提示环境因素可能与α-synuclein表达相互作用使多巴胺能神经元氧化应激进行性加重 ,这可能是引起PD的主要原因。     

用FRET方法研究与Mps1蛋白有相互作用的CENP-E蛋白结构域

目的：探索与Mps1蛋白有相互作用的CENP-E蛋白结构域。方法：将重组质粒pEGFP-CENPE2（674~1085位氨基酸）、pEGFP-CENPE3（1200~2134位氨基酸）转染人胚肾293(HEK293)细胞,采用受体漂白荧光共振能量转移方法（FRET方法）,检测EGFP-CENPE2、EGFP-CENPE3和Mps1间的能量转移率(Ef), 进一步用免疫共沉淀方法验证FRET的实验结果。结果：重组质粒转染HEK293细胞后经激光共聚焦显微镜观察重组质粒表达的融合蛋白与Mps1都存在着共定位;FRET检测结果显示EGFP-CENPE3和Mps1间的能量转移率为［(12.63±0.48)%, n=30］,pEGFP-CENPE2和Mps1间的能量转移率为［(3.07±0.21)%, n=30］,与对照组［(2.96±0.27)%, n=30］比较pEGFP-CENPE3和Mps1间的能量转移率差异存在显著性（p<0.05）,免疫共沉淀实验结果显示EGFP-CENPE3与Mps1蛋白间存在相互作用。结论：FRET技术和免疫共沉淀实验证明了EGFP-CENPE3与Mps1间存在着相互作用。     

人PINK1-shRNA载体的构建及对神经母细胞瘤细胞线粒体的影响

摘要 目的：构建筛选人源靶向特异PINK1-shRNA敲减质粒,转染神经母细胞瘤SH-SY5Y细胞并验证该质粒转染后对PINK1基因的敲减效率,观察对细胞线粒体形态的影响。方法：构建两对人源PINK1-shRNA序列(编号分别为PINK1-shRNA-39和PINK1-shRNA-42),将这2对干扰序列连接在载体上形成重组载体,经测序验证后,将空载体和两对敲减质粒分别转染SH-SY5Y细胞,获得基因敲减的细胞模型,用CCK-8法检测细胞的存活率,用荧光定量PCR方法确定PINK1基因的敲减效率,用蛋白质免疫印迹法验证细胞内PINK1的表达水平是否发生改变,用激光共聚焦显微镜观察线粒体的形态是否发生了改变。结果：我们提取的质粒,经测序结果显示,质粒载体构建成功;转染细胞后,CCK-8 法检测细胞存活率发生了降低,与正常组比较,PINK1-shRNA-39和PINK1-shRNA-42敲减质粒组,细胞的存活率分别降低了13.7%（P＜0.05）和14.1%（P＜0.05）;荧光定量PCR结果显示,与正常组相比,PINK1-shRNA-39组和PINK1-shRNA-42组敲减质粒转染的细胞内PINK1基因的表达分别降低了24.1%（P＜0.01）和36.7%（P＜0.01）;蛋白质印迹法结果显示,与正常组相比,两对质粒分别转染细胞后,PINK1-shRNA-39和PINK1-shRNA-42敲减质粒转染的细胞内PINK1蛋白的表达水平降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01),PINK1-shRNA-42敲减质粒转染的细胞内PINK1蛋白的表达水平有效降低更明显;与正常组比较,激光共聚焦显微镜观察到基因敲减两组细胞的线粒体部分发生断裂,碎片较多,基因敲减两组的线粒体的形态因子显著降低,差异有统计学意义（P＜ 0.01）。结论：成功构建了人源的PINK1基因敲减的质粒,并将敲减的质粒成功转染至SH-SY5Y 细胞中,细胞内PINK1基因的mRNA和蛋白的表达水平降低,且细胞线粒体的形态发生了改变。     

微丝相关蛋白HSPC300/hHBRK1与肌球蛋白Ⅵ相互作用的鉴定

为鉴定微丝相关蛋白HSPC300/hHBRK1在肝脏组织的功能,采用GST pull-down结合质 谱技术,检测该蛋白在肝脏中的结合蛋白,结果提示,肌球蛋白Ⅵ与HSPC300/hHBRK1共沉降,Western 印迹杂交证实了质谱的结果．构建HSPC300/hHBRK1原核表达载体,诱导并获得了His-hHBRK1融合蛋白．利用免疫共沉淀证实hHBRK1与肌球蛋白Ⅵ存在相互作用,激光共聚焦检测显示hHBRK1与肌球蛋白Ⅵ在肺癌95D细胞的胞浆共定位,提示其相互作用可能是直接结合．肌球蛋白Ⅵ参与细胞迁移、高尔基分泌泡的运输和维持高尔基体稳定性等作用．hHBRK1与肌球蛋白Ⅵ相互作用,为微丝相关蛋白HSPC300/hHBRK1参与细胞迁移和胞内物质运输提供了进一步佐证．     

SCG10基因重组质粒的构建及蛋白表达和定位

目的构建SCG10真核表达载体并证实融合蛋白在细胞内表达及定位。方法以人胎脑cDNA文库为模板,PCR扩增SCG10全长编码基因,亚克隆至pEGFP-C1表达载体中。将构建的重组质粒测序并转染到人胚肾HEK293中,提取细胞蛋白进行Western blot检测。利用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜观察pEGFP-SCG10在HEK293细胞内定位。结果 SCG10全长基因序列克隆到了真核表达载体pEGFP-C1中,酶切鉴定片段大小540bp。Western blot检测到了融合蛋白表达,分子量约为48kD。pEGFP-SCG10在细胞内定位以细胞浆为主,在细胞核少量表达。结论成功构建了SCG10全长基因真核表达载体,pEGFP-SCG10蛋白主要定位于HEK293细胞浆内。     

多聚甲醛固定对荧光蛋白分子间FRET效率的影响

目的：研究多聚甲醛固定对利用荧光共振能量转移(fluorescence resonance energy transfer, FRET)检测细胞中蛋白质相互作用的影响,解决运动能力较强的细胞中FRET效率检测的问题。方法：选用两个已知能够相互作用的蛋白分子TRA和TRB,将荧光蛋白ECFP和EYFP的编码基因通过融合PCR分别标记在其C端;将两个融合基因共转染靶细胞,一组细胞经低浓度（0.5%）多聚甲醛短时（0.5~1h）固定,另一组不固定,利用激光共聚焦扫描显微镜检测两个融合蛋白之间的FRET效率,比较其在两组细胞之间的差异情况。结果：经过统计学分析,在活细胞和经低浓度多聚甲醛短时间固定的细胞中,ECFP与EYFP之间的FRET效率没有显著差异。结论：低浓度短时间的多聚甲醛固定对于荧光蛋白分子之间的相互作用没有显著的影响,因此对于运动能力过强的细胞可以固定后再进行FRET检测。     

蛋白质/多肽片段互补分析法检测alpha-突触核蛋白在细胞中的聚集

Alpha-突触核蛋白（α-synuclein, α-syn）聚集是引起帕金森病（Parkinson’s disease, PD）发生发展主要原因。本文用蛋白质/多肽片段互补分析法（protein-fragment complementation assays, PCAs）检测α-syn在细胞内的聚集。分别构建融合α-syn与人工改造的荧光素酶human Gaussiaprinceps luciferase（hGLuc）蛋白N端或C端蛋白的质粒,共转入人神经母细胞瘤SK-N-SH细胞,通过检测酶活性来确定野生型（wild type,WT）及A53T突变体α-syn在细胞中的聚集情况。结果表明WT和A53T突变α-syn都能使荧光素酶活性增强,而且与野生型α-syn相比,突变体A53T的荧光素酶活性更强,说明二者都能聚集,而且A53T聚集程度高于WT。PCAs法具有高灵敏度,不仅能检测α-syn在细胞内的聚集,而且能反映其聚集的程度,为研究帕金森病提供了研究思路和相应药物筛选的有效工具。     

帕金森病相关蛋白Parkin 与PINK1的相互作用研究

帕金森病(Parkinson's disease,PD)是常见的神经系统变性疾病．分子遗传学研究发现,突变的Parkin蛋白及PINK1蛋白均参与了帕金森病的致病过程,但二者之间是否存在相互作用以及是否能够相互调节仍不十分清楚．为明确生理状态下Parkin蛋白与PINK1蛋白之间的相互作用,首先运用蛋白体外结合实验(GST pull-down)技术及免疫共沉淀技术证实了Parkin与PINK1在体外及体内均可相互结合．进一步构建PINK1的不同截短型,运用GST pull-down技术验证了PINK1与Parkin相互结合的区段为PINK1的蛋白激酶结构域．免疫细胞化学实验也证实Parkin与PINK1蛋白在细胞中存在共定位．进一步运用免疫共沉淀技术证实Parkin可减少PINK1通过泛素蛋白酶体系统(ubiquitin proteasome system,UPS)的降解,从而稳定PINK1．PINK1可增加Parkin通过UPS的降解,从而减少Parkin的水平,降低其稳定性．这些结果提示,帕金森病相关蛋白Parkin与PINK1能够直接结合,二者通过泛素蛋白酶体降解系统相互调节,可能协同作用参与了帕金森病的致病过程．     

Loss of PINK1 function decreases PP2A activity and promotes autophagy in dopaminergic cells and a murine model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder. Mutations in PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) are a frequent cause of recessive PD. Autophagy, a pathway for clearance of protein aggregates or impaired organelles, is a newly identified mechanism for PD development. However, it is still unclear what molecules regulate autophagy in PINK1-silenced cells. Here we report that autophagosome formation is promoted in the early phase in response to PINK1 gene silencing by lentivirus transfer vectors expressed in mouse striatum. Reduced PP2A activity and increased phosphorylation of PP2A at Y307 (inactive form of PP2A) were observed in PINK1-knockdown dopaminergic cells and striatum tissues. Treatment with C2-ceramide (an agonist of PP2A) reduced autophagy levels in PINK1-silenced MN9D cells, which suggests that PP2A plays an important role in the PINK1-knockdown-induced autophagic pathway. Furthermore, phosphorylation of Bcl-2 at S87 increased in PINK1-silenced cells and was negatively regulated by additional treatment with C2-ceramide, which indicates that Bcl-2 may be downstream of PP2A inactivation in response to PINK1 dysfunction. Immunoprecipitation also revealed dissociation of the Bcl-2/Beclin1 complex in PINK1-silenced cells, which was reversed by additional treatment with C2-ceramide, and correlated with changes in level of autophagy and S87 phosphorylation of Bcl-2. Finally, Western blots for cleaved caspase-9 and flow cytometry results for active caspase-3 revealed that PP2A inactivation is involved in the protective effect of autophagy on PINK1-silenced cells. Our findings show that downregulation of PP2A activity in PINK1-silenced cells promotes the protective effect of autophagy through phosphorylation of Bcl-2 at S87 and blockage of the caspase pathway. These results may have implications for identifying the mechanism of PD.     

不同亚细胞定位的alpha-突触核蛋白对SK-N-SH细胞的毒性影响

在帕金森病中,alpha-突触核蛋白(α-synuclein)累积与聚集所产生的细胞毒性是发病的重要原因。本文目的是探求不同亚细胞定位的α-突触核蛋白对于细胞的毒性影响。分别在α-突触核蛋白前插入核输出序列(nuclear export sequence,NES)或核定位序列(nuclear localization sequence,NLS),使其特定地表达在细胞质或细胞核中。构建成功的质粒分别在神经母细胞瘤SK-N-SH细胞中表达,通过免疫荧光与Western印迹法检测蛋白质的表达情况。结果显示,NES-α-synuclein特异性地在细胞质中表达,NLS-α-synuclein特异性地在细胞核中表达。乳酸脱氢酶法检测结果表明,相较于WT-α-synuclein组,NES-α-synuclein组的乳酸脱氢酶的释放量减少26. 54%,NLS-α-synuclein组的乳酸脱氢酶释放量增加12. 85%。CCK8法检测细胞活性结果表明,相较于WT-α-synuclein组,NES-α-synuclein组的细胞活力提高35. 51%,NLS-α-synuclein组的细胞活力减少7. 93%。上述结果提示,胞质内表达α-synuclein对于细胞的毒性更小,而细胞核内表达的α-synuclein对细胞有更强的毒性作用。这些发现为研究帕金森病的分子机制提供了新的研究思路。     

Oxidative modification of peroxiredoxin is associated with drug-induced apoptotic signaling in experimental models of Parkinson disease

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in protein profiles during the early phase of dopaminergic neuronal death using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with mass spectrometry. Several protein spots were identified whose expression was significantly altered following treatment of MN9D dopaminergic neuronal cells with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). In particular, we detected oxidative modification of thioredoxin-dependent peroxidases (peroxiredoxins; PRX) in treated MN9D cells. Oxidative modification of PRX induced by 6-OHDA was blocked in the presence of N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by 6-OHDA induce oxidation of PRX. These findings were confirmed in primary cultures of mesencephalic neurons and in rat brain injected stereotaxically. Overexpression of PRX1 in MN9D cells (MN9D/PRX1) exerted neuroprotective effects against death induced by 6-OHDA through scavenging of ROS. Consequently, generation of both superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide following 6-OHDA treatment was decreased in MN9D/PRX1. Furthermore, overexpression of PRX1 protected cells against 6-OHDA-induced activation of p38 MAPK and subsequent activation of caspase-3. In contrast, 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic death signals were enhanced by RNA interference-targeted reduction of PRX1 in MN9D cells. Taken together, our data suggest that the redox state of PRX may be intimately involved in 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic neuronal cell death and also provide a molecular mechanism by which PRX1 exerts a protective role in experimental models of Parkinson disease.     

Bcl-2 enhances neurite extension via activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase

Recent studies suggest that Bcl-2 may play an active role in neuronal differentiation. Here, we showed a marked neurite extension in MN9D dopaminergic neuronal cells overexpressing Bcl-2 (MN9D/Bcl-2) or Bcl-X(L) (MN9D/Bcl-X(L)). We found a specific increase in phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) accompanied by neurite extension in MN9D/Bcl-2 but not in MN9D/Bcl-X(L) cells. Consequently, neurite extension in MN9D/Bcl-2 but not in MN9D/Bcl-X(L) cells was suppressed by treatment with SP600125, a specific inhibitor of JNK. Inhibition of other mitogen-activated protein kinases-including p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-did not affect Bcl-2-mediated neurite extension in MN9D cells. While the expression levels of such protein markers of maturation as SNAP-25, phosphorylated NF-H, and neuron-specific enolase were increased in MN9D/Bcl-2 cells, only upregulation of SNAP-25 was inhibited after treatment with SP600125. Thus, the JNK signal activated by Bcl-2 seems to play an important role during morphological and certain biochemical differentiation in cultured dopaminergic neurons.     

AAV介导的α-synuclein基因过表达致多巴胺能神经元损伤-一种制作轻度帕金森病大鼠模型的新方法

目的：研究过表达α-synuclein基因是否导致大鼠黑质纹状体选择性损伤,为帕金森病（parkinson’s disease, PD）大鼠模型的制备提供一种新的方法。方法:用腺相关病毒(adeno-associated virus, AAV)做载体,将人野生型α突触核蛋白(α-synuclein, NACP)引入大鼠脑内,观察大鼠行为学的改变,通过免疫组织化学染色观察其对黑质多巴胺能神经元细胞的影响,高效液相色谱（HPLC）检测纹状体多巴胺（DA）的含量。结果:α-synuclein基因过表达后大鼠出现自发性活动减少、爬行活动减慢、暂时性躯干震颤、竖毛等类似PD初期的症状和体征;大鼠脑黑质TH阳性神经元细胞随时间的延长出现数目减少,并且纹状体DA含量也出现减少,并且出现α-synuclein的积聚。结论:上述结果表明α-synuclein基因的过表达引起黑质多巴胺能神经元细胞的死亡,对大鼠的运动行为有一定的影响,产生类似于PD早期的症状与体征,与化学毒素（如6-OHDA, MPTP）诱导的动物模型相比,此法制作的动物模型可模拟PD缓慢发展的进程,为研究PD的病程进展及发病机制提供一个理想的动物模型。     

核受体相关因子1表达下调对多巴胺能细胞酪氨酸羟化酶和神经突起生长的影响

将合成的核受体相关因子1（nuclear receptor-related factor 1,Nurr1）特异性短发夹寡核苷酸（small-hairpin RNA,shRNA）序列插入真核表达载体pSilen Circle（pSC）,构建Nurr1基因特异性shRNA真核表达载体,转染体外培养多巴胺能神经前体细胞系MN9D,分别采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot方法检测其对MN9D细胞内源Nurr1的干扰作用及其对酪氨酸羟化酶（tyrosine hydroxylase,TH）表达的影响,并在倒置显微镜下观察MN9D细胞神经突起生长的情况,探讨Nurr1 shRNA表达载体对多巴胺能细胞表型标记物删和以神经突起延长为特征的细胞成熟的影响。结果表明,脂质体组细胞和转染阴性对照质粒的MN9D细胞内Nurr1、TH的表达正常,而转染Nurr1 shRNA真核表达载体（pSC-N1和pSC-N2）的MN9D细胞内Nurr1和TH的mRNA水平明显降低,Nurr1 mRNA的下降率分别为62．3％和45．6％,TH mRNA的下降率分别为76.3％和62．6％。同时Nurr1和TH蛋白的表达亦明显下调,Nurr1蛋白的下降率分别为57．4％和72．0％,TH蛋白的下降率分别为79．1％和70．1％。另外,转染Nurr1 shRNA真核表达质粒的MN9D细胞神经突起延长有所减少,但是与正常细胞无明显差异。结果提示：Nurr1 shRNA真核表达载体能显著下调MN9D细胞内源Nurr1和TH mRNA和蛋白的表达,同时可能对MN9D细胞的神经突起延长有一定的抑制作用。Nurr1 shRNA表达载体的成功构建为多巴胺能神经元发育以及帕金森病相关基因的功能研究奠定了基础。     

Sequential Cleavage of Poly(ADP-Ribose)polymerase and Appearance of a Small Bax-Immunoreactive Protein Are Blocked by Bcl-XL and Caspase Inhibitors During Staurosporine-Induced Dopaminergic Neuronal Apoptosis

To assess the role of Bcl-X(L) and its splice derivative, Bcl-X(S), in staurosporine-induced cell death, we used a dopaminergic cell line, MN9D, transfected with bcl-xL (MN9D/Bcl-X(L)), bcl-xS (MN9D/Bcl-X(S)), or control vector (MN9D/Neo). Only 8.6% of MN9D/Neo cells survived after 24 h of 1 microM staurosporine treatment. Caspase activity was implicated because a caspase inhibitor, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-fmk), attenuated staurosporine-induced cell death. Bcl-X(L) rescued MN9D cells from death (89.4% viable cells), whereas Bcl-X(S) had little or no effect. Bcl-X(L) prevented morphologically apoptotic changes as well as cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) induced by staurosporine. It is interesting that a small Bax-immunoreactive protein appeared 4-8 h after PARP cleavage in MN9D/Neo cells. The appearance of the small Bax-immunoreactive protein, however, may be cell type-specific as it was not observed in PC12 cells after staurosporine treatment. The sequential cleavage of PARP and the appearance of the small Bax-immunoreactive protein in MN9D cells were blocked either by Z-VAD-fmk or by Bcl-X(L). Thus, our present study suggests that Bcl-X(L) but not Bcl-X(S) prevents staurosporine-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the caspase activation that may be directly or indirectly responsible for the appearance of the small Bax-immunoreactive protein in some types of neurons.     

Mitophagy protein PINK1 suppresses colon tumor growth by metabolic reprogramming via p53 activation and reducing acetyl-CoA production

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. Understanding the mechanisms of CRC progression is essential to improve treatment. Mitochondria is the powerhouse for healthy cells. However, in tumor cells, less energy is produced by the mitochondria and metabolic reprogramming is an early hallmark of cancer. The metabolic differences between normal and cancer cells are being interrogated to uncover new therapeutic approaches. Mitochondria targeting PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is a key regulator of mitophagy, the selective elimination of damaged mitochondria by autophagy. Defective mitophagy is increasingly associated with various diseases including CRC. However, a significant gap exists in our understanding of how PINK1-dependent mitophagy participates in the metabolic regulation of CRC. By mining Oncomine, we found that PINK1 expression was downregulated in human CRC tissues compared to normal colons. Moreover, disruption of PINK1 increased colon tumorigenesis in two colitis-associated CRC mouse models, suggesting that PINK1 functions as a tumor suppressor in CRC. PINK1 overexpression in murine colon tumor cells promoted mitophagy, decreased glycolysis and increased mitochondrial respiration potentially via activation of p53 signaling pathways. In contrast, PINK1 deletion decreased apoptosis, increased glycolysis, and reduced mitochondrial respiration and p53 signaling. Interestingly, PINK1 overexpression in vivo increased apoptotic cell death and suppressed colon tumor xenograft growth. Metabolomic analysis revealed that acetyl-CoA was significantly reduced in tumors with PINK1 overexpression, which was partly due to activation of the HIF-1α-pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase 1 (PDHK1)-PDHE1α axis. Strikingly, treating mice with acetate increased acetyl-CoA levels and rescued PINK1-suppressed tumor growth. Importantly, PINK1 disruption simultaneously increased xenografted tumor growth and acetyl-CoA production. In conclusion, mitophagy protein PINK1 suppresses colon tumor growth by metabolic reprogramming and reducing acetyl-CoA production.Subject terms: Tumour-suppressor proteins, Cancer metabolism