Fis1, Mff,MiD49, and MiD51 mediate Drp1 recruitment in mitochondrial fission

Several mitochondrial outer membrane proteins—mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1), mitochondrial fission factor (Mff), mitochondrial dynamics proteins of 49 and 51 kDa (MiD49 and MiD51, respectively)—have been proposed to promote mitochondrial fission by recruiting the GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), but fundamental issues remain concerning their function. A recent study supported such a role for Mff but not for Fis1. In addition, it is unclear whether MiD49 and MiD51 activate or inhibit fission, because their overexpression causes extensive mitochondrial elongation. It is also unknown whether these proteins can act in the absence of one another to mediate fission. Using Fis1-null, Mff-null, and Fis1/Mff-null cells, we show that both Fis1 and Mff have roles in mitochondrial fission. Moreover, immunofluorescence analysis of Drp1 suggests that Fis1 and Mff are important for the number and size of Drp1 puncta on mitochondria. Finally, we find that either MiD49 or MiD51 can mediate Drp1 recruitment and mitochondrial fission in the absence of Fis1 and Mff. These results demonstrate that multiple receptors can recruit Drp1 to mediate mitochondrial fission.     

SENP3‐mediated deSUMOylation of dynamin‐related protein 1 promotes cell death following ischaemia

Global increases in small ubiquitin‐like modifier (SUMO)‐2/3 conjugation are a neuroprotective response to severe stress but the mechanisms and specific target proteins that determine cell survival have not been identified. Here, we demonstrate that the SUMO‐2/3‐specific protease SENP3 is degraded during oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD), an in vitro model of ischaemia, via a pathway involving the unfolded protein response (UPR) kinase PERK and the lysosomal enzyme cathepsin B. A key target for SENP3‐mediated deSUMOylation is the GTPase Drp1, which plays a major role in regulating mitochondrial fission. We show that depletion of SENP3 prolongs Drp1 SUMOylation, which suppresses Drp1‐mediated cytochrome c release and caspase‐mediated cell death. SENP3 levels recover following reoxygenation after OGD allowing deSUMOylation of Drp1, which facilitates Drp1 localization at mitochondria and promotes fragmentation and cytochrome c release. RNAi knockdown of SENP3 protects cells from reoxygenation‐induced cell death via a mechanism that requires Drp1 SUMOylation. Thus, we identify a novel adaptive pathway to extreme cell stress in which dynamic changes in SENP3 stability and regulation of Drp1 SUMOylation are crucial determinants of cell fate.     

Mutations in Fis1 disrupt orderly disposal of defective mitochondria

Mitochondrial fission is mediated by the dynamin-related protein Drp1 in metazoans. Drp1 is recruited from the cytosol to mitochondria by the mitochondrial outer membrane protein Mff. A second mitochondrial outer membrane protein, named Fis1, was previously proposed as recruitment factor, but Fis1^−/− cells have mild or no mitochondrial fission defects. Here we show that Fis1 is nevertheless part of the mitochondrial fission complex in metazoan cells. During the fission cycle, Drp1 first binds to Mff on the surface of mitochondria, followed by entry into a complex that includes Fis1 and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins at the ER–mitochondrial interface. Mutations in Fis1 do not normally affect fission, but they can disrupt downstream degradation events when specific mitochondrial toxins are used to induce fission. The disruptions caused by mutations in Fis1 lead to an accumulation of large LC3 aggregates. We conclude that Fis1 can act in sequence with Mff at the ER–mitochondrial interface to couple stress-induced mitochondrial fission with downstream degradation processes.     

Deficiency in augmenter of liver regeneration accelerates liver fibrosis by promoting migration of hepatic stellate cell

Background

Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) protects liver from various injuries, however, the association of ALR with liver fibrosis, particularly its effect on hepatic stellate cells (HSC), remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of ALR on the activation of HSC, a pivotal event in occurrence of liver fibrosis.

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) mediates radiation-induced mitochondrial fission by regulating the phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) at serine 616

Mitochondrial dynamics are suggested to be indispensable for the maintenance of cellular quality and function in response to various stresses. While ionizing radiation (IR) stimulates mitochondrial fission, which is mediated by the mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), it remains unclear how IR promotes Drp1 activation and subsequent mitochondrial fission. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate these concerns. First, we found that X-irradiation triggered Drp1 phosphorylation at serine 616 (S616) but not at serine 637 (S637). Reconstitution analysis revealed that introduction of wild-type (WT) Drp1 recovered radiation-induced mitochondrial fission, which was absent in Drp1-deficient cells. Compared with cells transfected with WT or S637A Drp1, the change in mitochondrial shape following irradiation was mitigated in S616A Drp1-transfected cells. Furthermore, inhibition of CaMKII significantly suppressed Drp1 S616 phosphorylation and mitochondrial fission induced by IR. These results suggest that Drp1 phosphorylation at S616, but not at S637, is prerequisite for radiation-induced mitochondrial fission and that CaMKII regulates Drp1 phosphorylation at S616 following irradiation.     

Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission via MiD49/51 is essential for apoptotic cristae remodeling

Mitochondrial fission facilitates cytochrome c release from the intracristae space into the cytoplasm during intrinsic apoptosis, although how the mitochondrial fission factor Drp1 and its mitochondrial receptors Mff, MiD49, and MiD51 are involved in this reaction remains elusive. Here, we analyzed the functional division of these receptors with their knockout (KO) cell lines. In marked contrast to Mff-KO cells, MiD49/MiD51-KO and Drp1-KO cells completely resisted cristae remodeling and cytochrome c release during apoptosis. This phenotype in MiD49/51-KO cells, but not Drp1-KO cells, was completely abolished by treatments disrupting cristae structure such as OPA1 depletion. Unexpectedly, OPA1 oligomers generally thought to resist cytochrome c release by stabilizing the cristae structure were similarly disassembled in Drp1-KO and MiD49/51-KO cells, indicating that disassembly of OPA1 oligomers is not directly linked to cristae remodeling for cytochrome c release. Together, these results indicate that Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission through MiD49/MiD51 regulates cristae remodeling during intrinsic apoptosis.     

Resistance of Dynamin-related Protein 1 Oligomers to Disassembly Impairs Mitophagy,Resulting in Myocardial Inflammation and Heart Failure

We have reported previously that a missense mutation in the mitochondrial fission gene Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) underlies the Python mouse model of monogenic dilated cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of the C452F mutation on Drp1 protein function and to define the cellular sequelae leading to heart failure in the Python monogenic dilated cardiomyopathy model. We found that the C452F mutation increased Drp1 GTPase activity. The mutation also conferred resistance to oligomer disassembly by guanine nucleotides and high ionic strength solutions. In a mouse embryonic fibroblast model, Drp1 C452F cells exhibited abnormal mitochondrial morphology and defective mitophagy. Mitochondria in C452F mouse embryonic fibroblasts were depolarized and had reduced calcium uptake with impaired ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation. In the Python heart, we found a corresponding progressive decline in oxidative phosphorylation with age and activation of sterile inflammation. As a corollary, enhancing autophagy by exposure to a prolonged low-protein diet improved cardiac function in Python mice. In conclusion, failure of Drp1 disassembly impairs mitophagy, leading to a downstream cascade of mitochondrial depolarization, aberrant calcium handling, impaired ATP synthesis, and activation of sterile myocardial inflammation, resulting in heart failure.     

Dynamin-related Protein 1 Oligomerization in Solution Impairs Functional Interactions with Membrane-anchored Mitochondrial Fission Factor

Mitochondrial fission is a crucial cellular process mediated by the mechanoenzymatic GTPase, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). During mitochondrial division, Drp1 is recruited from the cytosol to the outer mitochondrial membrane by one, or several, integral membrane proteins. One such Drp1 partner protein, mitochondrial fission factor (Mff), is essential for mitochondrial division, but its mechanism of action remains unexplored. Previous studies have been limited by a weak interaction between Drp1 and Mff in vitro. Through refined in vitro reconstitution approaches and multiple independent assays, we show that removal of the regulatory variable domain (VD) in Drp1 enhances formation of a functional Drp1-Mff copolymer. This protein assembly exhibits greatly stimulated cooperative GTPase activity in solution. Moreover, when Mff was anchored to a lipid template, to mimic a more physiologic environment, significant stimulation of GTPase activity was observed with both WT and ΔVD Drp1. Contrary to recent findings, we show that premature Drp1 self-assembly in solution impairs functional interactions with membrane-anchored Mff. Instead, dimeric Drp1 species are selectively recruited by Mff to initiate assembly of a functional fission complex. Correspondingly, we also found that the coiled-coil motif in Mff is not essential for Drp1 interactions, but rather serves to augment cooperative self-assembly of Drp1 proximal to the membrane. Taken together, our findings provide a mechanism wherein the multimeric states of both Mff and Drp1 regulate their collaborative interaction.     

N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO impairs hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury via inhibiting Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation

Despite N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is functionally important in various biological processes, its role and the underlying regulatory mechanism in the liver remain largely unexplored. In the present study, we showed that fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO, an m6A demethylase) was involved in mitochondrial function during hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (HIRI). We found that the expression of m6A demethylase FTO was decreased during HIRI. In contrast, the level of m6A methylated RNA was enhanced. Adeno-associated virus-mediated liver-specific overexpression of FTO (AAV8-TBG-FTO) ameliorated the HIRI, repressed the elevated level of m6A methylated RNA, and alleviated liver oxidative stress and mitochondrial fragmentation in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) was a downstream target of FTO in the progression of HIRI. FTO contributed to the hepatic protective effect via demethylating the mRNA of Drp1 and impairing the Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation. Collectively, our findings demonstrated the functional importance of FTO-dependent hepatic m6A methylation during HIRI and provided valuable insights into the therapeutic mechanisms of FTO.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, RNA modification     

Dynamics of Mitochondrial DNA Nucleoids Regulated by Mitochondrial Fission Is Essential for Maintenance of Homogeneously Active Mitochondria during Neonatal Heart Development

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles, and their fusion and fission regulate cellular signaling, development, and mitochondrial homeostasis, including mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) distribution. Cardiac myocytes have a specialized cytoplasmic structure where large mitochondria are aligned into tightly packed myofibril bundles; however, recent studies have revealed that mitochondrial dynamics also plays an important role in the formation and maintenance of cardiomyocytes. Here, we precisely analyzed the role of mitochondrial fission in vivo. The mitochondrial fission GTPase, Drp1, is highly expressed in the developing neonatal heart, and muscle-specific Drp1 knockout (Drp1-KO) mice showed neonatal lethality due to dilated cardiomyopathy. The Drp1 ablation in heart and primary cultured cardiomyocytes resulted in severe mtDNA nucleoid clustering and led to mosaic deficiency of mitochondrial respiration. The functional and structural alteration of mitochondria also led to immature myofibril assembly and defective cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Thus, the dynamics of mtDNA nucleoids regulated by mitochondrial fission is required for neonatal cardiomyocyte development by promoting homogeneous distribution of active mitochondria throughout the cardiomyocytes.     

The PINK1-Parkin pathway is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial remodeling process

The two Parkinson’s disease (PD) genes, PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and parkin, are linked in a common pathway which affects mitochondrial integrity and function. However, it is still not known what this pathway does in the mitochondria. Therefore, we investigated its physiological function in Drosophila. Because Drosophila PINK1 and parkin mutants show changes in mitochondrial morphology in both indirect flight muscles and dopaminergic neurons, we here investigated whether the PINK1-Parkin pathway genetically interacts with the regulators of mitochondrial fusion and fission such as Drp1, which promotes mitochondrial fission, and Opa1 or Marf, which induces mitochondrial fusion. Surprisingly, DrosophilaPINK1 and parkin mutant phenotypes were markedly suppressed by overexpression of Drp1 or downregulation of Opa1 or Marf, indicating that the PINK1-Parkin pathway regulates mitochondrial remodeling process in the direction of promoting mitochondrial fission. Therefore, we strongly suggest that mitochondrial fusion and fission process could be a prominent therapeutic target for the treatment of PD.     

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。     

Inhibition of mitochondrial fission protects podocytes from albumin-induced cell damage in diabetic kidney disease

AimsIdentifying the mechanisms that underlie progression from endothelial damage to podocyte damage, which leads to massive proteinuria, is an urgent issue that must be clarified to improve renal outcome in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). We aimed to examine the role of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-mediated regulation of mitochondrial fission in podocytes in the pathogenesis of massive proteinuria in DKD.MethodsDiabetes- or albuminuria-associated changes in mitochondrial morphology in podocytes were examined by electron microscopy. The effects of albumin and other diabetes-related stimuli, including high glucose (HG), on mitochondrial morphology were examined in cultured podocytes. The role of Drp1 in podocyte damage was examined using diabetic podocyte-specific Drp1-deficient mice treated with neuraminidase, which removes endothelial glycocalyx.ResultsNeuraminidase-induced removal of glomerular endothelial glycocalyx in nondiabetic mice led to microalbuminuria without podocyte damage, accompanied by reduced Drp1 expression and mitochondrial elongation in podocytes. In contrast, streptozotocin-induced diabetes significantly exacerbated neuraminidase-induced podocyte damage and albuminuria, and was accompanied by increased Drp1 expression and enhanced mitochondrial fission in podocytes. Cell culture experiments showed that albumin stimulation decreased Drp1 expression and elongated mitochondria, although HG inhibited albumin-associated changes in mitochondrial dynamics, resulting in apoptosis. Podocyte-specific Drp1-deficiency in mice prevented diabetes-related exacerbation of podocyte damage and neuraminidase-induced development of albuminuria. Endothelial dysfunction-induced albumin exposure is cytotoxic to podocytes. Inhibition of mitochondrial fission in podocytes is a cytoprotective mechanism against albumin stimulation, which is impaired under diabetic condition. Inhibition of mitochondrial fission in podocytes may represent a new therapeutic strategy for massive proteinuria in DKD.     

Dynamin-related protein 1 is required for normal mitochondrial bioenergetic and synaptic function in CA1 hippocampal neurons

Disrupting particular mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins leads to the death of specific neuronal populations; however, the normal functions of mitochondrial fission in neurons are poorly understood, especially in vivo, which limits the understanding of mitochondrial changes in disease. Altered activity of the central mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) may contribute to the pathophysiology of several neurologic diseases. To study Drp1 in a neuronal population affected by Alzheimer''s disease (AD), stroke, and seizure disorders, we postnatally deleted Drp1 from CA1 and other forebrain neurons in mice (CamKII-Cre, Drp1^lox/lox (Drp1cKO)). Although most CA1 neurons survived for more than 1 year, their synaptic transmission was impaired, and Drp1cKO mice had impaired memory. In Drp1cKO cell bodies, we observed marked mitochondrial swelling but no change in the number of mitochondria in individual synaptic terminals. Using ATP FRET sensors, we found that cultured neurons lacking Drp1 (Drp1KO) could not maintain normal levels of mitochondrial-derived ATP when energy consumption was increased by neural activity. These deficits occurred specifically at the nerve terminal, but not the cell body, and were sufficient to impair synaptic vesicle cycling. Although Drp1KO increased the distance between axonal mitochondria, mitochondrial-derived ATP still decreased similarly in Drp1KO boutons with and without mitochondria. This indicates that mitochondrial-derived ATP is rapidly dispersed in Drp1KO axons, and that the deficits in axonal bioenergetics and function are not caused by regional energy gradients. Instead, loss of Drp1 compromises the intrinsic bioenergetic function of axonal mitochondria, thus revealing a mechanism by which disrupting mitochondrial dynamics can cause dysfunction of axons.Mitochondrial dynamics – the balance between mitochondrial fission and fusion – regulates mitochondrial quality control by segregating poorly functioning mitochondria for degradation while mixing the contents of healthy mitochondria.^{1, 2} In neurons, fission uniquely facilitates movement of mitochondria down narrow distal axons.^{3, 4} Disruptions of this movement, and of other neuron-specific functions, may explain why systemic mutations in mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins specifically cause death of neurons. However, the roles and requirements of these proteins also differ between neuronal types.¹ For example, mutations in the fusion protein optic atrophy 1 cause degeneration of retinal ganglion neurons,⁵ and mutations in the fusion protein mitofusin-2 or the fission protein ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein 1 cause peripheral neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth types 2A and 4A^{6, 7}).There are several potential reasons why specific neurons have unique requirements for fission–fusion proteins. First, the functions of these proteins may be more critical in vulnerable neuronal populations. Recently, we showed that most midbrain DA neurons are uniquely vulnerable to loss of the central mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1),⁴ a GTPase recruited to fission sites on the outer mitochondrial membrane.¹ Loss of Drp1 depletes axonal mitochondria, which is followed by axonal degeneration and neuronal death. However, a subpopulation of midbrain DA neurons survive, despite losing their axonal mitochondria, suggesting that they have lower needs for energy or other mitochondrial functions in their axons.⁴ Do unique requirements for mitochondrial dynamics underlie differential neuronal vulnerability? Do resistant neurons compensate with other fission or fusion mechanisms? Do the functions of fission differ between neurons? Notably, Drp1 may also have mitochondria-independent functions in synaptic vesicle release.⁸ Addressing these issues could help elucidate the physiological functions of mitochondrial dynamics in the nervous system and reveal how shifts in the fission–fusion balance contribute to selective neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington''s disease, Parkinson''s disease and Alzheimer''s disease (AD),^{1, 4} and in other neurologic disorders, including stroke and epilepsy.^{9, 10, 11}To understand mitochondrial dynamics, it would be useful to know why mitochondrial fission is needed in the nervous system in the first place, and how loss of fission affects mitochondrial functions in specific cell types. Notably, Drp1 knockout did not change respiration or ATP levels in resuspended mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs),^{12, 13} indicating that mitochondrial fission is not required for respiration in these cells. However, neuronal respiration may be more sensitive to Drp1 loss. Indeed, Drp1 loss markedly decreased the number of mitochondria in axons and the cell body in midbrain DA neurons in vivo,⁴ and reduced staining of complex I and IV activity in cerebellar neurons in vivo.¹⁴ However, it is unclear whether these changes translate into decreased ATP levels in neurons and, if so, whether this decrease compromises neuronal function. Furthermore, Drp1 loss caused cell death in cerebellar and most midbrain DA neurons,^{4, 14} which challenges our ability to dissociate the specific effects of Drp1 loss on mitochondrial function from other non-specific changes that accompany cell death.To learn how disrupting mitochondrial fission contributes to selective neurodegeneration, we studied the function of Drp1 in CA1 hippocampal neurons and its role in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Surprisingly, despite losing Drp1, most CA1 neurons survived for more than 1 year in vivo, although their function was compromised, leading to deficits in synaptic transmission and memory. To begin to understand how loss of Drp1 causes neuronal dysfunction, we examined the role of Drp1 in mitochondrial bioenergetics. We found that Drp1 is required to maintain normal mitochondrial-derived ATP levels specifically in axons (but not the cell body), and that the loss of this function is unrelated to the distribution of mitochondria within axons.     

RhoA regulates Drp1 mediated mitochondrial fission through ROCK to protect cardiomyocytes

Cardiac ischemia/reperfusion, loss of blood flow and its subsequent restoration, causes damage to the heart. Oxidative stress from ischemia/reperfusion leads to dysfunction and death of cardiomyocytes, increasing the risk of progression to heart failure. Alterations in mitochondrial dynamics, in particular mitochondrial fission, have been suggested to play a role in cardioprotection from oxidative stress. We tested the hypothesis that activation of RhoA regulates mitochondrial fission in cardiomyocytes. Our studies show that expression of constitutively active RhoA in cardiomyocytes increases phosphorylation of Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) at serine-616, and leads to localization of Drp1 at mitochondria. Both responses are blocked by inhibition of Rho-associated Protein Kinase (ROCK). Endogenous RhoA activation by the GPCR agonist sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) also increases Drp1 phosphorylation and its mitochondrial translocation in a RhoA and ROCK dependent manner. Consistent with the role of mitochondrial Drp1 in fission, RhoA activation in cardiomyocytes leads to formation of smaller mitochondria and this is attenuated by inhibition of ROCK, by siRNA knockdown of Drp1 or by expression of a phosphorylation-deficient Drp1 S616A mutant. In addition, activation of RhoA prevents cell death in cardiomyocytes challenged by oxidative stress and this protection is blocked by siRNA knockdown of Drp1 or by Drp1 S616A expression. Taken together our findings demonstrate that RhoA activation can regulate Drp1 to induce mitochondrial fission and subsequent cellular protection, implicating regulation of fission as a novel mechanism contributing to RhoA-mediated cardioprotection.     

Mitotic phosphorylation of dynamin-related GTPase Drp1 participates in mitochondrial fission

Organelles are inherited to daughter cells beyond dynamic changes of the membrane structure during mitosis. Mitochondria are dynamic entities, frequently dividing and fusing with each other, during which dynamin-related GTPase Drp1 is required for the fission reaction. In this study, we analyzed mitochondrial dynamics in mitotic mammalian cells. Although mitochondria in interphase HeLa cells are long tubular network structures, they are fragmented in early mitotic phase, and the filamentous network structures are subsequently reformed in the daughter cells. In marked contrast, tubular mitochondrial structures are maintained during mitosis in Drp1 knockdown cells, indicating that the mitochondrial fragmentation in mitosis requires mitochondrial fission by Drp1. Drp1 was specifically phosphorylated in mitosis by Cdk1/cyclin B on Ser-585. Exogenous expression of unphosphorylated mutant Drp1S585A led to reduced mitotic mitochondrial fragmentation. These results suggest that phosphorylation of Drp1 on Ser-585 promotes mitochondrial fission in mitotic cells.     

Fine-tuning of Drp1/Fis1 availability by AKAP121/Siah2 regulates mitochondrial adaptation to hypoxia

Defining the mechanisms underlying the control of mitochondrial fusion and fission is critical to understanding cellular adaptation to diverse physiological conditions. Here we demonstrate that hypoxia induces fission of mitochondrial membranes, dependent on availability of the mitochondrial scaffolding protein AKAP121. AKAP121 controls mitochondria dynamics through PKA-dependent inhibitory phosphorylation of Drp1 and PKA-independent inhibition of Drp1-Fis1 interaction. Reduced availability of AKAP121 by the ubiquitin ligase Siah2 relieves Drp1 inhibition by PKA and increases its interaction with Fis1, resulting in mitochondrial fission. High AKAP121 levels, seen in cells lacking Siah2, attenuate fission and reduce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes under simulated ischemia. Infarct size and degree of cell death were reduced in Siah2(-/-) mice subjected to myocardial infarction. Inhibition of Siah2 or Drp1 in hatching C.?elegans reduces their life span. Through modulating Fis1/Drp1 complex availability, our studies identify Siah2 as a key regulator of hypoxia-induced mitochondrial fission and its physiological significance in ischemic injury and nematode life span.     

High glucose induces Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission via the Orai1 calcium channel to participate in diabetic cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired Ca²⁺ handling are involved in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Dynamic relative protein 1 (Drp1) regulates mitochondrial fission by changing its level of phosphorylation, and the Orai1 (Ca²⁺ release-activated calcium channel protein 1) calcium channel is important for the increase in Ca²⁺ entry into cardiomyocytes. We aimed to explore the mechanism of Drp1 and Orai1 in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy caused by high glucose (HG). We found that Zucker diabetic fat rats induced by administration of a high-fat diet develop cardiac hypertrophy and impaired cardiac function, accompanied by the activation of mitochondrial dynamics and calcium handling pathway-related proteins. Moreover, HG induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, accompanied by abnormal mitochondrial morphology and function, and increased Orai1-mediated Ca²⁺ influx. Mechanistically, the Drp1 inhibitor mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) prevents cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by HG by reducing phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 616 (S616) and increasing phosphorylation at S637. Inhibition of Orai1 with single guide RNA (sgOrai1) or an inhibitor (BTP2) not only suppressed Drp1 activity and calmodulin-binding catalytic subunit A (CnA) and phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) expression but also alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy caused by HG. In addition, the CnA inhibitor cyclosporin A and p-ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 improved HG-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by promoting and inhibiting phosphorylation of Drp1 at S637 and S616, respectively. In summary, we identified Drp1 as a downstream target of Orai1-mediated Ca²⁺ entry, via activation by p-ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation at S616 or CnA-mediated dephosphorylation at S637 in DCM. Thus, the Orai1–Drp1 axis is a novel target for treating DCM.Subject terms: Molecular biology, Cardiac hypertrophy, Pathogenesis     

A role for septin 2 in Drp1‐mediated mitochondrial fission

Mitochondria are essential eukaryotic organelles often forming intricate networks. The overall network morphology is determined by mitochondrial fusion and fission. Among the multiple mechanisms that appear to regulate mitochondrial fission, the ER and actin have recently been shown to play an important role by mediating mitochondrial constriction and promoting the action of a key fission factor, the dynamin‐like protein Drp1. Here, we report that the cytoskeletal component septin 2 is involved in Drp1‐dependent mitochondrial fission in mammalian cells. Septin 2 localizes to a subset of mitochondrial constrictions and directly binds Drp1, as shown by immunoprecipitation of the endogenous proteins and by pulldown assays with recombinant proteins. Depletion of septin 2 reduces Drp1 recruitment to mitochondria and results in hyperfused mitochondria and delayed FCCP‐induced fission. Strikingly, septin depletion also affects mitochondrial morphology in Caenorhabditis elegans, strongly suggesting that the role of septins in mitochondrial dynamics is evolutionarily conserved.