Short Mitochondrial ARF Triggers Parkin/PINK1-dependent Mitophagy

Parkinson disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Multiple genes have been associated with PD, including Parkin and PINK1. Recent studies have established that the Parkin and PINK1 proteins function in a common mitochondrial quality control pathway, whereby disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential leads to PINK1 stabilization at the mitochondrial outer surface. PINK1 accumulation leads to Parkin recruitment from the cytosol, which in turn promotes the degradation of the damaged mitochondria by autophagy (mitophagy). Most studies characterizing PINK1/Parkin mitophagy have relied on high concentrations of chemical uncouplers to trigger mitochondrial depolarization, a stimulus that has been difficult to adapt to neuronal systems and one unlikely to faithfully model the mitochondrial damage that occurs in PD. Here, we report that the short mitochondrial isoform of ARF (smARF), previously identified as an alternate translation product of the tumor suppressor p19ARF, depolarizes mitochondria and promotes mitophagy in a Parkin/PINK1-dependent manner, both in cell lines and in neurons. The work positions smARF upstream of PINK1 and Parkin and demonstrates that mitophagy can be triggered by intrinsic signaling cascades.     

PINK1/Parkin介导的线粒体自噬

线粒体自噬（mitochondrial autophagy, or mitophagy）指的是细胞通过自吞噬作用,降解与清除受损线粒体或者多余线粒体,其对整个线粒体网络的功能完整性和细胞存活具有重要作用。线粒体自噬过程受多种途径调控,PINK1/Parkin通路是其中的一条,其异常与多种疾病的发生密切相关,如心血管疾病、肿瘤和帕金森病等。在去极化线粒体中,磷酸酶及张力蛋白同源物(PTEN)诱导的激酶1（PTEN-induced kinase 1,PINK1）作为受损线粒体的分子传感器,触发线粒体自噬的起始信号,并将Parkin募集至线粒体;Parkin作为线粒体自噬信号的“增强子”,通过对线粒体蛋白质进一步泛素化介导自噬信号的扩大;去泛素化酶和PTEN-long蛋白参与调控该过程,并对维持线粒体稳态具有重要作用。本文主要对PINK1与Parkin蛋白质的分子结构和其介导线粒体自噬发生的分子机制,以及参与调控该途径的关键蛋白质进行综述,为进一步研究以线粒体自噬缺陷为特征的疾病治疗提供理论基础。     

PINK1/parkin通路调控线粒体自噬机制的研究进展

线粒体自噬指细胞通过自噬机制选择性除去损伤或多余的线粒体。真核生物通过线粒体自噬调控线粒体质量,维持供能细胞器的功能。大量研究表明,帕金森病相关基因PINK1和parkin可通过线粒体自噬参与并维持线粒体功能。PINK1与parkin能协同特异性识别损伤的线粒体,PINK1作为线粒体质量调控的探测器被活化,此过程中泛素化酶和去泛素化酶对维持parkin活性及线粒体自噬的效率有重要作用。本文主要总结PINK1/parkin通路在线粒体自噬中的功能与作用。     

帕金森病相关蛋白PINK1和Parkin通过降解Miro影响线粒体运动

帕金森病是一种常见的神经退行性疾病,发病机制尚不清楚,线粒体功能障碍是可能的原因之一。帕金森病相关蛋白PINK1和Parkin均被证明影响线粒体功能和形态,并参与线粒体质量监控。2011年11月《细胞》杂志 （Cell）147期 发表了题为《PINK1和Parkin导致Miro磷酸化降解和线粒体运动阻滞》的文章,发现PINK1 / Parkin 通路可以作用于定位在线粒体外膜的线粒体移动相关蛋白Miro,PINK1直接磷酸化Miro,Parkin参与Miro降解,使受损线粒体脱离微管,从而阻滞线粒体运动。作者猜测这一过程能够隔离受损线粒体,避免了受损线粒体在细胞中的扩散。该研究深入探讨了PINK1和Parkin相互作用机制,揭示了线粒体质量控制系统如何直接调控线粒体运输,提出了受损线粒体的不正常运输可能是PD的致病原因。     

PINK1 controls mitochondrial localization of Parkin through direct phosphorylation

PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin, encoded by their respective genes associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), are linked in a common pathway involved in the protection of mitochondrial integrity and function. However, the mechanism of their interaction at the biochemical level has not been investigated yet. Using both mammalian and Drosophila systems, we here demonstrate that the PINK1 kinase activity is required for its function in mitochondria. PINK1 regulates the localization of Parkin to the mitochondria in its kinase activity-dependent manner. In detail, Parkin phosphorylation by PINK1 on its linker region promotes its mitochondrial translocation, and the RING1 domain of Parkin is critical for this occurrence. These results demonstrate the biochemical relationship between PINK1, Parkin, and the mitochondria and thereby suggest the possible mechanism of PINK-Parkin-associated PD pathogenesis.     

Mitophagy and the therapeutic clearance of damaged mitochondria for neuroprotection

Mitochondria are the foremost producers of the cellular energy currency ATP. They are also a significant source of reactive oxygen species and an important buffer of intracellular calcium. Mitochondrial retrograde signals regulate energy homeostasis and pro-survival elements whereas anterograde stimuli can trigger programmed cell death. Maintenance of a healthy, functional mitochondria network is therefore essential, and several mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control have been described. Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to several neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson, and Huntingdon diseases as well as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Understanding the mechanisms governing mitochondrial quality control may reveal novel strategies for pharmacological intervention and disease therapy.     

帕金森病相关蛋白PINK1和α-突触核蛋白相互作用研究

目的 利用蛋白质组学方法和激光扫描共聚焦显微镜来鉴定帕金森病相关蛋白PINK1和α-突触核蛋白（α-synuclein）之间的相互作用关系及两种蛋白在MN9D细胞中的分布。方法 将α-synuclein基因插入pGEX-4T-1载体,经DNA测序证明形成GST融合蛋白,经大肠杆菌BL-2l表达纯化后,与MN9D细胞裂解液共孵育,检测PINK1与α-synuclein蛋白间的相互作用。并应用MN9D细胞的内源性PINK1与α-synuclein进行免疫共沉淀实验,进一步验证两蛋白之间的相互作用。MN9D细胞经免疫细胞化学染色,利用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察两种蛋白的细胞内分布及共定位状态。结果 利用GST-α-synuclein融合蛋白捕获及免疫共沉淀技术,检测到特异的PINK1条带。激光扫描共聚焦显微镜检测到两者存在部分共定位。结论 PINK1和α-synuclein在体外和细胞内均可发生相互作用并在MN9D细胞中存在共定位关系。     

MicroRNA-137 Is a Novel Hypoxia-responsive MicroRNA That Inhibits Mitophagy via Regulation of Two Mitophagy Receptors FUNDC1 and NIX

Mitophagy receptors mediate the selective recognition and targeting of damaged mitochondria by autophagosomes. The mechanism for the regulation of these receptors remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that a novel hypoxia-responsive microRNA, microRNA-137 (miR-137), markedly inhibits mitochondrial degradation by autophagy without affecting global autophagy. miR-137 targets the expression of two mitophagy receptors NIX and FUNDC1. Impaired mitophagy in response to hypoxia caused by miR-137 is reversed by re-expression of FUNDC1 and NIX expression vectors lacking the miR-137 recognition sites at their 3′ UTR. Conversely, miR-137 also suppresses the mitophagy induced by fundc1 (CDS+3′UTR) but not fundc1 (CDS) overexpression. Finally, we found that miR-137 inhibits mitophagy by reducing the expression of the mitophagy receptor thereby leads to inadequate interaction between mitophagy receptor and LC3. Our results demonstrated the regulatory role of miRNA to mitophagy receptors and revealed a novel link between miR-137 and mitophagy.     

Cannabidiol activates PINK1-Parkin-dependent mitophagy and mitochondrial-derived vesicles

The PINK1/Parkin pathway plays an important role in maintaining a healthy pool of mitochondria. Activation of this pathway can lead to apoptosis, mitophagy, or mitochondrial-derived vesicle formation, depending on the nature of mitochondrial damage. The signaling by which PINK/Parkin activation leads to these different mitochondrial outcomes remains understudied. Here we present evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) activates the PINK1-Parkin pathway in a unique manner. CBD stimulates PINK1-dependent Parkin mitochondrial recruitment similarly to other well-studied Parkin activators but with a distinctive shift in the temporal dynamics and mitochondrial fates. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor cyclosporine A exclusively diminished the CBD-induced PINK1/Parkin activation and its associated mitochondrial effects. Unexpectedly, CBD treatment also induced elevated production of mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDV), a potential quality control mechanism that may help repair partial damaged mitochondria. Our results suggest that CBD may engage the PINK1-Parkin pathway to produce MDV and repair mitochondrial lesions via mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. This work uncovered a novel link between CBD and PINK1/Parkin-dependent MDV production in mitochondrial health regulation.     

Parkin stabilizes PINK1 through direct interaction

Parkinson disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder and is characterized by dopaminergic dysfunction. The majority of PD cases are sporadic; however, the discovery of genes linked to rare familial forms of the disease has provided crucial insight into the molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. Multiple genes mediating familial forms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been identified, such as parkin (PARK2) and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN)-induced putative kinase 1: PINK1 (PARK6). Here, we showed that Parkin directly interacts with PINK1, but did not bind to pathogenic PINK1 mutants. Parkin, but not its pathogenic mutants, stabilizes PINK1 by interfering with its degradation via the ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal pathway. In addition, the interaction between Parkin and PINK1 resulted in reciprocal reduction of their solubility. Our results indicate that Parkin regulates PINK1 stabilization via direct interaction with PINK1, and operates through a common pathway with PINK1 in the pathogenesis of early-onset PD.     

Nitric Oxide Induction of Parkin Translocation in PTEN-induced Putative Kinase 1 (PINK1) Deficiency: FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF NEURONAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE DURING MITOPHAGY*

The failure to trigger mitophagy is implicated in the pathogenesis of familial Parkinson disease that is caused by PINK1 or Parkin mutations. According to the prevailing PINK1-Parkin signaling model, mitophagy is promoted by the mitochondrial translocation of Parkin, an essential PINK1-dependent step that occurs via a previously unknown mechanism. Here we determined that critical concentrations of NO was sufficient to induce the mitochondrial translocation of Parkin even in PINK1 deficiency, with apparent increased interaction of full-length PINK1 accumulated during mitophagy, with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Specifically, optimum levels of NO enabled PINK1-null dopaminergic neuronal cells to regain the mitochondrial translocation of Parkin, which appeared to be significantly suppressed by nNOS-null mutation. Moreover, nNOS-null mutation resulted in the same mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) enzyme deficits as PINK1-null mutation. The involvement of mitochondrial nNOS activation in mitophagy was further confirmed by the greatly increased interactions of full-length PINK1 with nNOS, accompanied by mitochondrial accumulation of phospho-nNOS (Ser¹⁴¹²) during mitophagy. Of great interest is that the L347P PINK1 mutant failed to bind to nNOS. The loss of nNOS phosphorylation and Parkin accumulation on PINK1-deficient mitochondria could be reversed in a PINK1-dependent manner. Finally, non-toxic levels of NO treatment aided in the recovery of PINK1-null dopaminergic neuronal cells from mitochondrial ETC enzyme deficits. In summary, we demonstrated the full-length PINK1-dependent recruitment of nNOS, its activation in the induction of Parkin translocation, and the feasibility of NO-based pharmacotherapy for defective mitophagy and ETC enzyme deficits in Parkinson disease.     

Formation of parkin aggregates and enhanced PINK1 accumulation during the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by a distinct set of motor symptoms. Loss-of-function mutations in PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) or parkin have been linked to early-onset autosomal recessive forms of familial PD. We have recently shown that parkin (an E3 ubiquitin ligase) and PINK1 (a serine/threonine kinase) affect one other’s stability, solubility, and tendency to form cytoprotective aggresomes (Um et al., 2009, [16]). Here we validated the functional relevance of this mutual interaction under pathologic PD conditions, by investigating the changes of expression and solubility of these factors in response to PD-linked toxins. Consistent with our previous cell culture data, exposure of human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to PD-linked toxins (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion, 6-hydroxydopamine, or MG132) reduced Nonidet P-40-soluble parkin levels and induced PINK1 accumulation. Consistent with our previous findings from parkin knockout mice, rat models of PD (6-hydroxydopamine-, rotenone-, or MG132-induced PD) were also associated with an increase in soluble and insoluble PINK1 levels as well as enhanced formation of parkin aggregates. These findings suggest that both PINK1 and parkin play important roles in regulating the formation of Lewy bodies during the pathogenesis of sporadic and familial PD.     

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．     

Mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy rises in substantial nigra of aged PINK1 KO mice

Mutations in PINK1 and Parkin result in early-onset autosomal recessive Parkinson’s disease (PD). PINK1/Parkin pathway maintain mitochondrial function by mediating the clearance of damaged mitochondria. However, the role of PINK1/Parkin in maintaining the balance of mtDNA heteroplasmy is still unknown. Here, we isolated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from cortex, striatum and substantia nigra of wildtype (WT), PINK1 knockout (PINK1 KO) and Parkin knockout (Parkin KO) mice to analyze mtDNA heteroplasmy induced by PINK1/Parkin deficiency or aging. Our results showed that the Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) of late-onset somatic variants mainly increased with aging. Conversely, the early-onset somatic variants exhibited significant increase in the cortex and substantia nigra of PINK1 KO mice than WT mice of the same age. Increased average variant allele frequency was observed in aged PINK1 KO mice and in substantial nigra of aged Parkin KO mice than in WT mice. Cumulative variant allele frequency in the substantia nigra of PINK1 KO mice was significantly higher than that in WT mice, further supporting the pivotal role of PINK1 in mtDNA maintenance.This study presented a new evidence for PINK1 and Parkin in participating in mitochondrial quality control and provided clues for further revealing the role of PINK1 and Parkin in the pathogenesis of PD.     

PINK1 autophosphorylation is required for ubiquitin recognition

Mutations in PINK1 cause autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative movement disorder. PINK1 is a kinase that acts as a sensor of mitochondrial damage and initiates Parkin‐mediated clearance of the damaged organelle. PINK1 phosphorylates Ser65 in both ubiquitin and the ubiquitin‐like (Ubl) domain of Parkin, which stimulates its E3 ligase activity. Autophosphorylation of PINK1 is required for Parkin activation, but how this modulates the ubiquitin kinase activity is unclear. Here, we show that autophosphorylation of Tribolium castaneum PINK1 is required for substrate recognition. Using enzyme kinetics and NMR spectroscopy, we reveal that PINK1 binds the Parkin Ubl with a 10‐fold higher affinity than ubiquitin via a conserved interface that is also implicated in RING1 and SH3 binding. The interaction requires phosphorylation at Ser205, an invariant PINK1 residue (Ser228 in human). Using mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that PINK1 rapidly autophosphorylates in trans at Ser205. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering and hydrogen–deuterium exchange experiments provide insights into the structure of the PINK1 catalytic domain. Our findings suggest that multiple PINK1 molecules autophosphorylate first prior to binding and phosphorylating ubiquitin and Parkin.     

大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型线粒体自噬变化的研究

目的:观察大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型不同时间点线粒体及线粒体自噬的变化。方法:成年雄性SD大鼠40只,随机分为假手术对照组(sham组):开胸不进行冠状动脉左前降支(Left anterior descending coronary artery,LAD)血流阻断;缺血再灌注组2h组(I/R 2 h组)、24 h组(I/R 24 h组)及48 h组(I/R 48 h组),以上3组均阻断LAD 30 min,分别于再灌注后2 h、24 h、48 h观察心肌ATP含量,线粒体膜电位水平变化,透射电镜下观察线粒体及线粒体自噬超微结构变化,western blot法测定线粒体自噬蛋白PINK1、Parkin、p62、LC3B及线粒体膜蛋白Tom20表达水平。结果:与对照组相比,线粒体膜电位水平及心肌组织ATP含量于再灌注2 h开始下降,24 h下降最显著,48 h有所改善,线粒体超微结构损伤再灌注24 h最为明显,48 h有所改善。PINK1、Parkin、p62蛋白表达于损伤后2 h增强,于再灌注后24 h升高最显著,持续至48 h,LC3BⅡ表达于损伤后24 h增强,同样持续至48 h。透射电镜下可见线粒体自噬体于再灌注后24 h明显增多,并持续至48 h。结论:大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤后,线粒体功能与形态损伤以损伤后24 h最为显著,至损伤后48 h后好转;线粒体自噬水平升高以损伤后24 h最为显著,且维持至损伤后48 h,提示两者之间可能存在关联。     

Mitophagy in cells with mtDNA mutations

Despite the emergence of autophagy as a key process for mitochondrial quality control, the existence and persistence of pathogenic mtDNA mutations in human disease suggests that the degradation of dysfunctional mitochondria does not occur widely in vivo. During macroautophagy, a double-membraned cup-shaped structure engulfs cytosolic content. This autophagic vesicle then fuses with lysosomes, allowing hydrolytic enzymes to degrade the contents. Mitochondrial autophagy, or mitophagy, is thought to degrade damaged or nonfunctioning mitochondria specifically. The Parkinson disease-related proteins PINK1 (a mitochondrially localized kinase) and PARK2 (PARKIN, a cytosolically-localized E3 ubiquitin ligase) are essential for targeting mitochondria for mitophagy. Upon chemical uncoupling of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψ_m), PINK1 located in the mitochondrial outer membrane recruits PARK2 from the cytosol to the mitochondria, followed by delivery of the organelle to the autophagic machinery for degradation.     

Cytosolic cleaved PINK1 represses Parkin translocation to mitochondria and mitophagy

PINK1 is a mitochondrial kinase proposed to have a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson''s disease through the regulation of mitophagy. Here, we show that the PINK1 main cleavage product, PINK1_52, after being generated inside mitochondria, can exit these organelles and localize to the cytosol, where it is not only destined for degradation by the proteasome but binds to Parkin. The interaction of cytosolic PINK1 with Parkin represses Parkin translocation to the mitochondria and subsequent mitophagy. Our work therefore highlights the existence of two cellular pools of PINK1 that have different effects on Parkin translocation and mitophagy.     

Loss of iron triggers PINK1/Parkin‐independent mitophagy

In this study, we develop a simple assay to identify mitophagy inducers on the basis of the use of fluorescently tagged mitochondria that undergo a colour change on lysosomal delivery. Using this assay, we identify iron chelators as a family of compounds that generate a strong mitophagy response. Iron chelation‐induced mitophagy requires that cells undergo glycolysis, but does not require PINK1 stabilization or Parkin activation, and occurs in primary human fibroblasts as well as those isolated from a Parkinson's patient with Parkin mutations. Thus, we have identified and characterized a mitophagy pathway, the induction of which could prove beneficial as a potential therapy for several neurodegenerative diseases in which mitochondrial clearance is advantageous.     

Defending the mitochondria: The pathways of mitophagy and mitochondrial-derived vesicles

Mitochondria are the powerhouses for the cell, consuming oxygen to generate sufficient energy for the maintenance of normal cellular processes. However, a deleterious consequence of this process are reactive oxygen species generated as side-products of these reactions. As a means to protect mitochondria from damage, cells and mitochondria have developed a wide-range of mitochondrial quality control mechanisms that remove damaged mitochondrial cargo, enabling the mitochondria to repair the damage and ultimately restore their normal function. If the damage is extensive and mitochondria can no longer be repaired, a process termed mitophagy is initiated in which the mitochondria are directed for autophagic clearance. Canonical mitophagy is regulated by two proteins, PINK1 and Parkin, which are mutated in familial forms of Parkinson’s disease. In this review, we discuss recent work elucidating the mechanism of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, along with recently uncovered PINK1/Parkin-independent mitophagy pathways. Moreover, we describe a novel mitochondrial quality control pathway, involving mitochondrial-derived vesicles that direct distinct and damaged mitochondrial cargo for degradation in the lysosome. Finally, we discuss the association between mitochondrial quality control, cardiac, hepatic and neurodegenerative disease and discuss the possibility of targeting these pathways for therapeutic purposes.