Disruption of Mitochondrial DNA Replication in Drosophila Increases Mitochondrial Fast Axonal Transport In Vivo

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA polymerase (pol γ) cause several progressive human diseases including Parkinson''s disease, Alper''s syndrome, and progressive external ophthalmoplegia. At the cellular level, disruption of pol γ leads to depletion of mtDNA, disrupts the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and increases susceptibility to oxidative stress. Although recent studies have intensified focus on the role of mtDNA in neuronal diseases, the changes that take place in mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial axonal transport when mtDNA replication is disrupted are unknown. Using high-speed confocal microscopy, electron microscopy and biochemical approaches, we report that mutations in pol γ deplete mtDNA levels and lead to an increase in mitochondrial density in Drosophila proximal nerves and muscles, without a noticeable increase in mitochondrial fragmentation. Furthermore, there is a rise in flux of bidirectional mitochondrial axonal transport, albeit with slower kinesin-based anterograde transport. In contrast, flux of synaptic vesicle precursors was modestly decreased in pol γ−α mutants. Our data indicate that disruption of mtDNA replication does not hinder mitochondrial biogenesis, increases mitochondrial axonal transport, and raises the question of whether high levels of circulating mtDNA-deficient mitochondria are beneficial or deleterious in mtDNA diseases.     

Disease-causing mutations in Parkin impair mitochondrial ubiquitination,aggregation, and HDAC6-dependent mitophagy

Mutations in parkin, a ubiquitin ligase, cause early-onset familial Parkinson''s disease (AR-JP). How parkin suppresses Parkinsonism remains unknown. Parkin was recently shown to promote the clearance of impaired mitochondria by autophagy, termed mitophagy. Here, we show that parkin promotes mitophagy by catalyzing mitochondrial ubiquitination, which in turn recruits ubiquitin-binding autophagic components, HDAC6 and p62, leading to mitochondrial clearance. During the process, juxtanuclear mitochondrial aggregates resembling a protein aggregate-induced aggresome are formed. The formation of these “mito-aggresome” structures requires microtubule motor-dependent transport and is essential for efficient mitophagy. Importantly, we show that AR-JP–causing parkin mutations are defective in supporting mitophagy due to distinct defects at recognition, transportation, or ubiquitination of impaired mitochondria, thereby implicating mitophagy defects in the development of Parkinsonism. Our results show that impaired mitochondria and protein aggregates are processed by common ubiquitin-selective autophagy machinery connected to the aggresomal pathway, thus identifying a mechanistic basis for the prevalence of these toxic entities in Parkinson''s disease.     

HDAC6 Inhibitor Blocks Amyloid Beta-Induced Impairment of Mitochondrial Transport in Hippocampal Neurons

Even though the disruption of axonal transport is an important pathophysiological factor in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), the relationship between disruption of axonal transport and pathogenesis of AD is poorly understood. Considering that α-tubulin acetylation is an important factor in axonal transport and that Aβ impairs mitochondrial axonal transport, we manipulated the level of α-tubulin acetylation in hippocampal neurons with Aβ cultured in a microfluidic system and examined its effect on mitochondrial axonal transport. We found that inhibiting histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), which deacetylates α-tubulin, significantly restored the velocity and motility of the mitochondria in both anterograde and retrograde axonal transports, which would be otherwise compromised by Aβ. The inhibition of HDAC6 also recovered the length of the mitochondria that had been shortened by Aβ to a normal level. These results suggest that the inhibition of HDAC6 significantly rescues hippocampal neurons from Aβ-induced impairment of mitochondrial axonal transport as well as mitochondrial length. The results presented in this paper identify HDAC6 as an important regulator of mitochondrial transport as well as elongation and, thus, a potential target whose pharmacological inhibition contributes to improving mitochondrial dynamics in Aβ treated neurons.     

Number and Brightness analysis of alpha-synuclein oligomerization and the associated mitochondrial morphology alterations in live cells

Background

Alpha-synuclein oligomerization is associated to Parkinson's disease etiopathogenesis. The study of alpha-synuclein oligomerization properties in live cell and the definition of their effects on cellular viability are among fields expected to provide the knowledge required to unravel the mechanism(s) of toxicity that lead to the disease.

Methods

We used Number and Brightness method, which is a method based on fluorescence fluctuation analysis, to monitor alpha-synuclein tagged with EGFP aggregation in living SH-SY5Y cells. The presence of alpha-synuclein oligomers detected with this method was associated with intracellular structure conditions, evaluated by fluorescence confocal imaging.

Results

Cells overexpressing alpha-synuclein-EGFP present a heterogeneous ensemble of oligomers constituted by less than 10 monomers, when the protein approaches a threshold concentration value of about 90 nM in the cell cytoplasm. We show that the oligomeric species are partially sequestered by lysosomes and that the mitochondria morphology is altered in cells presenting oligomers, suggesting that these mitochondria may be dysfunctional.

Conclusions

We showed that alpha-synuclein overexpression in SH-SY5Y causes the formation of alpha-synuclein oligomeric species, whose presence is associated with mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagic-lysosomal pathway activation in live cells.

General significance

The unique capability provided by the Number and Brightness analysis to study alpha-synuclein oligomer distribution and properties, and the study of their association to intracellular components in single live cells is important to forward our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Parkinson's disease and it may be of general significance when applied to the study of other aggregating proteins in cellular models.     

Mitochondrial Metabolism Power SIRT2-Dependent Deficient Traffic Causing Alzheimer’s-Disease Related Pathology

Multiple lines of evidence state a major role for mitochondrial dysfunction in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) etiopathogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism(s) triggered by mitochondrial deficits that lead to neurodegeneration remain elusive. Herein, we propose a new mechanism by which mitochondrial loss of potential leads to a dysfunction in autophagy/mitophagy due to the overactivation of SIRT2, a tubulin deacetylase that regulates microtubule network acetylation, and provide insights into the association between metabolism, phosphorylation, and Aβ aggregation. We observed an increase in SIRT2 levels and a decrease in the acetylation of lys40 of tubulin in AD cells containing patient mtDNA as well as in AD brains. SIRT2 loss of function either with AK1 (a specific SIRT2 inhibitor) or by SIRT2 knockout recovers microtubule stabilization and improves autophagy, favoring cell survival through the elimination of toxic Aβ oligomers. Our data provide strong evidence for a functional role of tubulin acetylation on autophagic vesicle traffic and mitochondria degradation. We propose that SIRT2 inhibition may improve microtubule assembly thus representing a valid approach as disease-modifying therapy for AD.     

Alpha-synuclein overexpression and aggregation exacerbates impairment of mitochondrial functions by augmenting oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma cells

Overexpression of alpha-synuclein and oxidative stress has been implicated in the neuronal cell death in Parkinson's disease. Alpha-synuclein associates with mitochondria and excessive accumulation of alpha-synuclein causes impairment of mitochondrial functions. However, the mechanism of mitochondrial impairment caused by alpha-synuclein is not fully understood. We recently reported that alpha-synuclein associates with mitochondria and that overexpression of alpha-synuclein causes nitration of mitochondrial proteins and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria [Parihar M.S., Parihar A., Fujita M., Hashimoto M., Ghafourifar P. Mitochondrial association of alpha-synuclein causes oxidative stress. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2008a;65:1272–1284]. The present study shows that overexpression of alpha-synuclein A53T or A30P mutants or wild-type in human neuroblastoma cells augmented aggregation of alpha-synuclein. Immunoblotting and immuno-gold electron transmission microscopy show localization of alpha-synuclein aggregates within the mitochondria of overexpressing cells. Overexpressing cells show increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, increased protein tyrosine nitration, decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and hampered cellular respiration. These findings suggest an important role for mitochondria in cellular responses to alpha-synuclein.     

Systems-Based Analyses of Brain Regions Functionally Impacted in Parkinson's Disease Reveals Underlying Causal Mechanisms

Detailed analysis of disease-affected tissue provides insight into molecular mechanisms contributing to pathogenesis. Substantia nigra, striatum, and cortex are functionally connected with increasing degrees of alpha-synuclein pathology in Parkinson''s disease. We undertook functional and causal pathway analysis of gene expression and proteomic alterations in these three regions, and the data revealed pathways that correlated with disease progression. In addition, microarray and RNAseq experiments revealed previously unidentified causal changes related to oligodendrocyte function and synaptic vesicle release, and these and other changes were reflected across all brain regions. Importantly, subsets of these changes were replicated in Parkinson''s disease blood; suggesting peripheral tissue may provide important avenues for understanding and measuring disease status and progression. Proteomic assessment revealed alterations in mitochondria and vesicular transport proteins that preceded gene expression changes indicating defects in translation and/or protein turnover. Our combined approach of proteomics, RNAseq and microarray analyses provides a comprehensive view of the molecular changes that accompany functional loss and alpha-synuclein pathology in Parkinson''s disease, and may be instrumental to understand, diagnose and follow Parkinson''s disease progression.     

Mitochondrial signaling on innate immunity activation in Parkinson disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) in the nigrostriatal pathway that is followed by severe neuroinflammatory response. PD etiology is still puzzling; however, the mitocentric view might explain the vast majority of molecular findings not only in the brain, but also at systemic level. While neuronal degeneration is tightly associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, the causal role between aSyn accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction still requires further investigation. Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunction can elicit an inflammatory response that may be transmitted locally but also in a long range through systemic circulation. Furthermore, mitochondrial-driven innate immune activation may involve the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, of which aSyn poses as a good candidate. While there is still a need to clarify disease-elicited mechanisms and how aSyn has the ability to modulate mitochondrial and cellular dysfunction, recent studies provide insightful views on mitochondria-inflammation axis in PD etiology.     

Mitochondria drive autophagy pathology via microtubule disassembly

Neurons are exquisitely dependent on quality control systems to maintain a healthy intracellular environment. A permanent assessment of protein and organelle “quality” allows a coordinated action between repair and clearance of damage proteins and dysfunctional organelles. Impairments in the intracellular clearance mechanisms in long-lived postmitotic cells, like neurons, result in the progressive accumulation of damaged organelles and aggregates of aberrant proteins. Using cells bearing Parkinson disease (PD) patients’ mitochondria, we demonstrated that aberrant accumulation of autophagosomes in PD, commonly interpreted as an abnormal induction of autophagy, is instead due to defective autophagic clearance. This defect is a consequence of alterations in the microtubule network driven by mitochondrial dysfunction that hinder mitochondria and autophagosome trafficking. We uncover mitochondria and microtubule-directed traffic as main players in the regulation of autophagy in PD.     

CRMP/UNC-33 organizes microtubule bundles for KIF5-mediated mitochondrial distribution to axon

Neurons are highly specialized cells with polarized cellular processes and subcellular domains. As vital organelles for neuronal functions, mitochondria are distributed by microtubule-based transport systems. Although the essential components of mitochondrial transport including motors and cargo adaptors are identified, it is less clear how mitochondrial distribution among somato-dendritic and axonal compartment is regulated. Here, we systematically study mitochondrial motors, including four kinesins, KIF5, KIF17, KIF1, KLP-6, and dynein, and transport regulators in C. elegans PVD neurons. Among all these motors, we found that mitochondrial export from soma to neurites is mainly mediated by KIF5/UNC-116. Interestingly, UNC-116 is especially important for axonal mitochondria, while dynein removes mitochondria from all plus-end dendrites and the axon. We surprisingly found one mitochondrial transport regulator for minus-end dendritic compartment, TRAK-1, and two mitochondrial transport regulators for axonal compartment, CRMP/UNC-33 and JIP3/UNC-16. While JIP3/UNC-16 suppresses axonal mitochondria, CRMP/UNC-33 is critical for axonal mitochondria; nearly no axonal mitochondria present in unc-33 mutants. We showed that UNC-33 is essential for organizing the population of UNC-116-associated microtubule bundles, which are tracks for mitochondrial trafficking. Disarrangement of these tracks impedes mitochondrial transport to the axon. In summary, we identified a compartment-specific transport regulation of mitochondria by UNC-33 through organizing microtubule tracks for different kinesin motors other than microtubule polarity.     

Tau protein: Relevance to Parkinson's disease

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein linked with neurodegenerative diseases. Humans express six different isoforms of tau; the longest containing four microtubule-binding repeat motifs in the C-terminal that are vital for what is considered the major biological function of tau, to stabilize microtubules and facilitate axonal transport. The capacity of tau to maintain its normal biological function is dependent upon its phosphorylation state. In Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, there is a hyperphosphorylation of tau that leads to the intracellular accumulation of tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles. While the role of tau in Parkinson's disease has been understated for some time, here we summarize key genetic, pathological and biochemical evidence supporting a role for tau in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Toxic interactions with alpha synuclein may lead to hyperphosphorylation of tau and eventually to the deposition of both proteins in the disease.     

Transgenic mice overexpressing tyrosine-to-cysteine mutant human alpha-synuclein: a progressive neurodegenerative model of diffuse Lewy body disease

Abnormal aggregation of human alpha-synuclein in Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Studies have shown that oxidation and nitration of alpha-synuclein lead to the formation of stable dimers and oligomers through dityrosine cross-linking. Previously we have reported that tyrosine-to-cysteine mutations, particularly at the tyrosine 39 residue (Y39C), significantly enhanced alpha-synuclein fibril formation and neurotoxicity. In the current study, we have generated transgenic mice expressing the Y39C mutant human alpha-synuclein gene controlled by the mouse Thy1 promoter. Mutant human alpha-synuclein was widely expressed in transgenic mouse brain, resulting in 150% overexpression relative to endogenous mouse alpha-synuclein. At age 9-12 months, transgenic mice began to display motor dysfunction in rotarod testing. Older animals aged 15-18 months showed progressive accumulation of human alpha-synuclein oligomers, associated with worse motor function and cognitive impairment in the Morris water maze. By age 21-24 months, alpha-synuclein aggregates were further increased, accompanied by severe behavioral deficits. At this age, transgenic mice developed neuropathology, such as Lewy body-like alpha-synuclein and ubiquitin-positive inclusions, phosphorylation at Ser(129) of human alpha-synuclein, and increased apoptotic cell death. In summary, Y39C human alpha-synuclein transgenic mice show age-dependent, progressive neuronal degeneration with motor and cognitive deficits similar to diffuse Lewy body disease. The time course of alpha-synuclein oligomer accumulation coincided with behavioral and pathological changes, indicating that these oligomers may initiate protein aggregation, disrupt cellular function, and eventually lead to neuronal death.     

In vivo imaging reveals mitophagy independence in the maintenance of axonal mitochondria during normal aging

Mitophagy is thought to be a critical mitochondrial quality control mechanism in neurons and has been extensively studied in neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. However, little is known about how mitochondria are maintained in the lengthy neuronal axons in the context of physiological aging. Here, we utilized the unique Drosophila wing nerve model and in vivo imaging to rigorously profile changes in axonal mitochondria during aging. We revealed that mitochondria became fragmented and accumulated in aged axons. However, lack of Pink1 or Parkin did not lead to the accumulation of axonal mitochondria or axonal degeneration. Further, unlike in in vitro cultured neurons, we found that mitophagy rarely occurred in intact axons in vivo, even in aged animals. Furthermore, blocking overall mitophagy by knockdown of the core autophagy genes Atg12 or Atg17 had little effect on the turnover of axonal mitochondria or axonal integrity, suggesting that mitophagy is not required for axonal maintenance; this is regardless of whether the mitophagy is PINK1‐Parkin dependent or independent. In contrast, downregulation of mitochondrial fission–fusion genes caused age‐dependent axonal degeneration. Moreover, Opa1 expression in the fly head was significantly decreased with age, which may underlie the accumulation of fragmented mitochondria in aged axons. Finally, we showed that adult‐onset, neuronal downregulation of the fission–fusion, but not mitophagy genes, dramatically accelerated features of aging. We propose that axonal mitochondria are maintained independently of mitophagy and that mitophagy‐independent mechanisms such as fission–fusion may be central to the maintenance of axonal mitochondria and neural integrity during normal aging.     

Reduced Basal Autophagy and Impaired Mitochondrial Dynamics Due to Loss of Parkinson's Disease-Associated Protein DJ-1

Background

Mitochondrial dysfunction and degradation takes a central role in current paradigms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson''s disease (PD). Loss of DJ-1 function is a rare cause of familial PD. Although a critical role of DJ-1 in oxidative stress response and mitochondrial function has been recognized, the effects on mitochondrial dynamics and downstream consequences remain to be determined.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using DJ-1 loss of function cellular models from knockout (KO) mice and human carriers of the E64D mutation in the DJ-1 gene we define a novel role of DJ-1 in the integrity of both cellular organelles, mitochondria and lysosomes. We show that loss of DJ-1 caused impaired mitochondrial respiration, increased intramitochondrial reactive oxygen species, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and characteristic alterations of mitochondrial shape as shown by quantitative morphology. Importantly, ultrastructural imaging and subsequent detailed lysosomal activity analyses revealed reduced basal autophagic degradation and the accumulation of defective mitochondria in DJ-1 KO cells, that was linked with decreased levels of phospho-activated ERK2.

Conclusions/Significance

We show that loss of DJ-1 leads to impaired autophagy and accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria that under physiological conditions would be compensated via lysosomal clearance. Our study provides evidence for a critical role of DJ-1 in mitochondrial homeostasis by connecting basal autophagy and mitochondrial integrity in Parkinson''s disease.     

Mitochondrial trafficking of APP and alpha synuclein: Relevance to mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important intracellular lesion associated with a wide variety of diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. In addition to aging, oxidative stress and mitochondrial DNA mutations, recent studies have implicated a role for the mitochondrial accumulation of proteins such as plasma membrane associated amyloid precursor protein (APP) and cytosolic alpha synuclein in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively. Both of these proteins contain cryptic mitochondrial targeting signals, which drive their transport across mitochondria. In general, mitochondrial entry of nuclear coded proteins is assisted by import receptors situated in both outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. A growing number of evidence suggests that APP and alpha synclein interact with import receptors to gain entry into mitochondrial compartment. Additionally, carboxy terminal cleaved product of APP, ～ 4 kDa Abeta, is also transported into mitochondria with the help of mitochondrial outer membrane import receptors. This review focuses on the mitochondrial targeting and accumulation of these two structurally different proteins and the mode of mechanism by which they affect the physiological functions of mitochondria.     

Dynamin-related protein 1: A critical protein in the pathogenesis of neural system dysfunctions and neurodegenerative diseases

Mitochondria play a key role in the maintenance of neuronal function by continuously providing energy. Here, we will give a detailed review about the recent developments in regards to dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) induced unbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, excessive mitochondrial division, and neuronal injury in neural system dysfunctions and neurodegenerative diseases, including the Drp1 knockout induced mice embryonic death, the dysfunction of the Drp1-dependent mitochondrial division induced neuronal cell apoptosis and impaired neuronal axonal transportation, the abnormal interaction between Drp1 and amyloid β (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the mutant Huntingtin (Htt) in Huntington's disease (HD), and the Drp1-associated pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Drp1 is required for mitochondrial division determining the size, shape, distribution, and remodeling as well as maintaining of mitochondrial integrity in mammalian cells. In addition, increasing reports indicate that the Drp1 is involved in some cellular events of neuronal cells causing some neural system dysfunctions and neurodegenerative diseases, including impaired mitochondrial dynamics, apoptosis, and several posttranslational modification induced increased mitochondrial divisions. Recent studies also revealed that the Drp1 can interact with Aβ, phosphorylated τ, and mutant Htt affecting the mitochondrial shape, size, distribution, axonal transportation, and energy production in the AD and HD neuronal cells. These changes can affect the health of mitochondria and the function of synapses causing neuronal injury and eventually leading to the dysfunction of memory, cognitive impairment, resting tremor, posture instability, involuntary movements, and progressive muscle atrophy and paralysis in patients.     

Mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles which fulfill a plethora of functions. In addition to their prominent role in energy metabolism, mitochondria are intimately involved in various key cellular processes, such as the regulation of calcium homeostasis, stress response and cell death pathways. Thus, it is not surprising that an impairment of mitochondrial function results in cellular damage and is linked to aging and neurodegeneration. Many lines of evidence suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), starting in the early 1980s with the observation that an inhibitor of complex I of the electron transport chain can induce parkinsonism. Remarkably, recent research indicated that several PD-associated genes interface with pathways regulating mitochondrial function, morphology, and dynamics. In fact, sporadic and familial PD seem to converge at the level of mitochondrial integrity.     

PINK1-Parkin Pathway Activity Is Regulated by Degradation of PINK1 in the Mitochondrial Matrix

Loss-of-function mutations in PINK1, which encodes a mitochondrially targeted serine/threonine kinase, result in an early-onset heritable form of Parkinson''s disease. Previous work has shown that PINK1 is constitutively degraded in healthy cells, but selectively accumulates on the surface of depolarized mitochondria, thereby initiating their autophagic degradation. Although PINK1 is known to be a cleavage target of several mitochondrial proteases, whether these proteases account for the constitutive degradation of PINK1 in healthy mitochondria remains unclear. To explore the mechanism by which PINK1 is degraded, we performed a screen for mitochondrial proteases that influence PINK1 abundance in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We found that genetic perturbations targeting the matrix-localized protease Lon caused dramatic accumulation of processed PINK1 species in several mitochondrial compartments, including the matrix. Knockdown of Lon did not decrease mitochondrial membrane potential or trigger activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein stress response (UPR^mt), indicating that PINK1 accumulation in Lon-deficient animals is not a secondary consequence of mitochondrial depolarization or the UPR^mt. Moreover, the influence of Lon on PINK1 abundance was highly specific, as Lon inactivation had little or no effect on the abundance of other mitochondrial proteins. Further studies indicated that the processed forms of PINK1 that accumulate upon Lon inactivation are capable of activating the PINK1-Parkin pathway in vivo. Our findings thus suggest that Lon plays an essential role in regulating the PINK1-Parkin pathway by promoting the degradation of PINK1 in the matrix of healthy mitochondria.     

Formation of α-synuclein Lewy neurite–like aggregates in axons impedes the transport of distinct endosomes

Aggregates of α-synuclein (α-syn) accumulate in neurons in Parkinson''s disease and other synucleinopathies. These inclusions predominantly localize to axons even in the early stages of the disease, but their affect on axon function has remained unknown. Previously we established a model in which the addition of preformed α-syn fibrils to primary neurons seeds formation of insoluble α-syn inclusions built from endogenously expressed α-syn that closely recapitulate the neuropathological phenotypes of Lewy neurites found in human diseased brains. Here we show, using live-cell imaging, that immobile α-syn inclusions accumulate in axons from the recruitment of α-syn located on mobile α-syn–positive vesicles. Ultrastructural analyses and live imaging demonstrate that α-syn accumulations do not cause a generalized defect in axonal transport; the inclusions do not fill the axonal cytoplasm, disrupt the microtubule cytoskeleton, or affect the transport of synaptophysin or mitochondria. However, the α-syn aggregates impair the transport of Rab7 and TrkB receptor–containing endosomes, as well as autophagosomes. In addition, the TrkB receptor–associated signaling molecule pERK5 accumulates in α-syn aggregate–bearing neurons. Thus α-syn pathology impairs axonal transport of signaling and degradative organelles. These early effects of α-syn accumulations may predict points of intervention in the neurodegenerative process.     

Removing dysfunctional mitochondria from axons independent of mitophagy under pathophysiological conditions

Chronic mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in major neurodegenerative diseases. Long-term cumulative pathological stress leads to axonal accumulation of damaged mitochondria. Therefore, the early removal of defective mitochondria from axons constitutes a critical step of mitochondrial quality control. We recently investigated the axonal mitochondrial response to mild stress in wild-type neurons and chronic mitochondrial defects in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)- and Alzheimer disease (AD)-linked neurons. We demonstrated that remobilizing stressed mitochondria is critical for maintaining axonal mitochondrial integrity. The selective release of the mitochondrial anchoring protein SNPH (syntaphilin) from stressed mitochondria enhances their retrograde transport toward the soma before PARK2/Parkin-mediated mitophagy is activated. This SNPH-mediated response is robustly activated during the early disease stages of ALS-linked motor neurons and AD-related cortical neurons. Our study thus reveals a new mechanism for the maintenance of axonal mitochondrial integrity through SNPH-mediated coordination of mitochondrial stress and motility that is independent of mitophagy.