线粒体融合蛋白Mfn1/2的结构和功能

线粒体融合素基因（mitofusin gene,Mfn）在哺乳动物中编码两种蛋白质分子,Mfn1和Mfn2,它们在线粒体融合、分裂与细胞凋亡中起重要作用,调控着线粒体形态的动态变化。另外,Mfn1/2还参与线粒体的能量代谢并与相关疾病的发生有着密切关系。     

Caveolae/caveolin-1/ERK1/2信号通路在降钙素基因相关肽抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖中的作用

业已证明,Caveolae及其蛋白caveolin-1参与了细胞膜的胆固醇转运和细胞膜的信号转导．我们前期工作发现降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)抑制血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)增殖的信号通路与抑制ERK_1/2活性和上调caveolin-1表达有关．本文研究Caveolae及caveolin-1在CGRP抑制VSMC增殖中的作用,进一步研究caveolin-1表达增加是否有直接抑制ERK_1/2信号激酶活性的作用．采用大鼠主动脉贴块法培养VSMC,取3～10代VSMC用于实验,10%小牛血清(FBS)用于刺激VSMC增殖,用β-环糊精(cyclodextrin)或菲律宾菌素(filipin)剥夺胆固醇破坏Caveolae结构;MTT法和流式细胞仪用于检测细胞增殖;蛋白质印迹和免疫共沉淀法分别用于检测目的蛋白的表达或蛋白质间相互作用．结果显示,CGRP呈时间和浓度依赖性显著抑制10% FBS诱导的VSMC增殖．细胞Caveolae结构的破坏能降低CGRP抑制VSMC增殖作用,同时也增加了ERK_1/2的磷酸化;β-环糊精孵育细胞能降低 caveolin-1的表达．免疫共沉淀发现10% FBS和/或CGRP共同孵育细胞对非磷酸化ERK_1/2与caveolin-1的结合无差别,但10% FBS 能降低磷酸化ERK_1/2与caveolin-1的结合,CGRP预孵育细胞能增加这两者的相互作用．结果揭示,Caveolae及caveolin-1可以正调控CGRP抑制VSMC增殖作用,其机制可能与CGRP增加caveolin-1与p-ERK_1/2在Caveolae的结合,并抑制p-ERK_1/2核转位作用有关．     

敲减VEGFR-1基因抑制乳腺癌细胞增殖的研究

目的:体外水平探讨利用化学修饰的小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)敲减VEGFR-1基因治疗乳腺癌的可行性和特异性.方法:采用阳离子脂质Lipofectamine2000TM作为转染试剂将同时针对人和大鼠VEGFR-1基因的小干扰RNA转染人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7和大鼠乳腺癌细胞系SHZ-88,敲减VEGFR-1基因的表达;采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法,半定量RT-PCR,蛋白印迹试验等检测VEGFR-1mRNA和蛋白表达及细胞增殖变化.结果:靶向VEGFR-1基因的siRNA转染细胞后,两种细胞增殖均被抑制,同浓度两细胞株指标无显著差异,VEGFR-1mRNA和蛋白的表达均明显降低.各对照组指标则无显著变化.结论:化学修饰的siRNA介导的RNAi能成功敲减VEGFR-1基因的表达、抑制乳腺癌细胞增殖.     

阻断RAS对HSkMCs细胞株细胞凋亡及Mfn2 表达的影响

目的:观察氯沙坦对高糖培养人骨骼肌细胞(Human skeletal muscle cells,HSk MCs)中线粒体融合蛋白2(mitofusin2,Mfn2)的表达及其对细胞凋亡的影响。方法:1.使用不同浓度的葡萄糖养基(葡萄糖浓度分别为5.55 mmol/L,11.1 mmol/L,22.2 mmol/L)分别培养HSk MCs细胞株48小时,检测各组细胞中血管紧张素Ⅰ型受体(Angiotensin II type I receptor,AT1R)基因、基因Mfn2的表达,并用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡。2.根据1中实验结果,选择对Mfn2影响最大的葡萄糖浓度(此组葡萄糖浓度为22.2mmol/L)作为后续实验的条件。加入血管紧张素受体Ⅱ拮抗剂(Angiotensin Receptor Blockers,ARB)氯沙坦(Losartan),处理人骨骼肌细胞(HSk MCs)48 h,以未加氯沙坦为对照组,观察其对线粒体融合蛋白2(Mfn2表达的影响,并行流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡。结果:氯沙坦干预组HSk MCs细胞中Mfn2表达上调,细胞凋亡减少。结论:阻断肾素血管紧张素系统(Renin-angiotensin System,RAS)能上调HSk MCs细胞株中的Mfn2表达,并减少细胞凋亡。     

促线粒体融合蛋白在线粒体融合和细胞凋亡中的作用

一直以来,线粒体动态变化都备受关注,这不仅关系到线粒体本身,也与细胞的整体状态密切相关。线粒体动态变化主要指线粒体的分裂和融合,该过程涉及一系列蛋白质。在线粒体融合中,目前研究得较深入的促线粒体融合蛋白主要有Mfn1、Mfn2和OPA1。随着研究的深入,发现这3种蛋白质不仅对于线粒体融合有重要作用,在细胞凋亡过程中也扮演着重要角色。现就Mfn1、Mfn2和OPA1的促线粒体融合作用及其与细胞凋亡的关系作详细阐述。     

沉默PRR14基因抑制结肠癌HCT116细胞增殖

已有报道显示,富脯氨酸蛋白 14（proline-rich protein 14,PRR14）促进肿瘤的发生发展,但具体作用机制仍不清楚。本文以结肠癌细胞为模型,探索其对细胞增殖和细胞周期进程的影响。qPCR和Western 印迹检测发现,PRR14在4个结肠癌细胞系中呈现高水平表达。合成特异靶向PRR14基因的siRNA,转染结肠癌HCT116细胞。检测发现,PRR14基因表达下调约70%。CCK8结果显示,沉默PRR14后各时间点细胞增殖能力均显著降低,克隆形成实验细胞克隆数减少约40%;流式细胞仪结果显示,沉默PRR14后,G1期细胞比例升高约10%,S期细胞比例降低约14%;BrdU标记免疫荧光检测结果显示,BrdU阳性细胞比例减少约50%,表明细胞DNA合成速率显著降低。机制分析表明：促G1/S期转换基因周期蛋白依赖性激酶2（cyclin dependent kinase 2, CDK2）mRNA水平降低约85%,对应的蛋白质水平也明显降低,G1/S期转换抑制因子周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1A（cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A,CDKN1A/P21）和周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1B（cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1B,CDKN1B/P27）mRNA水平分别升高约1.8倍和5倍,对应的蛋白质水平也明显升高。沉默PRR14表达,G1/S期相关基因表达紊乱,导致细胞G1期阻滞并抑制细胞增殖。结肠癌细胞中PRR14高表达可促进癌细胞恶性增殖。     

沉默PRR14基因抑制结肠癌HCT116细胞增殖

已有报道显示,富脯氨酸蛋白 14（proline-rich protein 14,PRR14）促进肿瘤的发生发展,但具体作用机制仍不清楚。本文以结肠癌细胞为模型,探索其对细胞增殖和细胞周期进程的影响。qPCR和Western 印迹检测发现,PRR14在4个结肠癌细胞系中呈现高水平表达。合成特异靶向PRR14基因的siRNA,转染结肠癌HCT116细胞。检测发现,PRR14基因表达下调约70%。CCK8结果显示,沉默PRR14后各时间点细胞增殖能力均显著降低,克隆形成实验细胞克隆数减少约40%;流式细胞仪结果显示,沉默PRR14后,G1期细胞比例升高约10%,S期细胞比例降低约14%;BrdU标记免疫荧光检测结果显示,BrdU阳性细胞比例减少约50%,表明细胞DNA合成速率显著降低。机制分析表明：促G1/S期转换基因周期蛋白依赖性激酶2（cyclin dependent kinase 2, CDK2）mRNA水平降低约85%,对应的蛋白质水平也明显降低,G1/S期转换抑制因子周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1A（cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A,CDKN1A/P21）和周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1B（cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1B,CDKN1B/P27）mRNA水平分别升高约1.8倍和5倍,对应的蛋白质水平也明显升高。沉默PRR14表达,G1/S期相关基因表达紊乱,导致细胞G1期阻滞并抑制细胞增殖。结肠癌细胞中PRR14高表达可促进癌细胞恶性增殖。     

SIRT2抑制对MPP+诱导的帕金森病细胞模型凋亡和线粒体动态平衡的影响*

探究siRNA敲减沉默信息调节因子2(SIRT2)对1-甲基-4-苯基吡啶离子(MPP⁺)诱导的帕金森病细胞模型细胞损伤的影响和机制。CCK-8法检测不同浓度MPP⁺处理对体外培养小鼠海马神经元HT-22细胞生存率的影响。将细胞分为对照组、MPP⁺最佳浓度处理组(1 mmol/L MPP⁺处理组)、阴性转染组(对照组基础上转染SIRT2阴性序列)、SIRT2 siRNA处理组(损伤组基础上转染SIRT2 siRNA)。观察各组细胞凋亡情况,检测凋亡相关蛋白(Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-9)、线粒体分裂及融合相关蛋白(Drp1、Fis1、OPA1、Mfn1、Mfn2)。与对照组相比,MPP⁺处理组细胞抑制率均升高,细胞抑制率随MPP⁺浓度增加而逐渐增加(P<0.05)。与SIRT2 siRNA转染组相比,损伤组Bax、Caspase-9、Drp1、Fis1蛋白表达和细胞凋亡率升高,Bcl-2、Mfn1、Mfn2蛋白表达降低(P<0.05)。SIRT2在MPP⁺诱导帕金森病细胞模型中表达升高,抑制SIRT2可减轻MPP⁺诱导帕金森病细胞模型中细胞凋亡并促进线粒体融合,从而对神经元具有一定的保护作用。     

转线粒体细胞模型

转线粒体细胞模型是由无线粒体DNA(mtDNA)细胞与mtDNA供体通过融合的方法而形成的融合细胞。随着转线粒体技术的发展,制备该细胞模型的方法也多种多样。现今,转线粒体模型的应用十分广泛,不仅可应用于线粒体相关疾病的基础研究,而且在线粒体相关疾病的临床研究中也发挥了重要的作用。融合细胞具有一致的核背景,可以消除核基因的作用,因而有助于判断mtDNA突变的致病作用及机制和线粒体缺陷的致病作用及机制。此外,利用该模型还可作为探讨线粒体相关疾病基因治疗和筛选疾病治疗药物的有效模型。     

Bcl—2抑制电离辐射诱发细胞凋亡的线粒体机制探讨

低剂量电离辐射能够诱发细胞凋亡的发生,Ｂｃｌ－２能够抑制多种因素诱发的细胞凋亡,本文报道了Ｂｃｌ－２基因转染细胞克隆对４ＧｙＸ－射线诱发细胞凋亡的影响及其与可能的机制。结果表明,高度表达Ｂｃｌ－２的细胞克隆在７２ｈ内明显抑制了４ＧｙＸ－射线诱发的ＣＨＯ细胞凋亡,进一步的机制探讨表明,Ｂｃｌ－２能够维持或恢复受电离辐射损伤而降低的线粒体膜电位水平,结果提示：Ｂｃｌ－２对低剂量电离辐射诱发的细胞凋亡的     

EPO对缺血/再灌注损伤大鼠心肌细胞Mfn2蛋白表达及心肌细胞凋亡的影响

目的观察重组人促红细胞生成素（recombinant human erythropoietin,rhEPO）对缺血/再灌注损伤大鼠心肌细胞Mitofusin2（Mfn2）蛋白表达的影响及其抗心肌细胞凋亡的作用。方法选取成年SD大鼠35只,随机分为正常组（Normal）,假手术组（Sham）,缺血再灌注组（I/R）,缺血再灌注EPO治疗组（I/R＋EPO）。各组分别于再灌注3h和24h后,剪取心脏缺血/再灌注损伤区域,用脱氧核苷酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法（TUNEL）检测心肌细胞凋亡,免疫组化法检测Mfn2蛋白的表达。结果再灌注3h和24h后,与正常组和假手术组相比,I/R组Mfn2蛋白的表达和心肌细胞凋亡均显著增加;与I/R组相比,I/R＋EPO组Mfn2蛋白的表达和心肌细胞凋亡均显著降低。结论EPO可以下调缺血再灌注损伤后心肌细胞Mfn2蛋白的表达,抑制心肌细胞的凋亡。     

Selective localization of Mfn2 near PINK1 enables its preferential ubiquitination by Parkin on mitochondria

Mutations in Parkin and PINK1 cause early-onset familial Parkinson''s disease. Parkin is a RING-In-Between-RING E3 ligase that transfers ubiquitin from an E2 enzyme to a substrate in two steps: (i) thioester intermediate formation on Parkin and (ii) acyl transfer to a substrate lysine. The process is triggered by PINK1, which phosphorylates ubiquitin on damaged mitochondria, which in turn recruits and activates Parkin. This leads to the ubiquitination of outer mitochondrial membrane proteins and clearance of the organelle. While the targets of Parkin on mitochondria are known, the factors determining substrate selectivity remain unclear. To investigate this, we examined how Parkin catalyses ubiquitin transfer to substrates. We found that His433 in the RING2 domain contributes to the catalysis of acyl transfer. In cells, the mutation of His433 impairs mitophagy. In vitro ubiquitination assays with isolated mitochondria show that Mfn2 is a kinetically preferred substrate. Using proximity-ligation assays, we show that Mfn2 specifically co-localizes with PINK1 and phospho-ubiquitin (pUb) in U2OS cells upon mitochondrial depolarization. We propose a model whereby ubiquitination of Mfn2 is efficient by virtue of its localization near PINK1, which leads to the recruitment and activation of Parkin via pUb at these sites.     

MiR-21靶向调控Mfn2对缺血再灌注损伤肾小管上皮NRK-52E细胞自噬及凋亡的影响

摘要 目的：探讨miR-21对缺血再灌注损伤肾小管上皮细胞自噬及凋亡的影响及其与线粒体融合素2（mitochondria fusion protein mitofusin2,Mfn2）的靶向关系。方法：将大鼠近端肾小管上皮细胞株NRK-52E细胞按处理方式不同分组：I/R+control mimics组（转染control mimics后缺氧3 h/复氧3 h）,I/R+miR-21mimics组（转染miR-21mimics后缺氧3 h/复氧3 h）,I/R组（缺氧3 h/复氧3 h）及对照组（正常培养）。选取30只Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠,随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注模型组(I/R组)。取大鼠肾组织进行HE染色,自动生化分析仪检测大鼠血清尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐（Cr）,四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法（MTT）检测细胞增殖能力,TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡,实时荧光定量PCR检测细胞自噬和凋亡相关基因LC3-Ⅱ、LC3-Ⅰ、Beclin1、Bcl-2、Bax及Mfn2 mRNA表达,Western blot法检测细胞自噬和凋亡相关蛋白的表达,荧光素酶实验验证miR-21与Mfn2的靶向关系。结果：Sham组大鼠血清BUN、Cr水平,大鼠肾组织细胞凋亡率高于I/R组（P<0.05）。I/R组大鼠肾组织肾小管结构紊乱,大量炎症细胞浸润。Sham组大鼠肾组织miR-21水平高于I/R组（P<0.05）。48 和 72 h 时,I/R+miR-21 mimics组细胞活力明显低于I/R+control mimics组,I/R组及对照组（P<0.05）,I/R组细胞活力低于对照组（P<0.05）。I/R+miR-21mimics组凋亡率显著高于I/R+control mimics组,I/R组及对照组（P<0.05）,I/R组凋亡率显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。与对照组比较,I/R组细胞Beclin1、LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ、Bax蛋白及基因mRNA表达量升高,Bcl-2蛋白及基因mRNA表达量降低（P<0.05）;与I/R组比较,I/R+miR-21mimics组细胞Beclin1、LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ、Bax蛋白及基因mRNA表达量升高,Bcl-2蛋白及基因mRNA表达量降低（P<0.05）。miR-21与Mfn2具有靶向关系。结论：miR-21可靶向Mfn2促进肾缺血再灌注损伤引起的凋亡及自噬。     

Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2): a key player in insulin-dependent myogenesis in vitro

We have previously shown that mitochondrial activity increases in response to insulin in differentiating muscle cells. Moreover, the protein kinase kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (MAPKK/ERK-MEK) inhibitor PD98059 accelerates insulin-mediated myogenesis, whereas the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor LY294002 or blockade of mitochondrial respiration abrogates insulin-mediated myogenesis. Our present study focuses on the mitochondrial transmembrane protein, hyperplasia suppressor gene/mitofusin2 (HSG/Mfn2), which regulates both mitochondrial fusion (as demonstrated by perinuclear mitochondria clustering) and insulin-dependent myogenesis in vitro. Increased mitochondrial length and interconnectivity are not observed after the inhibition of PI3-K activity with LY294002. Insulin induces Mfn2 and subunits I and IV of cytochrome-c oxidase (MTCOI and NCOIV) in L6 myoblasts. Inhibition of the MEK-dependent signalling pathway elevates the Mfn-2 protein level. The molecular mechanism of this phenomenon is unknown, although immunoprecipitation studies indicate that, during insulin-mediated myogenesis, Ras protein (an upstream activator of the MAPK/ERK1/2 cascade) interacts with HSG/Mfn2 in muscle cells. Interaction of Ras with Mfn2 continues unless insulin is present and is reduced after PD98059 co-treatment indicating that insulin-mediated myogenesis is increased by the inhibition of MEK, most probably by the lack of mitogenic signals opposing muscle differentiation. We conclude that insulin-mediated myogenesis depends on PI3-K activity, which stimulates mitochondrial activity and the extensive fusion of mitochondria. We further suggest that insulin stimulates the expression of Mfn2 protein, which in turn binds to Ras and inhibits the MEK-dependent signalling pathway. At the same time, the PI3-K-dependent signalling pathway is boosted, mitochondrial respiration increases and the rate of myogenesis is accelerated. This work was supported by the State Committee for Scientific Research in Poland (grant no. 2 P06D 015 29) and by grant no. 117/E-385/SPB/COST/P-06/DWM within the framework of COST 925 Action on “The importance of prenatal events for postnatal muscle growth in relation to the quality of muscle based foods”.     

Mfn2 localization in the ER is necessary for its bioenergetic function and neuritic development

Mfn2 is a mitochondrial fusion protein with bioenergetic functions implicated in the pathophysiology of neuronal and metabolic disorders. Understanding the bioenergetic mechanism of Mfn2 may aid in designing therapeutic approaches for these disorders. Here we show using endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or mitochondria‐targeted Mfn2 that Mfn2 stimulation of the mitochondrial metabolism requires its localization in the ER, which is independent of its fusion function. ER‐located Mfn2 interacts with mitochondrial Mfn1/2 to tether the ER and mitochondria together, allowing Ca²⁺ transfer from the ER to mitochondria to enhance mitochondrial bioenergetics. The physiological relevance of these findings is shown during neurite outgrowth, when there is an increase in Mfn2‐dependent ER‐mitochondria contact that is necessary for correct neuronal arbor growth. Reduced neuritic growth in Mfn2 KO neurons is recovered by the expression of ER‐targeted Mfn2 or an artificial ER‐mitochondria tether, indicating that manipulation of ER‐mitochondria contacts could be used to treat pathologic conditions involving Mfn2.     

Mitochondrial clustering induced by overexpression of the mitochondrial fusion protein Mfn2 causes mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death

Mitochondria change their shapes dynamically mainly through fission and fusion. Dynamin-related GTPases have been shown to mediate remodeling of mitochondrial membranes during these processes. One of these GTPases, mitofusin, is anchored at the outer mitochondrial membrane and mediates fusion of the outer membrane. We found that overexpression of a mitofusin isoform, Mfn2, drastically changes mitochondrial morphology, forming mitochondrial clusters. High-resolution microscopic examination indicated that the mitochondrial clusters consisted of small fragmented mitochondria. Inhibiting mitochondrial fission prevented the cluster formation, supporting the notion that mitochondrial clusters are formed by fission-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation and aggregation. Mitochondrial clusters displayed a decreased inner membrane potential and mitochondrial function, suggesting a functional compromise of small fragmented mitochondria produced by Mfn2 overexpression; however, mitochondrial clusters still retained mitochondrial DNA. We found that cells containing clustered mitochondria lost cytochrome c from mitochondria and underwent caspase-mediated apoptosis. These results demonstrate that mitochondrial deformation impairs mitochondrial function, leading to apoptotic cell death and suggest the presence of an intricate form-function relationship in mitochondria.