The fast-mobility isoform of mouse Mcl-1 is a mitochondrial matrix-localized protein with attenuated anti-apoptotic activity

The full-length pro-survival protein Mcl-1 predominantly resides on the outer membrane of mitochondria. Here, we identified a mitochondrial matrix-localized isoform of Mcl-1 that lacks 33 amino acid residues at the N-terminus which serve both as a mitochondrial targeting and processing signal. Ectopically-expressed Mcl-1 without the N-terminal 33 residues failed to enter the mitochondrial matrix but retained wt-like activities both for interaction with BH3-only proteins and anti-apoptosis. In contrast, the mitochondrial matrix-localized isoform failed to interact with BH3-only proteins and manifested an attenuated anti-apoptotic activity. This study reveals that import of Mcl-1 into the mitochondrial matrix results in the attenuation of Mcl-1’s anti-apoptotic function.

Structured summary

MINT-7965637: NOXA (uniprotkb:Q9JM54) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Mcl-1 (uniprotkb:P97287) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7965699: Mcl-1 (uniprotkb:P97287) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Bim (uniprotkb:O43521) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006)MINT-7965655: Mcl-1 (uniprotkb:P97287) physically interacts (MI:0915) with NOXA (uniprotkb:Q9JM54) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006)MINT-7965711: Bim (uniprotkb:O43521) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Mcl-1 (uniprotkb:P97287) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7965673: PUMA (uniprotkb:Q9BXH1) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Mcl-1 (uniprotkb:P97287) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7965685: Mcl-1 (uniprotkb:P97287) physically interacts (MI:0915) with PUMA (uniprotkb:Q9BXH1) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006)