Mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system

Adult-onset obesity is triggered by impaired mitochondrial gene expression

Mitochondrial gene expression is essential for energy production; however, an understanding of how it can influence physiology and metabolism is lacking. Several proteins from the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) family are essential for the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression, but the functions of the remaining members of this family are poorly understood. We created knockout mice to investigate the role of the PPR domain 1 (PTCD1) protein and show that loss of PTCD1 is embryonic lethal, whereas haploinsufficient, heterozygous mice develop age-induced obesity. The molecular defects and metabolic consequences of mitochondrial protein haploinsufficiency in vivo have not been investigated previously. We show that PTCD1 haploinsufficiency results in increased RNA metabolism, in response to decreased protein synthesis and impaired RNA processing that affect the biogenesis of the respiratory chain, causing mild uncoupling and changes in mitochondrial morphology. We demonstrate that with age, these effects lead to adult-onset obesity that results in liver steatosis and cardiac hypertrophy in response to tissue-specific differential regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathways. Our findings indicate that changes in mitochondrial gene expression have long-term consequences on energy metabolism, providing evidence that haploinsufficiency of PTCD1 can be a major predisposing factor for the development of metabolic syndrome.

Burn-induced muscle metabolic derangements and mitochondrial dysfunction are associated with activation of HIF-1α and mTORC1: Role of protein farnesylation

Metabolic derangements are a clinically significant complication of major trauma (e.g., burn injury) and include various aspects of metabolism, such as insulin resistance, muscle wasting, mitochondrial dysfunction and hyperlactatemia. Nonetheless, the molecular pathogenesis and the relation between these diverse metabolic alterations are poorly understood. We have previously shown that burn increases farnesyltransferase (FTase) expression and protein farnesylation and that FTase inhibitor (FTI) prevents burn-induced hyperlactatemia, insulin resistance, and increased proteolysis in mouse skeletal muscle. In this study, we found that burn injury activated mTORC1 and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, which paralleled dysfunction, morphological alterations (i.e., enlargement, partial loss of cristae structure) and impairment of respiratory supercomplex assembly of the mitochondria, and ER stress. FTI reversed or ameliorated all of these alterations in burned mice. These findings indicate that these burn-induced changes, which encompass various aspects of metabolism, may be linked to one another and require protein farnesylation. Our results provide evidence of involvement of the mTORC1-HIF-1α pathway in burn-induced metabolic derangements. Our study identifies protein farnesylation as a potential hub of the signaling network affecting multiple aspects of metabolic alterations after burn injury and as a novel potential molecular target to improve the clinical outcome of severely burned patients.

Getting into mitochondria

The human mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase isoenzymes (hGDH1 and hGDH2) are abundant matrix-localized proteins encoded by nuclear genes. The proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm, with an atypically long N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS). The results of secondary structure predictions suggest the presence of two α-helices within the N-terminal region of the MTS. Results from deletion analyses indicate that individual helices have limited ability to direct protein import and matrix localization, but that there is a synergistic interaction when both helices are present [Biochem. J. (2016) 473: , 2813-2829]. Mutagenesis of the MTS cleavage sites blocked post-import removal of the presequences, but did not impede import. The authors propose that the high matrix levels of hGDH can be attributed to the unusual length and secondary structure of the MTS.

Regulated membrane remodeling by Mic60 controls formation of mitochondrial crista junctions

The mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) is crucial for the formation of crista junctions and mitochondrial inner membrane architecture. MICOS contains two core components. Mic10 shows membrane-bending activity, whereas Mic60 (mitofilin) forms contact sites between inner and outer membranes. Here we report that Mic60 deforms liposomes into thin membrane tubules and thus displays membrane-shaping activity. We identify a membrane-binding site in the soluble intermembrane space-exposed part of Mic60. This membrane-binding site is formed by a predicted amphipathic helix between the conserved coiled-coil and mitofilin domains. The mitofilin domain negatively regulates the membrane-shaping activity of Mic60. Binding of Mic19 to the mitofilin domain modulates this activity. Membrane binding and shaping by the conserved Mic60–Mic19 complex is crucial for crista junction formation, mitochondrial membrane architecture and efficient respiratory activity. Mic60 thus plays a dual role by shaping inner membrane crista junctions and forming contact sites with the outer membrane.

The MICOS complex has an essential role in crista junction formation and mitochondrial inner membrane morphology. Here, the authors show that one of its components, Mic60, known to form contact sites between inner and outer membranes, also displays membrane-shaping activity.

Mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system: A central player in membrane shaping and crosstalk

Mitochondria are multifunctional metabolic factories and integrative signaling organelles of eukaryotic cells. The structural basis for their numerous functions is a complex and dynamic double-membrane architecture. The outer membrane connects mitochondria to the cytosol and other organelles. The inner membrane is composed of a boundary region and highly folded cristae membranes. The evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) connects the two inner membrane domains via formation and stabilization of crista junction structures. Moreover, MICOS establishes contact sites between inner and outer mitochondrial membranes by interacting with outer membrane protein complexes. MICOS deficiency leads to a grossly altered inner membrane architecture resulting in far-reaching functional perturbations in mitochondria. Consequently, mutations affecting the function of MICOS are responsible for a diverse spectrum of human diseases. In this article, we summarize recent insights and concepts on the role of MICOS in the organization of mitochondrial membranes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Contact Sites edited by Christian Ungermann and Benoit Kornmann.

Shaping mitochondrial dynamics: The role of cAMP signalling

In recent years, our idea of mitochondria evolved from "mere" energy and metabolite producers to key regulators of many cellular functions. In order to preserve and protect their functional status, these organelles engage a number of dynamic processes that allow them to decrease accumulated burden and maintain their homeostasis. Indeed, mitochondria can unite (fusion), divide (fission), position themselves strategically in the cell (motility/trafficking) and if irreversibly damaged or dysfunctional eliminated (mitophagy). These dynamic processes can be controlled both by mitochondrial and cellular signalling pathways, hence allowing mitochondria to tune their function to the cellular needs. Among the regulatory mechanisms, reversible phosphorylation downstream the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signalling cascade was shown to deeply influence mitochondrial dynamics. This review explores the emerging evidence suggesting that cAMP is a key player in the orchestration of mitochondrial fusion/fission, motility and mitophagy, extending the repertoire of this second messenger, which is now recognised as a major regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis.

Membrane-bound organelles versus membrane-less compartments and their control of anabolic pathways in Drosophila

Classically, we think of cell compartmentalization as being achieved by membrane-bound organelles. It has nevertheless emerged that membrane-less assemblies also largely contribute to this compartmentalization. Here, we compare the characteristics of both types of compartmentalization in term of maintenance of functional identities. Furthermore, membrane less-compartments are critical for sustaining developmental and cell biological events as they control major metabolic pathways. We describe two examples related to this issue in Drosophila, the role of P-bodies in the translational control of gurken in the Drosophila oocyte, and the formation of Sec bodies upon amino-acid starvation in Drosophila cells.

Cardiolipin and mitochondrial cristae organization

A fundamental question in cell biology, under investigation for over six decades, is the structural organization of mitochondrial cristae. Long known to harbor electron transport chain proteins, crista membrane integrity is key to establishment of the proton gradient that drives oxidative phosphorylation. Visualization of cristae morphology by electron microscopy/tomography has provided evidence that cristae are tube-like extensions of the mitochondrial inner membrane (IM) that project into the matrix space. Reconciling ultrastructural data with the lipid composition of the IM provides support for a continuously curved cylindrical bilayer capped by a dome-shaped tip. Strain imposed by the degree of curvature is relieved by an asymmetric distribution of phospholipids in monolayer leaflets that comprise cristae membranes. The signature mitochondrial lipid, cardiolipin (~18% of IM phospholipid mass), and phosphatidylethanolamine (34%) segregate to the negatively curved monolayer leaflet facing the crista lumen while the opposing, positively curved, matrix-facing monolayer leaflet contains predominantly phosphatidylcholine. Associated with cristae are numerous proteins that function in distinctive ways to establish and/or maintain their lipid repertoire and structural integrity. By combining unique lipid components with a set of protein modulators, crista membranes adopt and maintain their characteristic morphological and functional properties. Once established, cristae ultrastructure has a direct impact on oxidative phosphorylation, apoptosis, fusion/fission as well as diseases of compromised energy metabolism.

Regulation of mitochondrial structure and function by protein import: A current review

By generating the majority of a cell's ATP, mitochondria permit a vast range of reactions necessary for life. Mitochondria also perform other vital functions including biogenesis and assembly of iron-sulfur proteins, maintenance of calcium homeostasis, and activation of apoptosis. Accordingly, mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked with the pathology of many clinical conditions including cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiomyopathy, and atherosclerosis. The ongoing maintenance of mitochondrial structure and function requires the import of nuclear-encoded proteins and for this reason, mitochondrial protein import is indispensible for cell viability. As mitochondria play central roles in determining if cells live or die, a comprehensive understanding of mitochondrial structure, protein import, and function is necessary for identifying novel drugs that may destroy harmful cells while rescuing or protecting normal ones to preserve tissue integrity. This review summarizes our current knowledge on mitochondrial architecture, mitochondrial protein import, and mitochondrial function. Our current comprehension of how mitochondrial functions maintain cell homeostasis and how cell death occurs as a result of mitochondrial stress are also discussed.

Barth syndrome cardiomyopathy

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an inherited form of cardiomyopathy, caused by a mutation within the gene encoding the mitochondrial transacylase tafazzin. Tafazzin is involved in the biosynthesis of the unique phospholipid cardiolipin (CL), which is almost exclusively found in mitochondrial membranes. CL directly interacts with a number of essential protein complexes in the mitochondrial membranes including the respiratory chain, mitochondrial metabolite carriers, and proteins, involved in shaping mitochondrial morphology. Here we describe, how in BTHS CL deficiency causes changes in the morphology of mitochondria, structural changes in the respiratory chain, decreased respiration, and increased generation of reactive oxygen species. A large number of cellular and animal models for BTHS have been established to elucidate how mitochondrial dysfunction induces sarcomere disorganization and reduced contractility, resulting in dilated cardiomyopathy in vivo.

Glycerolipid synthesis and lipid trafficking in plant mitochondria

Lipid trafficking between mitochondria and other organelles is required for mitochondrial membrane biogenesis and signaling. This lipid exchange occurs by poorly understood nonvesicular mechanisms. In yeast and mammalian cells, this lipid exchange is thought to take place at contact sites between mitochondria and the ER or vacuolar membranes. Some proteins involved in the tethering between membranes or in the transfer of lipids in mitochondria have been identified. However, in plants, little is known about the synthesis of mitochondrial membranes. Mitochondrial membrane biogenesis is particularly important and noteworthy in plants as the lipid composition of mitochondrial membranes is dramatically changed during phosphate starvation and other stresses. This review focuses on the principal pathways involved in the synthesis of the most abundant mitochondrial glycerolipids in plants and the lipid trafficking that is required for plant mitochondria membrane biogenesis.

Of yeast, mice and men: MAMs come in two flavors

The past decade has seen dramatic progress in our understanding of membrane contact sites (MCS). Important examples of these are endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contact sites. ER-mitochondria contacts have originally been discovered in mammalian tissue, where they have been designated as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). It is also in this model system, where the first critical MAM proteins have been identified, including MAM tethering regulators such as phospho-furin acidic cluster sorting protein 2 (PACS-2) and mitofusin-2. However, the past decade has seen the discovery of the MAM also in the powerful yeast model system Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This has led to the discovery of novel MAM tethers such as the yeast ER-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES), absent in the mammalian system, but whose regulators Gem1 and Lam6 are conserved. While MAMs, sometimes referred to as mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs), regulate lipid metabolism, Ca²⁺ signaling, bioenergetics, inflammation, autophagy and apoptosis, not all of these functions exist in both systems or operate differently. This biological difference has led to puzzling discrepancies on findings obtained in yeast or mammalian cells at the moment. Our review aims to shed some light onto mechanistic differences between yeast and mammalian MAM and their underlying causes.

Reviewers: This article was reviewed by Paola Pizzo (nominated by Luca Pellegrini), Maya Schuldiner and György Szabadkai (nominated by Luca Pellegrini).

Threading Granules in Freiburg. 2nd International Symposium on "One Mitochondrion, Many Diseases - Biological and Molecular Perspectives", a FRIAS Junior Researcher Conference, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, March 9th/10th, 2016

Altered mitochondrial activities play an important role in many different human disorders, including cancer and neurodegeneration. At the Freiburg Institute of Advanced Studies (FRIAS) Junior Researcher Conference “One Mitochondrion, Many Diseases - Biological and Molecular Perspectives” (University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany), junior and experienced researches discussed common and distinct mechanisms of mitochondrial contributions to various human disorders.

The membrane scaffold SLP2 anchors a proteolytic hub in mitochondria containing PARL and the i-AAA protease YME1L

The SPFH (stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, HflC/K) superfamily is composed of scaffold proteins that form ring-like structures and locally specify the protein-lipid composition in a variety of cellular membranes. Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP2) is a member of this superfamily that localizes to the mitochondrial inner membrane (IM) where it acts as a membrane organizer. Here, we report that SLP2 anchors a large protease complex composed of the rhomboid protease PARL and the i-AAA protease YME1L, which we term the SPY complex (for SLP2-PARL-YME1L). Association with SLP2 in the SPY complex regulates PARL-mediated processing of PTEN-induced kinase PINK1 and the phosphatase PGAM5 in mitochondria. Moreover, SLP2 inhibits the stress-activated peptidase OMA1, which can bind to SLP2 and cleaves PGAM5 in depolarized mitochondria. SLP2 restricts OMA1-mediated processing of the dynamin-like GTPase OPA1 allowing stress-induced mitochondrial hyperfusion under starvation conditions. Together, our results reveal an important role of SLP2 membrane scaffolds for the spatial organization of IM proteases regulating mitochondrial dynamics, quality control, and cell survival.

Integration of superoxide formation and cristae morphology for mitochondrial redox signaling

The mitochondrial network provides the central cell's energetic and regulatory unit, which besides ATP and metabolite production participates in cellular signaling through regulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and various protein/ion fluxes. The inner membrane forms extensive folds, called cristae, i.e. cavities enfolded from and situated perpendicularly to its inner boundary membrane portion, which encompasses an inner cylinder within the outer membrane tubule. Mitochondrial cristae ultramorphology reflects various metabolic, physiological or pathological states. Since the mitochondrion is typically a predominant superoxide source and generated ROS also serve for the creation of information redox signals, we review known relationships between ROS generation within the respiratory chain complexes of cristae and cristae morphology. Notably, it is emphasized that cristae shape is governed by ATP-synthase dimers, MICOS complexes, OPA1 isoforms and the umbrella of their regulation, and also dependent on local protonmotive force (electrical potential component) in cristae. Cristae are also affected by redox-sensitive kinases/phosphatases or p66SHC. ATP-synthase dimers decrease in the inflated intracristal space, diminishing pH and hypothetically having minimal superoxide formation. Matrix-released signaling superoxide/H₂O₂ is predominantly integrated along mitochondrial tubules, whereas the diffusion of intracristal signaling ROS species is controlled by crista junctions, the widening of which enables specific retrograde redox signaling such as during hypoxic cell adaptation. Other physiological cases of H₂O₂ release from the mitochondrion include the modulation of insulin release in pancreatic β-cells, enhancement of insulin signaling in peripheral tissues, signaling by T-cell receptors, retrograde signaling during the cell cycle and cell differentiation, specifically that of adipocytes.

QIL1 mutation causes MICOS disassembly and early onset fatal mitochondrial encephalopathy with liver disease

Previously, we identified QIL1 as a subunit of mitochondrial contact site (MICOS) complex and demonstrated a role for QIL1 in MICOS assembly, mitochondrial respiration, and cristae formation critical for mitochondrial architecture (Guarani et al., 2015). Here, we identify QIL1 null alleles in two siblings displaying multiple clinical symptoms of early-onset fatal mitochondrial encephalopathy with liver disease, including defects in respiratory chain function in patient muscle. QIL1 absence in patients' fibroblasts was associated with MICOS disassembly, abnormal cristae, mild cytochrome c oxidase defect, and sensitivity to glucose withdrawal. QIL1 expression rescued cristae defects, and promoted re-accumulation of MICOS subunits to facilitate MICOS assembly. MICOS assembly and cristae morphology were not efficiently rescued by over-expression of other MICOS subunits in patient fibroblasts. Taken together, these data provide the first evidence of altered MICOS assembly linked with a human mitochondrial disease and confirm a central role for QIL1 in stable MICOS complex formation.

Intramitochondrial phospholipid trafficking

Mitochondrial functions and architecture rely on a defined lipid composition of their outer and inner membranes, which are characterized by a high content of non-bilayer phospholipids such as cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Mitochondrial membrane lipids are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or within mitochondria from ER-derived precursor lipids, are asymmetrically distributed within mitochondria and can relocate in response to cellular stress. Maintenance of lipid homeostasis thus requires multiple lipid transport processes to be orchestrated within mitochondria. Recent findings identified members of the Ups/PRELI family as specific lipid transfer proteins in mitochondria that shuttle phospholipids between mitochondrial membranes. They cooperate with membrane organizing proteins that preserve the spatial organization of mitochondrial membranes and the formation of membrane contact sites, unravelling an intimate crosstalk of membrane lipid transport and homeostasis with the structural organization of mitochondria. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipids of Mitochondria edited by Guenther Daum.

Mic13 Is Essential for Formation of Crista Junctions in Mammalian Cells

Mitochondrial cristae are connected to the inner boundary membrane via crista junctions which are implicated in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation, apoptosis, and import of lipids and proteins. The MICOS complex determines formation of crista junctions. We performed complexome profiling and identified Mic13, also termed Qil1, as a subunit of the MICOS complex. We show that MIC13 is an inner membrane protein physically interacting with MIC60, a central subunit of the MICOS complex. Using the CRISPR/Cas method we generated the first cell line deleted for MIC13. These knockout cells show a complete loss of crista junctions demonstrating that MIC13 is strictly required for the formation of crista junctions. MIC13 is required for the assembly of MIC10, MIC26, and MIC27 into the MICOS complex. However, it is not needed for the formation of the MIC60/MIC19/MIC25 subcomplex suggesting that the latter is not sufficient for crista junction formation. MIC13 is also dispensable for assembly of respiratory chain complexes and for maintaining mitochondrial network morphology. Still, lack of MIC13 resulted in a moderate reduction of mitochondrial respiration. In summary, we show that MIC13 has a fundamental role in crista junction formation and that assembly of respiratory chain supercomplexes is independent of mitochondrial cristae shape.

Mitochondrial contact sites as platforms for phospholipid exchange

Mitochondria are unique organelles that contain their own - although strongly reduced - genome, and are surrounded by two membranes. While most cellular phospholipid biosynthesis takes place in the ER, mitochondria harbor the whole spectrum of glycerophospholipids common to biological membranes. Mitochondria also contribute to overall phospholipid biosynthesis in cells by producing phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin. Considering these features, it is not surprising that mitochondria maintain highly active exchange of phospholipids with other cellular compartments. In this contribution we describe the transport of phospholipids between mitochondria and other organelles, and discuss recent developments in our understanding of the molecular functions of the protein complexes that mediate these processes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipids of Mitochondria edited by Guenther Daum.

Pathways to mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS pathogenesis

Alterations in the structure and functions of mitochondria are a typical trait of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a prominent degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. The known gene mutations that are responsible for a small fraction of ALS cases point to a complex interplay between different mechanisms in the disease pathogenesis. Here we will briefly overview the genetic and mechanistic evidence that make dysfunction of mitochondria a candidate major player in this process.

Effects of lipids on mitochondrial functions

Mitochondria contain two membranes: the outer and inner membrane. Whereas the outer membrane is particularly enriched in phospholipids, the inner membrane has an unusual high protein content and forms large invaginations termed cristae. The proper phospholipid composition of the membranes is crucial for mitochondrial functions. Phospholipids affect activity, biogenesis and stability of protein complexes including protein translocases and respiratory chain supercomplexes. Negatively charged phospholipids such as cardiolipin are important for the architecture of the membranes and recruit soluble factors to the membranes to support mitochondrial dynamics. Thus, phospholipids not only form the hydrophobic core of biological membranes that surround mitochondria, but also create a specific environment to promote functions of various protein machineries. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipids of Mitochondria edited by Guenther Daum.