VDAC2 and aldolase A identified as membrane proteins of K562 cells with increased expression under iron deprivation

Lamprey VDAC2: Suppressing hydrogen peroxide-induced 293T cell apoptosis by downregulating BAK expression

The voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) is the abundant protein in the outer mitochondrial membrane. Opening VDAC2 pores leads to the induction of mitochondrial energy and material transport, facilitating interaction with various mitochondrial proteins implicated in essential processes such as cell apoptosis and proliferation. To investigate the VDAC2 in lower vertebrates, we identified Lr-VDAC2, a homologue of VDAC2 found in lamprey (Lethenteron reissneri), sharing a sequence identity of greater than 50 % with its counterparts. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the position of Lr-VDAC2 aligns with the lamprey phylogeny, indicating its evolutionary relationship within the species. The Lr-VDAC2 protein was primarily located in the mitochondria of lamprey cells. The expression of the Lr-VDAC2 protein was elevated in high energy-demanding tissues, such as the gills, muscles, and myocardial tissue in normal lampreys. Lr-VDAC2 suppressed H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)-induced 293 T cell apoptosis by reducing the expression levels of Caspase 3, Caspase 9, and Cyt C (cytochrome c). Further research into the mechanism indicated that the Lr-VDAC2 protein inhibited the pro-apoptotic activity of BAK (Bcl-2 antagonist/killer) protein by downregulating its expression at the protein translational level, thus exerting an anti-apoptotic function similar to the role of VDAC2 in humans.

Cellular Interactome of Mitochondrial Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels: Oligomerization and Channel (Mis)Regulation

Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) of the outer mitochondrial membrane are known conventionally as metabolite flux proteins. However, research findings in the past decade have revealed the multifaceted regulatory roles of VDACs, from governing cellular physiology and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis to directly regulating debilitating cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. VDACs achieve these diverse functions by establishing isoform-dependent stereospecific interactomes in the cell with the cytosolic constituents and endoplasmic reticulum complexes, and the machinery of the mitochondrial compartments. VDACs are now increasingly recognized as regulatory hubs of the cell. Not surprisingly, even the transient misregulation of VDACs results directly in mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, human VDACs are now implicated in interaction with aggregation-prone cytosolic proteins, including Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein, contributing directly to the onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Deducing the interaction dynamics and mechanisms can lead to VDAC-targeted peptide-based therapeutics that can alleviate neurodegenerative states. This review succinctly presents the latest findings of the VDAC interactome, and the mode(s) of VDAC-dependent regulation of biochemical physiology. We also discuss the relevance of VDACs in pathophysiological states and aggregation-associated diseases and address how VDACs will facilitate the development of next-generation precision medicines.

Air pollutants disrupt iron homeostasis to impact oxidant generation, biological effects, and tissue injury

Air pollutants cause changes in iron homeostasis through: 1) a capacity of the pollutant, or a metabolite(s), to complex/chelate iron from pivotal sites in the cell or 2) an ability of the pollutant to displace iron from pivotal sites in the cell. Through either pathway of disruption in iron homeostasis, metal previously employed in essential cell processes is sequestered after air pollutant exposure. An absolute or functional cell iron deficiency results. If enough iron is lost or is otherwise not available within the cell, cell death ensues. However, prior to death, exposed cells will attempt to reverse the loss of requisite metal. This response of the cell includes increased expression of metal importers (e.g. divalent metal transporter 1). Oxidant generation after exposure to air pollutants includes superoxide production which functions in ferrireduction necessary for cell iron import. Activation of kinases and phosphatases and transcription factors and increased release of pro-inflammatory mediators also result from a cell iron deficiency, absolute or functional, after exposure to air pollutants. Finally, air pollutant exposure culminates in the development of inflammation and fibrosis which is a tissue response to the iron deficiency challenging cell survival. Following the response of increased expression of importers and ferrireduction, activation of kinases and phosphatases and transcription factors, release of pro-inflammatory mediators, and inflammation and fibrosis, cell iron is altered, and a new metal homeostasis is established. This new metal homeostasis includes increased total iron concentrations in cells with metal now at levels sufficient to meet requirements for continued function.

VDAC2-specific cellular functions and the underlying structure

Voltage Dependent Anion-selective Channel 2 (VDAC2) contributes to oxidative metabolism by sharing a role in solute transport across the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) with other isoforms of the VDAC family, VDAC1 and VDAC3. Recent studies revealed that VDAC2 also has a distinctive role in mediating sarcoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria local Ca(2+) transport at least in cardiomyocytes, which is unlikely to be explained simply by the expression level of VDAC2. Furthermore, a strictly isoform-dependent VDAC2 function was revealed in the mitochondrial import and OMM-permeabilizing function of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, primarily Bak in many cell types. In addition, emerging evidence indicates a variety of other isoform-specific engagements for VDAC2. Since VDAC isoforms display 75% sequence similarity, the distinctive structure underlying VDAC2-specific functions is an intriguing problem. In this paper we summarize studies of VDAC2 structure and functions, which suggest a fundamental and exclusive role for VDAC2 in health and disease. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Channels edited by Pierre Sonveaux, Pierre Maechler and Jean-Claude Martinou.

Differentially expressed proteins in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells sensitive and resistant to paclitaxel

Resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents is one of the main causes of treatment failure. In order to detect proteins potentially involved in the mechanism of resistance to taxanes, we assessed differences in protein expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells that are sensitive to paclitaxel and in the same cells with acquired resistance to paclitaxel (established in our lab). Proteins were separated using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Changes in their expression were determined and proteins with altered expression were identified using mass spectrometry. Changes in their expression were confirmed using western blot analysis. With these techniques, we found three proteins expressed differently in resistant MCF-7 cells, i.e., thyroid hormone-interacting protein 6 (TRIP6; upregulated to 650%), heat shock protein 27 (HSP27; downregulated to 50%) and cathepsin D (downregulated to 28%). Silencing of TRIP6 expression by specific siRNA leads to decreased number of grown resistant MCF-7 cells. In the present study we have pointed at some new directions in the studies of the mechanism of resistance to paclitaxel in breast cancer cells.

Sequestration of mitochondrial iron by silica particle initiates a biological effect

Inhalation of particulate matter has presented a challenge to human health for thousands of years. The underlying mechanism for biological effect following particle exposure is incompletely understood. We tested the postulate that particle sequestration of cell and mitochondrial iron is a pivotal event mediating oxidant generation and biological effect. In vitro exposure of human bronchial epithelial cells to silica reduced intracellular iron, which resulted in increases in both the importer divalent metal transporter 1 expression and metal uptake. Diminished mitochondrial 57Fe concentrations following silica exposure confirmed particle sequestration of cell iron. Preincubation of cells with excess ferric ammonium citrate increased cell, nuclear, and mitochondrial metal concentrations and prevented significant iron loss from mitochondria following silica exposure. Cell and mitochondrial oxidant generation increased after silica incubation, but pretreatment with iron diminished this generation of reactive oxygen species. Silica exposure activated MAP kinases (ERK and p38) and altered the expression of transcription factors (nF-κB and NF-E2-related factor 2), proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-8 and -6), and apoptotic proteins. All of these changes in indexes of biological effect were either diminished or inhibited by cell pretreatment with iron. Finally, percentage of neutrophils and total protein concentrations in an animal model instilled with silica were decreased by concurrent exposure to iron. We conclude that an initiating event in the response to particulate matter is a sequestration of cell and mitochondrial iron by endocytosed particle. The resultant oxidative stress and biological response after particle exposure are either diminished or inhibited by increasing the cell iron concentration.

Antiosteoporotic effects and proteomic characterization of the target and mechanism of an Er-Xian Decoction on osteoblastic UMR-106 and osteoclasts induced from RAW264.7

Er-Xian Decoction (EXD) has been used for the treatment of osteoporosis disorders, menopausal syndrome, and other aging diseases in the Chinese traditional healthcare system. However, the targets and mechanism of action have not been clarified. This study was designed to investigate the effects and possible target proteins of EXD on osteoblastic UMR-106 cells and osteoclasts induced from RAW264.7 cells using the proteomic analysis technique. We found that EXD at a concentration of 50–200 μg/mL significantly enhanced osteoblastic UMR-106 cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and formation of bone nodules, and decreased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and the bone resorption action of osteoclasts induced from RAW 264.7 cells. In EXD-treated osteoblasts, there were increases in the expression of heat-shock protein 1, high mobility group protein (Hmgb1), acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0, histone 2, carbonyl reductase 1, ATP synthase, aldolase A, and Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI)-alpha; and reduction in the expression of carbonic anhydrase 3, prohibitin, hemiferrin, far upstream element (FUSE)-binding protein. In EXD-treated osteoclasts, there were increases in the expression of vimentin, protein disulfide isomerase associated 3 and alpha-fetoprotein; and reduction in the expression of calnexin. These results indicated that EXD modulates bone metabolism through regulation of osteoblastic proliferation, apoptosis, and cell activation, and osteoclastic protein folding and aggregation.