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Twyning MJ, Tufi R, Gleeson TP, Kolodziej KM, Campesan S, Terriente-Felix A, Collins L, De Lazzari F, Giorgini F, Whitworth AJ. Partial loss of MCU mitigates pathology in vivo across a diverse range of neurodegenerative disease models. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113681. [PMID: 38236772 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial calcium (Ca2+) uptake augments metabolic processes and buffers cytosolic Ca2+ levels; however, excessive mitochondrial Ca2+ can cause cell death. Disrupted mitochondrial function and Ca2+ homeostasis are linked to numerous neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), but the impact of mitochondrial Ca2+ disruption is not well understood. Here, we show that Drosophila models of multiple NDs (Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and frontotemporal dementia) reveal a consistent increase in neuronal mitochondrial Ca2+ levels, as well as reduced mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering capacity, associated with increased mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites (MERCs). Importantly, loss of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake channel MCU or overexpression of the efflux channel NCLX robustly suppresses key pathological phenotypes across these ND models. Thus, mitochondrial Ca2+ imbalance is a common feature of diverse NDs in vivo and is an important contributor to the disease pathogenesis. The broad beneficial effects from partial loss of MCU across these models presents a common, druggable target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine J Twyning
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Roberta Tufi
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Thomas P Gleeson
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Kinga M Kolodziej
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Susanna Campesan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Ana Terriente-Felix
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Lewis Collins
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Federica De Lazzari
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Alexander J Whitworth
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
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Arzua T, Yan Y, Liu X, Dash RK, Liu QS, Bai X. Synaptic and mitochondrial mechanisms behind alcohol-induced imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory synaptic activity and associated cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:51. [PMID: 38253552 PMCID: PMC10803756 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02748-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can significantly impact the brain development of the fetus, leading to long-term cognitive and behavioral problems. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the acute and chronic effects of binge-like alcohol exposure during the third trimester equivalent in postnatal day 7 (P7) mice on brain cell viability, synapse activity, cognitive and behavioral performance, and gene expression profiles at P60. Our results showed that alcohol exposure caused neuroapoptosis in P7 mouse brains immediately after a 6-hour exposure. In addition, P60 mice exposed to alcohol during P7 displayed impaired learning and memory abilities and anxiety-like behaviors. Electrophysiological analysis of hippocampal neurons revealed an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in alcohol-treated P60 mice compared to controls, with decreased excitation and increased inhibition. Furthermore, our bioinformatic analysis of 376 dysregulated genes in P60 mouse brains following alcohol exposure identified 50 synapse-related and 23 mitochondria-related genes. These genes encoded proteins located in various parts of the synapse, synaptic cleft, extra-synaptic space, synaptic membranes, or mitochondria, and were associated with different biological processes and functions, including the regulation of synaptic transmission, transport, synaptic vesicle cycle, metabolism, synaptogenesis, mitochondrial activity, cognition, and behavior. The dysregulated synapse and mitochondrial genes were predicted to interact in overlapping networks. Our findings suggest that altered synaptic activities and signaling networks may contribute to alcohol-induced long-term cognitive and behavioral impairments in mice, providing new insights into the underlying synaptic and mitochondrial molecular mechanisms and potential neuroprotective strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Arzua
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Yasheng Yan
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Xiaojie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226, WI, USA
| | - Ranjan K Dash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226, WI, USA
| | - Qing-Song Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226, WI, USA
| | - Xiaowen Bai
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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3
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Guerin MN, Ellis T, Ware MJ, Manning A, Coley A, Amini A, Chung G, Gunsalus KC, Bracht JR. Evolution of a biological thermocouple by adaptation of cytochrome c oxidase in a subterrestrial metazoan. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.05.570156. [PMID: 38106155 PMCID: PMC10723328 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.570156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
In this study we report a naturally evolved temperature-sensing electrical regulator in the cytochrome c oxidase of the Devil Worm, Halicephalobus mephisto. This extremophile metazoan was isolated 1.3 km underground in a South African goldmine, where it adapted to heat and potentially to hypoxia, making its mitochondrial sequence a likely target of adaptational change. We obtained the full mitochondrial genome sequence of this organism, and show through dN/dS analysis statistically robust evidence of positive selection in H. mephisto cytochrome c oxidase subunits. Seventeen of these positively-selected amino acid substitutions were localized in proximity to the H- and K-pathway proton channels of the complex. Surprisingly, the H. mephisto cytochrome c oxidase proton pump completely shuts down at low temperatures (20°C) leading to approximately a 4.8-fold reduction in the transmembrane proton gradient voltage (ΔΨm) compared to optimal temperature (37°C). Direct measurement of oxygen consumption found a corresponding 4.7-fold drop at 20°C compared to 37°C. Correspondingly, the lifecycle of H. mephisto takes four-fold longer at the low temperature compared to higher. This elegant evolutionary adaptation creates a finely-tuned mitochondrial temperature sensor, allowing this ectothermic organism to maximize its reproductive success in varying environmental temperatures. Our study shows that evolutionary innovation may remodel core metabolism to make it more accurately map onto environmental variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan N Guerin
- American University Biology Department, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
| | - TreVaughn Ellis
- American University Biology Department, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
| | - Mark J Ware
- American University Biology Department, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
| | - Alexandra Manning
- American University Biology Department, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
| | - Ariana Coley
- American University Biology Department, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
| | - Ali Amini
- American University Mathematics and Statistics Department, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
| | - George Chung
- New York University, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York, NY 10003
| | - Kristin C Gunsalus
- New York University, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York, NY 10003
| | - John R Bracht
- American University Biology Department, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
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Brackhan M, Arribas-Blazquez M, Lastres-Becker I. Aging, NRF2, and TAU: A Perfect Match for Neurodegeneration? Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1564. [PMID: 37627559 PMCID: PMC10451380 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the trigger for the neurodegenerative disease process is unknown, the relevance of aging stands out as a major risk for the development of neurodegeneration. In this review, we highlighted the relationship between the different cellular mechanisms that occur as a consequence of aging and transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and the connection with the TAU protein. We focused on the relevance of NRF2 in the main processes involved in neurodegeneration and associated with aging, such as genomic instability, protein degradation systems (proteasomes/autophagy), cellular senescence, and stem cell exhaustion, as well as inflammation. We also analyzed the effect of aging on TAU protein levels and its aggregation and spread process. Finally, we investigated the interconnection between NRF2 and TAU and the relevance of alterations in the NRF2 signaling pathway in both primary and secondary tauopathies. All these points highlight NRF2 as a possible therapeutic target for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Brackhan
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Paz (IdiPaz), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” UAM-CSIC, c/Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Arribas-Blazquez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Lastres-Becker
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” UAM-CSIC, c/Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Institute Teófilo Hernando for Drug Discovery, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
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Physiological functions of Mitophagy. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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