Mitochondrial DNA Transcription and Its Regulation: An Evolutionary Perspective

Mitochondrial DNA-targeted triphenylamine-thiophene (TPATP)-derived ligands boost type-I/II photodynamic therapy for triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive with poor prognosis. Current strategies include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, but face challenges like suboptimal outcomes, low survival, and drug resistance. Thus, novel TNBC therapies are crucial. Activity-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a highly regarded cancer treatment strategy known for its spatiotemporal precision, making it a promising option for the treatment of TNBC. In this study, we designed and synthesized three triphenylamine-thiophene (TPATP)-derived ligands binding to mitochondrial DNA G4 (mtG4), which were able to label mitochondria in TNBC cells under red-light excitation, and demonstrated significant phototoxicity through type-I/II process under white-light irradiation, hinting at dual-functional potential for PDT and imaging. The optimal ligand, TP2, was demonstrated to disrupt mitochondrial functions under white-light irradiation, leading to MMP loss, ATP reduction, ROS increase, which further triggered significant apoptosis in TNBC cells.

Nuclear factor κB signaling revisited: Its role in skeletal muscle and exercise

Nuclear factor (NF) κB as a redox sensitive, anti-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory signaling molecule has been studied extensively for more than three decades. Its role in inducing antioxidant enzymes, defending against extracellular and intracellular stress and maintaining redox homeostasis in skeletal muscle has also been recognized. New research continues to explore the polytropic nature of NFκB in cellular function, especially its crosstalk with other important signaling pathways. Understanding of the broad impact of these functions has significant implications in health and disease of skeletal muscle as an organ designed for contraction and mobility. Two important aspects of muscle wellbeing, i.e., disease and aging, are not discussed in this review. This review will provide an update on the new findings related to NFκB involvement in multiple signaling pathways and refresh our knowledge of its activation in skeletal muscle with a special reference to physical exercise.

Diphenylaminothiophen-derived fluorescent ligands targeting mitochondrial DNA G-quadruplexes potentially for triple-negative breast cancer therapy

Mitochondrial DNA G-quadruplexes (mtG4s) are thought to play crucial roles in mitochondrial metabolism and may also represent a potential target for anticancer drugs. However, mtG4s remain understudied, necessitating the development of more promising fluorescent ligands specifically targeted to them. In this study, we designed and synthesized a targeted library of diphenylaminothiophen (DPAT)-derived compounds, and subsequently evaluated their optical properties and binding affinities towards mtG4s. From this library, we identified SF3 as the most promising ligand for further investigation. Our findings revealed that SF3 was an exceptional mtG4-targeted near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent ligand, of which the fluorescence could be switched on through the G4-mediated disassembly of its H-aggregates into monomers with restricted conformation, featuring DBIE mechanism. Notably, SF3 significantly inhibited the transcription and replication of mtDNA, disrupted mitochondrial metabolism, induced cell cycle arrest, triggered apoptosis, and demonstrated robust anticancer activity against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) either in vitro or in vivo. Collectively, SF3 can serve as a practical chemical tool for investigating mtG4s and holds potential for further development into an innovative anticancer agent.

HIF-1α mediates mitochondrial damage by down-regulating ALKBH7 expression to promote the aberrant activation of FLS in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation and progressive joint destruction. Existing evidence indicates that hypoxia potentially contributes to the pathology of RA, though the specific mechanism remains unidentified. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanism through which the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) contributed to the pathological process of RA. Our preliminary results suggested that hypoxia stimulates the activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) by inducing mitochondrial damage to activate cGAS-STING signaling, which can be effectively inhibited by silencing HIF-1α. In line with this, HIF-1α deficiency significantly alleviated the symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. RNA-Seq and CUT-Tag analysis revealed that HIF-1α down-regulated the expression of AlkB homologue 7 (ALKBH7) by acting on the ALKBH7 promoter site on chromosome 19 6372400-6372578. Using dual luciferase reporter analysis, we identified that ACCGTGGC as the motif to which HIF-1α bound directly. Subsequently, we demonstrated that knockdown of ALKBH7 induces mitochondrial damage and activates cGAS-STING signaling by downregulating the expression of UQCRC2. Conversely, overexpression of ALKBH7 could resist hypoxia-induced mitochondrial damage and FLS activation. In conclusion, HIF-1α triggers mitochondrial damage by downregulating the expression of ALKBH7 thereby promoting FLS activation, which may be the molecular mechanism by which hypoxia is involved in the pathological process of RA. Hypoxia promotes the activation of FLS through the induction of mitochondrial damage, which subsequently activates cGAS-STING signaling. Mechanistically, HIF-1α triggers mitochondrial damage by downregulating the expression of ALKBH7 in a target manner. Furthermore, the deletion of ALKBH7 leads to mitochondrial damage under hypoxic conditions, primarily through the downregulation of UQCRC2, as opposed to other complexes.

Enhanced dynamicity: evolutionary insights into amphibian mitogenomes architecture

Mitogenomes are known for their structural dynamics and the complexity of their rearrangement patterns. However, their utility in metazoan comparative biology has not been fully exploited. Vertebrate mitogenomes are now sufficiently representative to allow the development of more advanced methods for comparing genome architecture. Furthermore, the relatively robust phylogeny of vertebrates at higher taxonomic ranks allows us to infer the patterns of genome evolution accordingly. In this study, using amphibians as an example, we performed data cleaning and manual annotation on 1777 samples from the NCBI and identified 88 rearrangement types, most of which were clade-specific. In addition, we quantified genomic changes in an evolutionary framework and obtained stepwise growth curves of the architectural changes. This study provides new perspectives for understanding the evolution of the mitogenomes in amphibians and is expected to facilitate the qualitative and quantitative development of mitogenomes research.

Effects and Mechanisms of Imperatorin on Vitrified Mouse Oocytes

Imperatorin (IMP) is a naturally occurring furanocoumarin with beneficial biological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, and neuromodulatory properties. Currently, the protective effects and mechanisms of IMP on oxidative stress experienced by mouse oocytes after vitrification-thawing remain unclear. To investigate the influence of IMP on mouse oocyte development after vitrification-thawing, we added different concentrations of IMP to the vitrification and thawing media. Results indicated that the addition of 40 μM IMP enhanced post-thaw fertilization capacity, reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and increased intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. IMP also improved mitochondrial health by alleviating the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and enhancing mitochondrial distribution. IMP reduced intracellular ROS levels by affecting the transcription of the antioxidant genes SOD2, NRF2, and HO-1 and enhancing SOD activity. It also elevated GSH levels via GPX1, improved mitochondrial function, and decreased early apoptosis through Bcl-2. In conclusion, IMP enhanced ovum health through the alleviation of oxidative stress. The present study provides useful information for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of IMP in female reproductive cells and offers a novel approach for the improvement of vitrification technology.

Mitochondrially Transcribed dsRNA Mediates Manganese-induced Neuroinflammation

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element required for various biological functions, but excessive Mn levels are neurotoxic and lead to significant health concerns. The mechanisms underlying Mn-induced neurotoxicity remain poorly understood. Neuropathological studies of affected brain regions reveal astrogliosis, and neuronal loss, along with evidence of neuroinflammation. Here, we present a novel Mn-dependent mechanism linking mitochondrial dysfunction to neuroinflammation. We found that Mn disrupts mitochondrial transcriptome processing, resulting in the accumulation of complementary RNAs that form double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). This dsRNA is released to the cytoplasm, where it activates cytosolic sensor pathways, triggering type I interferon responses and inflammatory cytokine production. This mechanism is present in 100-day human cerebral organoids, where Mn-induced inflammatory responses are observed predominantly in mature astrocytes. Similar effects were observed in vivo in a mouse model carrying mutations in the SLC30A10 gene, which results in Mn accumulation. These findings highlight a previously unrecognized role for mitochondrial dsRNA in Mn-induced neuroinflammation and provide insights into the molecular basis of manganism. We propose that this mitochondrial dsRNA-induced inflammatory pathway has broad implications in for neurodegenerative diseases caused by environmental or genetic insults.

Unleashing viral mimicry: A combinatorial strategy to enhance the efficacy of PARP7 inhibitors

Cancer cells exploit mechanisms to evade immune detection triggered by aberrant self-nucleic acids (NA). PARP7, a key player in this immune evasion strategy, has emerged as a potential target for cancer therapy. PARP7 inhibitors reactivate NA sensing, resulting in type I interferon (IFN) signaling, programmed cell death, anti-tumor immunity, and tumor regression. Cancer cells with elevated IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) scores, representing a viral mimicry-primed state, are particularly sensitive to PARP7 inhibition. This review focuses on the endogenous sources of NA in cancer and the potential to exploit elevated aberrant self-NA in cancer therapy. We describe strategies to increase cytoplamic NA levels, including targeting epigenetic control, DNA damage response, and mitochondrial function. We also discuss targeting RNA processing pathways, such as splicing and RNA editing, to enhance the immunostimulatory potential of existing NA. Combining PARP7 inhibitors with NA elevating strategies may improve cancer immunotherapy, especially for tumors with high ISG scores.

Mitochondrial Functioning: Front and Center in Defining Psychosomatic Mechanisms of Allostasis in Health and Disease

There is increased awareness among basic and clinical scientists that psychological and social stress can have detrimental effects on physical, cognitive, and mental health. Data have been published indicating that social, economic, psychological, and physical environmental stress can influence behavior that has biological and physiological consequences-yet there are major gaps in understanding the physiological and cellular processes that drive increased morbidity and mortality. The potential role of mitochondria has been highlighted in psychosomatic medicine, as their functionality in various biological and physiological processes has earned recognition. This review outlines the essential role of mitochondria by considering the numerous intracellular, extracellular, and physiological functions it regulates that position the organelle as a central mediator in responses to psychological stress. We then connect these functions to mitochondrial allostasis and allostatic load for further examination of the limitations of mitochondria to an adaptive psychological stress response where mitochondrial allostatic load may eventually lead to systemic pathophysiology. This review emphasizes how chronic social, economic, and psychological stress can contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction and predispose individuals to poorer health outcomes and death. Mitochondrial capacity, function, and activity may therefore serve as biomarkers for identifying individuals at high risk for developing comorbid conditions related to their psychosocial environment.

Depressed TFAM promotes acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity regulated by DDX3X-PGC1α-NRF2 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (AILI) is the most prevalent cause of acute liver failure and mitochondrial dysfunction plays a dominant role in the pathogenesis of AILI. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is an important marker for maintaining mitochondrial functional homeostasis, but its functions in AILI are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of TFAM and its regulatory molecular mechanism in the progression of AILI.

METHODS

The roles of TFAM and DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 3 X-linked (DDX3X) in AILI were determined with TFAM overexpression and DDX3X knockdown, respectively.

RESULTS

TFAM expression was suppressed in AILI patients. TFAM overexpression alleviated liver necrosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment of the AILI mice model with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a drug used to treat APAP overdose, resulted in significant TFAM activation. In vivo experiments confirmed that TFAM expression was negatively regulated by DDX3X. Mechanistic studies showed that nuclear respiratory factor 2 (NRF-2), a key regulator of TFAM, was selectively activated after DDX3X knockdown via activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1 (PGC-1α), in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that depressed hepatic TFAM plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AILI, which is regulated by the DDX3X-PGC1α-NRF2 signaling pathway.

GLIS3: A novel transcriptional regulator of mitochondrial functions and metabolic reprogramming in postnatal kidney and polycystic kidney disease

OBJECTIVES

Deficiency in the transcription factor (TF) GLI-Similar 3 (GLIS3) in humans and mice leads to the development of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). In this study, we investigate the role of GLIS3 in the regulation of energy metabolism and mitochondrial functions in relation to its role in normal kidney and metabolic reprogramming in PKD pathogenesis.

METHODS

Transcriptomics, cistromics, and metabolomics were used to obtain insights into the role of GLIS3 in the regulation of energy homeostasis and mitochondrial metabolism in normal kidney and PKD pathogenesis using GLIS3-deficient mice.

RESULTS

Transcriptome analysis showed that many genes critical for mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), fatty acid oxidation (FAO), and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, including Tfam, Tfb1m, Tfb2m, Ppargc1a, Ppargc1b, Atp5j2, Hadha, and Sdha, are significantly suppressed in kidneys from both ubiquitous and tissue-specific Glis3-deficient mice. ChIP-Seq analysis demonstrated that GLIS3 is associated with the regulatory region of many of these genes, indicating that their transcription is directly regulated by GLIS3. Cistrome analyses revealed that GLIS3 binding loci frequently located near those of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-Beta (HNF1B) and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) suggesting GLIS3 regulates transcription of many metabolic and mitochondrial function-related genes in coordination with these TFs. Seahorse analysis and untargeted metabolomics corroborated that mitochondrial OXPHOS utilization is suppressed in GLIS3-deficient kidneys and showed that key metabolites in glycolysis, TCA cycle, and glutamine pathways were altered indicating increased reliance on aerobic glycolysis and glutamine anaplerosis. These features of metabolic reprogramming may contribute to a bioenergetic environment that supports renal cyst formation and progression in Glis3-deficient mice kidneys.

CONCLUSIONS

We identify GLIS3 as a novel positive regulator of the transition from aerobic glycolysis to OXPHOS in normal early postnatal kidney development by directly regulating the transcription of mitochondrial metabolic genes. Loss of GLIS3 induces several features of renal cell metabolic reprogramming. Our study identifies GLIS3 as a new participant in an interconnected transcription regulatory network, that includes HNF1B and NRF1, critical in the regulation of mitochondrial-related gene expression and energy metabolism in normal postnatal kidneys and PKD pathogenesis in Glis3-deficient mice.

Vgll2 as an integrative regulator of mitochondrial function and contractility specific to skeletal muscle

During skeletal muscle adaptation to physiological or pathophysiological signals, contractile apparatus and mitochondrial function are coordinated to alter muscle fiber type. Although recent studies have identified various factors involved in modifying contractile proteins and mitochondrial function, the molecular mechanisms coordinating contractile and metabolic functions during muscle fiber transition are not fully understood. Using a gene-deficient mouse approach, our previous studies uncovered that vestigial-like family member 2 (Vgll2), a skeletal muscle-specific transcription cofactor activated by exercise, is essential for fast-to-slow adaptation of skeletal muscle. The current study provides evidence that Vgll2 plays a role in increasing muscle mitochondrial mass and oxidative capacity. Transgenic Vgll2 overexpression in mice altered muscle fiber composition toward the slow type and enhanced exercise endurance, which contradicted the outcomes observed with Vgll2 deficiency. Vgll2 expression was positively correlated with the expression of genes related to mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle, mitochondrial DNA content, and protein abundance of oxidative phosphorylation complexes. Additionally, Vgll2 overexpression significantly increased the maximal respiration of isolated muscle fibers and enhanced the suppressive effects of endurance training on weight gain. Notably, no additional alteration in expression of myosin heavy chain genes was observed after exercise, suggesting that Vgll2 plays a direct role in regulating mitochondrial function, independent of its effect on contractile components. The observed increase in exercise endurance and metabolic efficiency may be attributed to the acute upregulation of genes promoting fatty acid utilization as a direct consequence of Vgll2 activation facilitated by endurance exercise. Thus, the current study establishes that Vgll2 is an integrative regulator of mitochondrial function and contractility in skeletal muscle.

Age- and sex-associated alterations in hypothalamic mitochondrial bioenergetics and inflammatory-associated signaling in the 3xTg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction and associated inflammatory signaling are pivotal in both aging and in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies have also shown that hypothalamic function is affected in AD. The hypothalamus may be a target for AD drugs given that mitochondrial alterations are observed in the hypothalamus. This study investigated how age and sex affect mitochondrial bioenergetics and inflammatory signaling in the hypothalamic mitochondria of 3xTg and control mice at 2, 6, and 13 months, aiming to enhance our understanding of these processes in aging and AD. Parameters included oxygen consumption rates, expression levels of subunits comprising mitochondrial complexes I-V, the enzymatic activity of cytochrome c oxidase (COX), transcription factors associated with inflammation such as NF-κB, pIκB-α, Nrf2, and other inflammatory biomarkers. Hypothalamic mitochondrial dysfunction was observed in 3xTg females as early as 2 months, but no changes were detected in 3xTg males until 6 months of age. In 3xTg mice, subunit expression levels for mitochondrial complexes I-II were significantly reduced in both sexes. Significant sex-based differences in COX activity were also observed at 13 months of age, with levels being lower in females compared to males. In addition, significant sex differences were indicated in NF-κB, pIκB-α, Nrf2, and other inflammatory biomarkers at different age groups during normal aging and AD progression. These findings highlight important sex differences in hypothalamic bioenergetics and inflammation, offering insights into potential new targets for preventing and/or treating AD.

Quantification of rearrangements and evolution of mitochondrial gene order of Acari (Chelicerata: Arachnida)

Invertebrate mitogenomes are generally fixed with formal 37 genes: 13 PCGs encoded subunits of OXPHOS, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) functional in the translation of these PCGs and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. The order of these genes varies greatly among organisms and named rearrangement. Rearrangement patterns of mitochondrial genomes may shed light on mutation processes and evolutionary relationships of organisms. Mitochondrial gene organization is highly variable among Acari, so rearrangement is a very common mitogenomic pattern in this group. In this study, 258 unique Acari (Acariformes + Parasitiformes) mitogenomes were downloaded from NCBI and studied about rearrangement patterns. Sixty-seven mitotypes were determined among Acari and the most rearranged genes were trnL1 and nad2. Following that, trnI, trnS1, trnN, trnE, trnT, and trnP genes are remarkably mobile (RF > 95%). Conversely, atp6, cox3, trnG, and cytb genes also appears to be quite stable (RF < 20%). Within Acari, mean distance calculations are varied from 1.210 in atp8 to 0.155 in rrnS. Contrary to expectations, among Acari mobile tRNA genes appear to be conserved in sequences, whereas PCGs have higher distance values and seem to be mutated. Consistently, tRNA genes seem saturated, but some PCGs (atp6, cox genes, cytb, nad1, and nad6) are not saturated. These values do not correlate with each other (p > 0.005). This discrepancy may indicate that the genes were rearranged after mutation load; consistent with this, DAMBE saturation values are also not correlated with RF values. Parasitiformes mitogenomes are more mobile than Acariformes mitogenomes and may be under the effect of selective sweeping.

Probing the nucleobase selectivity of RNA polymerases with dual-coding substrates

Formycin A (FOR) and pyrazofurin A (PYR) are nucleoside analogs with antiviral and antitumor properties. They are known to interfere with nucleic acid metabolism, but their direct effect on transcription is less understood. We explored how RNA polymerases (RNAPs) from bacteria, mitochondria, and viruses utilize FOR, PYR, and oxidized purine nucleotides. All tested polymerases incorporated FOR in place of adenine and PYR in place of uridine. FOR also exhibited surprising dual-coding behavior, functioning as a cytosine substitute, particularly for viral RNAP. In contrast, 8-oxoadenine and 8-oxoguanine were incorporated in place of uridine in addition to their canonical Watson-Crick codings. Our data suggest that the interconversion of canonical anti and alternative syn conformers underlies dual-coding abilities of FOR and oxidized purines. Structurally distinct RNAPs displayed varying abilities to utilize syn conformers during transcription. By examining base pairings that led to substrate incorporation and the entire spectrum of geometrically compatible pairings, we have gained new insights into the nucleobase selection processes employed by structurally diverse RNAPs. These insights may pave the way for advancements in antiviral therapies.

Full-Length Transcriptome Profiling of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Sericothrips houjii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae: Sericothripinae) Featuring Extensive Gene Rearrangement and Duplicated Control Regions

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Thysanoptera has extensive gene rearrangement, and some species have repeatable control regions. To investigate the characteristics of the gene expression, transcription and post-transcriptional processes in such extensively gene-rearranged mitogenomes, we sequenced the mitogenome and mitochondrial transcriptome of Sericothrips houjii to analyze. The mitogenome was 14,965 bp in length and included two CRs contains 140 bp repeats between COIII-trnN (CR1) and trnT-trnP (CR2). Unlike the putative ancestral arrangement of insects, S. houjii exhibited only six conserved gene blocks encompassing 14 genes (trnL2-COII, trnD-trnK, ND2-trnW, ATP8-ATP6, ND5-trnH-ND4-ND4L and trnV-lrRNA). A quantitative transcription map showed the gene with the highest relative expression in the mitogenome was ND4-ND4L. Based on analyses of polycistronic transcripts, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and antisense transcripts, we proposed a transcriptional model of this mitogenome. Both CRs contained the transcription initiation sites (TISs) and transcription termination sites (TTSs) of both strands, and an additional TIS for the majority strand (J-strand) was found within antisense lrRNA. The post-transcriptional cleavage processes followed the "tRNA punctuation" model. After the cleavage of transfer RNAs (tRNAs), COI and ND3 matured as bicistronic mRNA COI/ND3 due to the translocation of intervening tRNAs, and the 3' untranslated region (UTR) remained in the mRNAs for COII, COIII, CYTB and ND5. Additionally, isoform RNAs of ND2, srRNA and lrRNA were identified. In summary, the relative mitochondrial gene expression levels, transcriptional model and post-transcriptional cleavage process of S. houjii are notably different from those insects with typical mitochondrial gene arrangements. In addition, the phylogenetic tree of Thripidae including S. houjii was reconstructed. Our study provides insights into the phylogenetic status of Sericothripinae and the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation processes of extensively gene-rearranged insect mitogenomes.

Targeting POLRMT by IMT1 inhibits colorectal cancer cell growth

This study investigates the potential anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) activity of IMT1, a novel specific inhibitor of mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT). Single-cell RNA sequencing data reveal that POLRMT is overexpressed in CRC cells. Additionally, elevated POLRMT expression was observed in local CRC tissues and cells, while its expression remained relatively low in colon epithelial tissues and cells. IMT1 significantly inhibited colony formation, cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle progression, and migration in both primary and immortalized CRC cells. Furthermore, IMT1 induced apoptosis and cell death in CRC cells. The inhibition of POLRMT by IMT1 disrupted mitochondrial functions in CRC cells, leading to mitochondrial depolarization, oxidative damage, and decreased ATP levels. Using targeted shRNA to silence POLRMT closely mirrored the effects of IMT1, showing robust anti-CRC cell activity. Crucially, the efficacy of IMT1 was diminished in CRC cells with silenced POLRMT. Contrarily, boosting POLRMT expression externally by a lentiviral construct promoted the proliferation and migration of CRC cells. Importantly, treatment with IMT1 or silencing POLRMT in primary colon cancer cells decreased the phosphorylation of Akt1-S6K1, whereas overexpression of POLRMT had the opposite effect. In nude mice, orally administering IMT1 potently restrained primary colon cancer xenograft growth. IMT1 suppressed POLRMT activity, disrupted mitochondrial function, hindered Akt-mTOR activation, and prompted apoptosis within the xenograft tissues. In addition, IMT1 administration suppressed lung metastasis of primary colon cancer cells in nude mice. These combined results highlight the robust anti-CRC activity of IMT1 by specifically targeting POLRMT.

Disrupted mitochondrial transcription factor A expression promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and enhances ocular surface inflammation by activating the absent in melanoma 2 inflammasome

PURPOSE

Severe dry eye disease causes ocular surface damage, which is highly associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is essential for packaging mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and is crucial for maintaining mitochondrial function. Herein, we aimed to explore the effect of a decreased TFAM expression on ocular surface damage.

METHODS

Female C57BL/6 mice were induced ocular surface injury by topical administrating benzalkonium chloride (BAC). Immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were stimulated by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) to create oxidative stress damage. HCECs with TFAM knockdown were established. RNA sequencing was employed to analyze the whole-genome expression. Mitochondrial changes were measured by transmission electron microscopy, Seahorse metabolic flux analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mtDNA copy number. TFAM expression and inflammatory cytokines were determined using RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting.

RESULTS

In both the corneas of BAC-treated mice and t-BHP-induced HCECs, we observed impaired TFAM expression, accompanied by mitochondrial structure and function defects. TFAM downregulation in HCECs suppressed mitochondrial respiratory capacity, reduced mtDNA content, induced mtDNA leakage into the cytoplasm, and led to inflammation. RNA sequencing revealed the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome was activated in the corneas of BAC-treated mice. The AIM2 inflammasome activation was confirmed in TFAM knockdown HCECs. TFAM knockdown in t-BHP-stimulated HCECs aggravated mitochondrial dysfunction and the AIM2 inflammasome activation, thereby further triggering the secretion of inflammatory factors such as interleukin (IL) -1β and IL-18.

CONCLUSIONS

TFAM reduction impaired mitochondrial function, activated AIM2 inflammasome and promoted ocular surface inflammation, revealing an underlying molecular mechanism for ocular surface disorders.

Nucleophosmin 1 promotes mucosal immunity by supporting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and ILC3 activity

Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) is commonly mutated in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia. Concurrent inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and MDS are common, indicating a close relationship between IBD and MDS. Here we examined the function of NPM1 in IBD and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). NPM1 expression was reduced in patients with IBD. Npm1+/- mice were more susceptible to acute colitis and experimentally induced CAC than littermate controls. Npm1 deficiency impaired the function of interleukin-22 (IL-22)-producing group three innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). Mice lacking Npm1 in ILC3s exhibited decreased IL-22 production and accelerated development of colitis. NPM1 was important for mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism by oxidative phosphorylation in ILC3s. Further experiments revealed that NPM1 cooperates with p65 to promote mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) transcription in ILC3s. Overexpression of Npm1 in mice enhanced ILC3 function and reduced the severity of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Thus, our findings indicate that NPM1 in ILC3s protects against IBD by regulating mitochondrial metabolism through a p65-TFAM axis.

Differential effect of lead and cadmium on mitochondrial function and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human trophoblast

Heavy metals disrupt mitochondrial function and activate the NOD-like receptor pyrin-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. We investigated the effect of lead (Pb)/cadmium (Cd) on mitochondrial function and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human trophoblast under normoxic, hypoxic and pro-inflammatory conditions. JEG-3, BeWo and HTR-8/SVneo cells were exposed to Pb or Cd for 24 h in the absence or presence of hypoxia or pro-inflammatory lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or poly(I:C). Then, we evaluated cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ), NLRP3 inflammasome proteins and interleukin (IL)-1β secretion. Although our data showed that Pb, Cd, hypoxia, poly(I:C) and LPS decreased mtDNAcn in the three cell lines, the effects of these treatments on other biomarkers were different in the different cell lines. We found that hypoxia decreased ΔΨ and promoted apoptosis in JEG-3 cells, increased ΔΨ and prevented apoptosis in BeWo cells, and did not change ΔΨ and apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Moreover, Pb under hypoxic conditions reduced ΔΨ and promoted apoptosis of BeWo cells. Exposure of BeWo and HTR-8/SVneo cells to hypoxia, Pb or Cd alone upregulated the expression of NLRP3 and pro-caspase 1 but did not activate the NLRP3 inflammasome since cleaved-caspase 1 and IL-1β were not increased. To conclude, Pb and Cd affected trophoblast mitochondrial function and NLRP3 proteins in trophoblast cell lines, but in a cell line-specific way. KEY POINTS: The objective of this work was an understanding of the effect of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) on mitochondrial function and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human trophoblast cell lines under normoxic, hypoxic and pro-inflammatory conditions. Apoptosis of JEG-3 cells was increased by hypoxia, while in BeWo cells, apoptosis was decreased by hypoxia, and in HTR-8/SVneo, apoptosis was not affected by hypoxic treatment. Exposure to either Pb or Cd decreased mtDNAcn in three human placental trophoblast cell lines. However, Pb under hypoxia induced a decrease of ΔΨ and promoted apoptosis of BeWo cells, but Cd did not induce a reduction in ΔΨ in the three trophoblast cell lines under any conditions. Exposure to hypoxia, Pb or Cd increased NLRP3 and pro-caspase 1 in BeWo and HTR-8/SVneo cells. Our findings highlight that Pb and Cd affected trophoblast mitochondrial function and NLRP3 proteins in trophoblast cell lines but in a cell line-specific way.

Discovery of NFκB2-Coordinated Dual Regulation of Mitochondrial and Nuclear Genomes Leads to an Effective Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has a poor survival rate for both pediatric and adult patients due to its frequent relapse. To elucidate the bioenergetic principle underlying AML relapse, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial-nuclear dual genomes responsible for metabolic plasticity in treatment-resistant blasts. Both the gain and loss of function results demonstrated that NFκB2, a noncanonical transcription factor (TF) of the NFκB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) family, can control the expression of TFAM (mitochondrial transcription factor A), which is known to be essential for metabolic biogenesis. Furthermore, genetic tracking and promoter assays revealed that NFκB2 is in the mitochondria and can bind the specific "TTGGGGGGTG" region of the regulatory D-loop domain to activate the light-strand promoter (LSP) and heavy-strand promoter 1 (HSP1), promoters of the mitochondrial genome. Based on our discovery of NFκB2's novel function of regulating mitochondrial-nuclear dual genomes, we explored a novel triplet therapy including inhibitors of NFκB2, tyrosine kinase, and mitochondrial ATP synthase that effectively eliminated primary AML blasts with mutations of the FMS-related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and displayed minimum toxicity to control cells ex vivo. As such, effective treatments for AML must include strong inhibitory actions on the dual genomes mediating metabolic plasticity to improve leukemia prognosis.

Identification of TEFM as a potential therapeutic target for LUAD treatment

BACKGROUND

Molecularly targeted therapies have recently become a hotspot in the treatment of LUAD, with ongoing efforts to identify new effective targets due to individual variability. Among these potential targets, the mitochondrial transcription elongation factor (TEFM) stands out as a crucial molecule involved in mitochondrial synthetic transcriptional processing. Dysregulation of TEFM has been implicated in the development of various diseases; however, its specific role in LUAD remains unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of TEFM expression in LUAD, leveraging data from the TCGA database. Subsequently, we validated these findings using clinical specimens obtained from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, employing western blotting and qRT-PCR techniques. Further experimental validation was performed through the transfection of cells with TEFM overexpression, knockdown, and knockout lentiviruses. The effects of TEFM on LUAD were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo using a range of assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, EdU incorporation, Transwell migration, Tunel assay, flow cytometry, JC-1 staining, and xenograft tumour models.

RESULTS

Our investigation uncovered that TEFM exhibited elevated expression levels in LUAD and exhibited co-localization with mitochondria. Overexpression of TEFM facilitated malignant processes in LUAD cells, whereas its silencing notably curbed these behaviors and induced mitochondrial depolarization, along with ROS production, culminating in apoptosis. Moreover, the absence of TEFM substantially influenced the expression of mitochondrial transcripts and respiratory chain complexes. Results from nude mouse xenograft tumors further validated that inhibiting TEFM expression markedly hindered tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

TEFM promotes LUAD malignant progression through the EMT pathway and determines apoptosis by affecting the expression of mitochondrial transcripts and respiratory chain complexes, providing a new therapeutic direction for LUAD-targeted therapy.

The initiation of mitochondrial DNA replication

Mitochondrial DNA replication is initiated by the transcription of mitochondrial RNA polymerase (mtRNAP), as mitochondria lack a dedicated primase. However, the mechanism determining the switch between continuous transcription and premature termination to generate RNA primers for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication remains unclear. The pentatricopeptide repeat domain of mtRNAP exhibits exoribonuclease activity, which is required for the initiation of mtDNA replication in Drosophila. In this review, we explain how this exonuclease activity contributes to primer synthesis in strand-coupled mtDNA replication, and discuss how its regulation might co-ordinate mtDNA replication and transcription in both Drosophila and mammals.

Identification of the central role of RNA polymerase mitochondrial for angiogenesis

Mitochondria are central to endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis, with the RNA polymerase mitochondrial (POLRMT) serving as a key protein in regulating mitochondrial transcription and oxidative phosphorylation. In our study, we examined the impact of POLRMT on angiogenesis and found that its silencing or knockout (KO) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and other endothelial cells resulted in robust anti-angiogenic effects, impeding cell proliferation, migration, and capillary tube formation. Depletion of POLRMT led to impaired mitochondrial function, characterized by mitochondrial depolarization, oxidative stress, lipid oxidation, DNA damage, and reduced ATP production, along with significant apoptosis activation. Conversely, overexpressing POLRMT promoted angiogenic activity in the endothelial cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that endothelial knockdown of POLRMT, by intravitreous injection of endothelial specific POLRMT shRNA adeno-associated virus, inhibited retinal angiogenesis. In addition, inhibiting POLRMT with a first-in-class inhibitor IMT1 exerted significant anti-angiogenic impact in vitro and in vivo. Significantly elevated expression of POLRMT was observed in the retinal tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy (DR) mice. POLRMT endothelial knockdown inhibited pathological retinal angiogenesis and mitigated retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration in DR mice. At last, POLRMT expression exhibited a substantial increase in the retinal proliferative membrane tissues of human DR patients. These findings collectively establish the indispensable role of POLRMT in angiogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo.

Biological role of mitochondrial TLR4-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway in central nervous system injury

Previous studies suggested that central nervous system injury is often accompanied by the activation of Toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB pathway, which leads to the upregulation of proapoptotic gene expression, causes mitochondrial oxidative stress, and further aggravates the inflammatory response to induce cell apoptosis. Subsequent studies have shown that NF-κB and IκBα can directly act on mitochondria. Therefore, elucidation of the specific mechanisms of NF-κB and IκBα in mitochondria may help to discover new therapeutic targets for central nervous system injury. Recent studies have suggested that NF-κB (especially RelA) in mitochondria can inhibit mitochondrial respiration or DNA expression, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. IκBα silencing will cause reactive oxygen species storm and initiate the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Other research results suggest that RelA can regulate mitochondrial respiration and energy metabolism balance by interacting with p53 and STAT3, thus initiating the mitochondrial protection mechanism. IκBα can also inhibit apoptosis in mitochondria by interacting with VDAC1 and other molecules. Regulating the biological role of NF-κB signaling pathway in mitochondria by targeting key proteins such as p53, STAT3, and VDAC1 may help maintain the balance of mitochondrial respiration and energy metabolism, thereby protecting nerve cells and reducing inflammatory storms and death caused by ischemia and hypoxia.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors positively impact on multiple aging regulatory pathways: Could they be used to protect against human aging?

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-a classical blood pressure regulator-largely contributes to healthy organ development and function. Besides, RAS activation promotes age-related changes and age-associated diseases, which are attenuated/abolished by RAS-blockade in several mammalian species. RAS-blockers also increase rodent lifespan. In previous work, we discussed how RAS-blockade downregulates mTOR and growth hormone/IGF-1 signaling, and stimulates AMPK activity (together with klotho, sirtuin, and vitamin D-receptor upregulation), and proposed that at least some of RAS-blockade's aging benefits are mediated through regulation of these intermediaries and their signaling to mitochondria. Here, we included RAS-blockade's impact on other aging regulatory pathways, that is, TGF-ß, NF-kB, PI3K, MAPK, PKC, Notch, and Wnt, all of which affect mitochondria. No direct evidence is available on RAS/RAS-blockade-aging regulatory pathway-mitochondria interactions. However, existing results allow to conjecture that RAS-blockers neutralize mitochondrial dysfunction by acting on the discussed pathways. The reviewed evidence led us to propose that the foundation is laid for conducting clinical trials aimed at testing whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB)-even at subclinical doses-offer the possibility to live longer and in better health. As ACEi and ARB are low cost and well-tolerated anti-hypertension therapies in use for over 35 years, investigating their administration to attenuate/prevent aging effects seems simple to implement.

Mitochondria transcription and cancer

Mitochondria are major organelles involved in several processes related to energy supply, metabolism, and cell proliferation. The mitochondria function is transcriptionally regulated by mitochondria DNA (mtDNA), which encodes the key proteins in the electron transport chain that is indispensable for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial transcriptional abnormalities are closely related to a variety of human diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. The mitochondria transcription is regulated by the mtDNA, mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT), two transcription factors (TFAM and TF2BM), one transcription elongation (TEFM), and one known transcription termination factor (mTERFs). Dysregulation of these factors directly leads to altered expression of mtDNA in tumor cells, resulting in cellular metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction. This dysregulation plays a role in modulating tumor progression. Therefore, understanding the role of mitochondrial transcription in cancer can have implications for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Targeting mitochondrial transcription or related pathways may provide potential therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Additionally, assessing mitochondrial transcriptional profiles or biomarkers in cancer cells or patient samples may offer diagnostic or prognostic information.

Human mtDNA-Encoded Long ncRNAs: Knotty Molecules and Complex Functions

Until a few decades ago, most of our knowledge of RNA transcription products was focused on protein-coding sequences, which were later determined to make up the smallest portion of the mammalian genome. Since 2002, we have learnt a great deal about the intriguing world of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), mainly due to the rapid development of bioinformatic tools and next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms. Moreover, interest in non-human ncRNAs and their functions has increased as a result of these technologies and the accessibility of complete genome sequences of species ranging from Archaea to primates. Despite not producing proteins, ncRNAs constitute a vast family of RNA molecules that serve a number of regulatory roles and are essential for cellular physiology and pathology. This review focuses on a subgroup of human ncRNAs, namely mtDNA-encoded long non-coding RNAs (mt-lncRNAs), which are transcribed from the mitochondrial genome and whose disparate localisations and functions are linked as much to mitochondrial metabolism as to cellular physiology and pathology.

Nuclear and mitochondrial genetic variants associated with mitochondrial DNA copy number

Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) is a biomarker for mitochondrial dysfunction associated with several diseases. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been performed to unravel underlying mechanisms of mtDNA-CN regulation. However, the identified gene regions explain only a small fraction of mtDNA-CN variability. Most of this data has been estimated from microarrays based on various pipelines. In the present study we aimed to (1) identify genetic loci for qPCR-measured mtDNA-CN from three studies (16,130 participants) using GWAS, (2) identify potential systematic differences between our qPCR derived mtDNA-CN measurements compared to the published microarray intensity-based estimates, and (3) disentangle the nuclear from mitochondrial regulation of the mtDNA-CN phenotype. We identified two genome-wide significant autosomal loci associated with qPCR-measured mtDNA-CN: at HBS1L (rs4895440, p = 3.39 × 10-13) and GSDMA (rs56030650, p = 4.85 × 10-08) genes. Moreover, 113/115 of the previously published SNPs identified by microarray-based analyses were significantly equivalent with our findings. In our study, the mitochondrial genome itself contributed only marginally to mtDNA-CN regulation as we only detected a single rare mitochondrial variant associated with mtDNA-CN. Furthermore, we incorporated mitochondrial haplogroups into our analyses to explore their potential impact on mtDNA-CN. However, our findings indicate that they do not exert any significant influence on our results.

Discovery of a far-red carbazole-benzoindolium fluorescent ligand that selectively targets mitochondrial DNA and suppresses breast cancer growth

G-quadruplex (G4) formation was considered to be more prevalent in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of cancer cells compared with normal cells. Stabilization of these G4s may induce mtDNA instability and cause mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent cell death, which may be treated as a new strategy for cancer treatment. However, few ligands were developed to target mtG4s, leaving a huge room to improve. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of carbazole-based ligands, among which, BKN-1 was identified as the most promising mitochondrial targeting fluorescent ligand with far-red emission. Then, we demonstrated that BKN-1 may robustly interact with mtG4s via a variety of biophysical, biological experiments. Subsequently, we proved that BKN-1 may cause mtDNA loss, disrupt mitochondrial integrity, decrease ATP level and trigger unbalanced ROS, thereby leading to apoptosis and autophagy. Finally, we verified that BKN-1 had good anti-tumor activity in both cellular and in vivo models. Altogether, this study provided a dual-function ligand that may not only track the formation of mtG4s but also induce mitochondrial dysfunction, which may be developed into an applicable chemical tool for investigating the structure and function of mtG4s, and moreover, an effective therapeutic agent for cancer interference.

Chemotherapy for pain: reversing inflammatory and neuropathic pain with the anticancer agent mithramycin A

ABSTRACT

The persistence of inflammatory and neuropathic pain is poorly understood. We investigated a novel therapeutic paradigm by targeting gene networks that sustain or reverse persistent pain states. Our prior observations found that Sp1-like transcription factors drive the expression of TRPV1, a pain receptor, that is blocked in vitro by mithramycin A (MTM), an inhibitor of Sp1-like factors. Here, we investigate the ability of MTM to reverse in vivo models of inflammatory and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) pain and explore MTM's underlying mechanisms. Mithramycin reversed inflammatory heat hyperalgesia induced by complete Freund adjuvant and cisplatin-induced heat and mechanical hypersensitivity. In addition, MTM reversed both short-term and long-term (1 month) oxaliplatin-induced mechanical and cold hypersensitivity, without the rescue of intraepidermal nerve fiber loss. Mithramycin reversed oxaliplatin-induced cold hypersensitivity and oxaliplatin-induced TRPM8 overexpression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Evidence across multiple transcriptomic profiling approaches suggest that MTM reverses inflammatory and neuropathic pain through broad transcriptional and alternative splicing regulatory actions. Mithramycin-dependent changes in gene expression following oxaliplatin treatment were largely opposite to and rarely overlapped with changes in gene expression induced by oxaliplatin alone. Notably, RNAseq analysis revealed MTM rescue of oxaliplatin-induced dysregulation of mitochondrial electron transport chain genes that correlated with in vivo reversal of excess reactive oxygen species in DRG neurons. This finding suggests that the mechanism(s) driving persistent pain states such as CIPN are not fixed but are sustained by ongoing modifiable transcription-dependent processes.

Mitochondrial replication's role in vertebrate mtDNA strand asymmetry

Mitogenomes are defined as compact and structurally stable over aeons. This perception results from a vertebrate-centric vision, where few types of mtDNA rearrangements are described. Here, we bring a new light to the involvement of mitochondrial replication in the strand asymmetry of the vertebrate mtDNA. Using several species of deep-sea hatchetfish (Sternoptychidae) displaying distinct mtDNA structural arrangements, we unravel the inversion of the coding direction of protein-coding genes (PCGs). This unexpected change is coupled with a strand asymmetry nucleotide composition reversal and is shown to be directly related to the strand location of the Control Region (CR). An analysis of the fourfold redundant sites of the PCGs (greater than 6000 vertebrates), revealed the rarity of this phenomenon, found in nine fish species (five deep-sea hatchetfish). Curiously, in Antarctic notothenioid fishes (Trematominae), where a single PCG inversion (the only other record in fish) is coupled with the inversion of the CR, the standard asymmetry is disrupted for the remaining PCGs but not yet reversed, suggesting a transitory state. Our results hint that a relaxation of the classic vertebrate mitochondrial structural stasis promotes disruption of the natural balance of asymmetry of the mtDNA. These findings support the long-lasting hypothesis that replication is the main molecular mechanism promoting the strand-specific compositional bias of this unique and indispensable molecule.

CD26 CAR-T cells have attenuated mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolic profiling

BACKGROUND

Multiple targets of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) are shared expressed by tumor cells and T cells, these self-antigens may stimulate CAR-T cells continuously during the expansion. Persistent exposure to antigens is considered to cause metabolic reprogramming of T cells and the metabolic profiling is critical in determining the cell fate and effector function of CAR-T cells. However, whether the stimulation of self-antigens during CAR-T cell generation could remodel the metabolic profiling is unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the metabolic characteristics of CD26 CAR-T cells, which expressed CD26 antigens themselves.

METHODS

The mitochondrial biogenesis of CD26 and CD19 CAR-T cells during expansion was evaluated by the mitochondrial content, mitochondrial DNA copy numbers and genes involved in mitochondrial regulation. The metabolic profiling was investigated by the ATP production, mitochondrial quality and the expression of metabolism-related genes. Furthermore, we assessed the phenotypes of CAR-T cells through memory-related markers.

RESULTS

We reported that CD26 CAR-T cells had elevated mitochondrial biogenesis, ATP production and oxidative phosphorylation at early expansion stage. However, the mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial quality, oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic activity were all weakened at later expansion stage. On the contrary, CD19 CAR-T cells did not exhibit such characteristics.

CONCLUSION

CD26 CAR-T cells showed distinctive metabolic profiling during expansion that was extremely unfavorable to cell persistence and function. These findings may provide new insights for the optimization of CD26 CAR-T cells in terms of metabolism.

A High-Efficiency Capture-Based NGS Approach for Comprehensive Analysis of Mitochondrial Transcriptome

The transcription of the mitochondrial genome is pivotal for maintenance of mitochondrial functions, and the deregulated mitochondrial transcriptome contributes to various pathological changes. Despite substantial progress having been achieved in uncovering the transcriptional complexity of the nuclear transcriptome, many unknowns and controversies remain for the mitochondrial transcriptome, partially owing to the lack of a highly efficient mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) sequencing and analysis approach. Here, we first comprehensively evaluated the influence of essential experimental protocols, including strand-specific library construction, two RNA enrichment strategies, and optimal rRNA depletion, on accurately profiling mitochondrial transcriptome in whole-transcriptome sequencing (WTS) data. Based on these insights, we developed a highly efficient approach specifically suitable for targeted sequencing of whole mitochondrial transcriptome, termed capture-based mtRNA seq (CAP), in which strand-specific library construction and optimal rRNA depletion were applied. Compared with WTS, CAP has a great decrease of required data volume without affecting the sensitivity and accuracy of detection. In addition, CAP also characterized the unannotated mt-tRNA transcripts whose expression levels are below the detection limits of conventional WTS. As a proof-of-concept characterization of mtRNAs, the transcription initiation sites and mtRNA cleavage ratio were accurately identified in CAP data. Moreover, CAP had very reliable performance in plasma and single-cell samples, highlighting its wide application. Altogether, the present study has established a highly efficient pipeline for targeted sequencing of mtRNAs, which may pave the way toward functional annotation of mtRNAs and mtRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in various diseases.

Revisiting mitogenome evolution in Medusozoa with eight new mitochondrial genomes

Mitogenomics has improved our understanding of medusozoan phylogeny. However, sequenced medusozoan mitogenomes remain scarce, and Medusozoa phylogeny studies often analyze mitogenomic sequences without incorporating mitogenome rearrangements. To better understand medusozoan evolution, we analyzed Medusozoa mitogenome phylogeny by sequencing and assembling eight mitogenomes from three classes (Cubozoa, Hydrozoa, and Scyphozoa). We reconstructed the mitogenome phylogeny using these mitogenomes and 84 other existing cnidarian mitogenomes to study mitochondrial gene rearrangements. All reconstructed mitogenomes had 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes and two ribosomal genes typical for Medusozoa. Non-cubozoan mitogenomes were all linear and had typical gene orders, while arrangement of genes in the fragmented Cubozoa (Morbakka sp.) mitogenome differed from other Cubozoa mitogenomes. Gene order comparisons and ancestral state reconstruction suggest minimal rearrangements within medusozoan classes except for Hydrozoa. Our findings support a staurozoan ancestral medusozoan gene order, expand the pool of available medusozoan mitogenomes, and enhance our understanding of medusozoan phylogenetic relationships.

MUC1-C integrates aerobic glycolysis with suppression of oxidative phosphorylation in triple-negative breast cancer stem cells

Activation of the MUC1-C protein promotes lineage plasticity, epigenetic reprogramming, and the cancer stem cell (CSC) state. The present studies performed on enriched populations of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) CSCs demonstrate that MUC1-C is essential for integrating activation of glycolytic pathway genes with self-renewal and tumorigenicity. MUC1-C further integrates the glycolytic pathway with suppression of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes encoding components of mitochondrial Complexes I-V. The repression of mtDNA genes is explained by MUC1-C-mediated (i) downregulation of the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) required for mtDNA transcription and (ii) induction of the mitochondrial transcription termination factor 3 (mTERF3). In support of pathogenesis that suppresses mitochondrial ROS production, targeting MUC1-C increases (i) mtDNA gene transcription, (ii) superoxide levels, and (iii) loss of self-renewal capacity. These findings and scRNA-seq analysis of CSC subpopulations indicate that MUC1-C regulates self-renewal and redox balance by integrating activation of glycolysis with suppression of oxidative phosphorylation.

Never a dull enzyme, RNA polymerase II

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is composed of 12 subunits that collaborate to synthesize mRNA within the nucleus. Pol II is widely recognized as a passive holoenzyme, with the molecular functions of its subunits largely ignored. Recent studies employing auxin-inducible degron (AID) and multi-omics techniques have revealed that the functional diversity of Pol II is achieved through the differential contributions of its subunits to various transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes. By regulating these processes in a coordinated manner through its subunits, Pol II can optimize its activity for diverse biological functions. Here, we review recent progress in understanding Pol II subunits and their dysregulation in diseases, Pol II heterogeneity, Pol II clusters and the regulatory roles of RNA polymerases.

The Role of the Oxidative State and Innate Immunity Mediated by TLR7 and TLR9 in Lupus Nephritis

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is considered one of the leading causes of mortality. Multiple immunological pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, which makes it imperative to deepen our knowledge about this disease's immune-pathological complexity and explore new therapeutic targets. Since an altered redox state contributes to immune system dysregulation, this document briefly addresses the roles of oxidative stress (OS), oxidative DNA damage, antioxidant enzymes, mitochondrial function, and mitophagy in SLE and LN. Although adaptive immunity's participation in the development of autoimmunity is undeniable, increasing data emphasize the importance of innate immunity elements, particularly the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize nucleic acid ligands, in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here, we discuss the intriguing roles of TLR7 and TLR9 in developing SLE and LN. Also included are the essential characteristics of conventional treatments and some other novel and little-explored alternatives that offer options to improve renal function in LN.

Mitochondrial heteroplasmic shifts reveal a positive selection of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is, despite screening, not always detected early enough and is together with other tumor types known to shed genetic information in circulation. Unlike single-copy nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies range from 100s to 10,000s per cell, thus providing a potentially alternative to identify potential missing cancer information in circulation at an early stage.

METHODS

To characterize mitochondrial mutation landscapes in breast cancer, whole mtDNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were performed on 86 breast cancer biopsies and 50 available matched baseline cancer-free whole blood samples from the same individuals, selected from a cohort of middle-aged women in Sweden. To determine whether the mutations can be detected in blood plasma prior to cancer diagnosis, we further designed a nested case-control study (n = 663) and validated the shortlisted mutations using droplet digital PCR.

RESULTS

We detected different mutation landscapes between biopsies and matched whole blood samples. Compared to whole blood samples, mtDNA from biopsies had higher heteroplasmic mutations in the D-loop region (P = 0.02), RNR2 (P = 0.005), COX1 (P = 0.037) and CYTB (P = 0.006). Furthermore, the germline mtDNA mutations had higher heteroplasmy level than the lost (P = 0.002) and de novo mutations (P = 0.04). The nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution ratio (dN/dS) was higher for the heteroplasmic mutations (P = 7.25 × 10-12) than that for the homoplasmic mutations, but the de novo (P = 0.06) and lost mutations (P = 0.03) had lower dN/dS than the germline mutations. Interestingly, we found that the critical regions for mitochondrial transcription: MT-HSP1 (odds ratio [OR]: 21.41), MT-TFH (OR: 7.70) and MT-TAS2 (OR: 3.62), had significantly higher heteroplasmic mutations than the rest of the D-loop sub-regions. Finally, we found that the presence of mt.16093T > C mutation increases 67% risk of developing breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that mitochondrial genetic landscape changes during cancer pathogenesis and positive selection of mtDNA heteroplasmic mutations in breast cancer. Most importantly, the mitochondrial mutations identified in biopsies can be traced back in matched plasma samples and could potentially be used as early breast cancer diagnostic biomarkers.

SHF confers radioresistance in colorectal cancer by the regulation of mitochondrial DNA copy number

Altered mitochondrial function contributes greatly to pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer. In this study, we report a functional pool of Src homology 2 domain-containing F (SHF) in mitochondria controlling the response of colorectal cancer cells to radiation therapy. We found that elevated expression of SHF in cancer cells is essential for promoting mitochondrial function by increasing mitochondrial DNA copy number, thus reducing the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to radiation. Mechanistically, SHF binds to mitochondrial DNA and promotes POLG/SSBP1-mediated mitochondrial DNA synthesis. Importantly, SHF loss-mediated radiosensitization was phenocopied by depletion of mitochondrial DNA. Thus, our data demonstrate that mitochondrial SHF is an important regulator of radioresistance in colorectal cancer cells, identifying SHF as a promising therapeutic target to enhance radiotherapy efficacy in colorectal cancer.

The mitoepigenome responds to stress, suggesting novel mito-nuclear interactions in vertebrates

The mitochondria are central in the cellular response to changing environmental conditions resulting from disease states, environmental exposures or normal physiological processes. Although the influences of environmental stressors upon the nuclear epigenome are well characterized, the existence and role of the mitochondrial epigenome remains contentious. Here, by quantifying the mitochondrial epigenomic response of pineal gland cells to circadian stress, we confirm the presence of extensive cytosine methylation within the mitochondrial genome. Furthermore, we identify distinct epigenetically plastic regions (mtDMRs) which vary in cytosinic methylation, primarily in a non CpG context, in response to stress and in a sex-specific manner. Motifs enriched in mtDMRs contain recognition sites for nuclear-derived DNA-binding factors (ATF4, HNF4A) important in the cellular metabolic stress response, which we found to be conserved across diverse vertebrate taxa. Together, these findings suggest a new layer of mito-nuclear interaction in which the nuclear metabolic stress response could alter mitochondrial transcriptional dynamics through the binding of nuclear-derived transcription factors in a methylation-dependent context.

Delineating highly transcribed noncoding elements landscape in breast cancer

Highly transcribed noncoding elements (HTNEs) are critical noncoding elements with high levels of transcriptional capacity in particular cohorts involved in multiple cellular biological processes. Investigation of HTNEs with persistent aberrant expression in abnormal tissues could be of benefit in exploring their roles in disease occurrence and progression. Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease for which early screening and prognosis are exceedingly crucial. In this study, we developed a HTNE identification framework to systematically investigate HTNE landscapes in breast cancer patients and identified over ten thousand HTNEs. The robustness and rationality of our framework were demonstrated via public datasets. We revealed that HTNEs had significant chromatin characteristics of enhancers and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and were significantly enriched with RNA-binding proteins as well as targeted by miRNAs. Further, HTNE-associated genes were significantly overexpressed and exhibited strong correlations with breast cancer. Ultimately, we explored the subtype-specific transcriptional processes associated with HTNEs and uncovered the HTNE signatures that could classify breast cancer subtypes based on the properties of hormone receptors. Our results highlight that the identified HTNEs as well as their associated genes play crucial roles in breast cancer progression and correlate with subtype-specific transcriptional processes of breast cancer.

Cytosolic and mitochondrial translation elongation are coordinated through the molecular chaperone TRAP1 for the synthesis and import of mitochondrial proteins

A complex interplay between mRNA translation and cellular respiration has been recently unveiled, but its regulation in humans is poorly characterized in either health or disease. Cancer cells radically reshape both biosynthetic and bioenergetic pathways to sustain their aberrant growth rates. In this regard, we have shown that the molecular chaperone TRAP1 not only regulates the activity of respiratory complexes, behaving alternatively as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor, but also plays a concomitant moonlighting function in mRNA translation regulation. Herein, we identify the molecular mechanisms involved, showing that TRAP1 (1) binds both mitochondrial and cytosolic ribosomes, as well as translation elongation factors; (2) slows down translation elongation rate; and (3) favors localized translation in the proximity of mitochondria. We also provide evidence that TRAP1 is coexpressed in human tissues with the mitochondrial translational machinery, which is responsible for the synthesis of respiratory complex proteins. Altogether, our results show an unprecedented level of complexity in the regulation of cancer cell metabolism, strongly suggesting the existence of a tight feedback loop between protein synthesis and energy metabolism, based on the demonstration that a single molecular chaperone plays a role in both mitochondrial and cytosolic translation, as well as in mitochondrial respiration.

Fisetin Delays Postovulatory Oocyte Aging by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Function through Sirt1 Pathway

The quality of oocytes determines the development potential of an embryo and is dependent on their timely fertilization after ovulation. Postovulatory oocyte aging is an inevitable factor during some assisted reproduction technology procedures, which results in poor fertilization rates and impairs embryo development. We found that fisetin, a bioactive flavonol contained in fruits and vegetables, delayed postovulatory oocyte aging in mice. Fisetin improved the development of aged oocytes after fertilization and inhibited the Sirt1 reduction in aged oocytes. Fisetin increased the GSH level and Sod2 transcription level to inhibit ROS accumulation in aged oocytes. Meanwhile, fisetin attenuated aging-induced spindle abnormalities, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. At the molecular level, fisetin decreased aging-induced aberrant expression of H3K9me3. In addition, fisetin increased the expression levels of the mitochondrial transcription factor Tfam and the mitochondrial genes Co2 and Atp8 by upregulating Sirt1 in aged oocytes. Finally, inhibition of Sirt1 reversed the anti-aging effects of fisetin. Taken together, fisetin delayed postovulatory oocyte aging by upregulating Sirt1.

Mitochondrial DNA is a target of HBV integration

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may integrate into the genome of infected cells and contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the role of HBV integration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development remains unclear. In this study, we apply a high-throughput HBV integration sequencing approach that allows sensitive identification of HBV integration sites and enumeration of integration clones. We identify 3339 HBV integration sites in paired tumour and non-tumour tissue samples from 7 patients with HCC. We detect 2107 clonally expanded integrations (1817 in tumour and 290 in non-tumour tissues), and a significant enrichment of clonal HBV integrations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) preferentially occurring in the oxidative phosphorylation genes (OXPHOS) and D-loop region. We also find that HBV RNA sequences are imported into the mitochondria of hepatoma cells with the involvement of polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPASE), and that HBV RNA might have a role in the process of HBV integration into mtDNA. Our results suggest a potential mechanism by which HBV integration may contribute to HCC development.

POLRMT over-expression is linked to WNT/beta-catenin signaling, immune infiltration, and unfavorable outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT) is essential for the expression of mitochondrial genes. In recent studies, POLRMT expression promoted non-small cell cancer cell proliferation in cell lines and xenografts. The present study investigated the impact of POLRMT expression and function on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients.

METHOD

Multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics) from publicly available databases were used to assess the role of POLRMT expression and function in LUAD. These findings were further verified using cancer tissues from clinical samples.

RESULTS

POLRMT was over-expressed in LUADs, with mutation frequencies ranging from 1.30% to 5.71%. Over-expression of POLRMT was associated with an abnormal clinicopathological condition resulting in a decreased lifespan. Furthermore, gene sets enrich analysis revealed that POLRMT expression was linked to WNT/beta-catenin signaling; the expression of downstream target genes was positively correlated with POLRMT expression. Also, POLRMT expression was positively correlated with immunosuppressive genes, thereby affecting immune infiltration.

CONCLUSION

POLRMT is over-expressed in LUAD, thereby impacting patient survival. It is also involved in WNT/beta-catenin signaling and may affect tumor infiltration.

The Drosophila gene encoding JIG protein (CG14850) is critical for CrebA nuclear trafficking during development

Coordination of mitochondrial and nuclear processes is key to the cellular health; however, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating nuclear-mitochondrial crosstalk. Here, we report a novel molecular mechanism controlling the shuttling of CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) protein complex between mitochondria and nucleoplasm. We show that a previously unknown protein, herein termed as Jig, functions as a tissue-specific and developmental timing-specific coregulator in the CREB pathway. Our results demonstrate that Jig shuttles between mitochondria and nucleoplasm, interacts with CrebA protein and controls its delivery to the nucleus, thus triggering CREB-dependent transcription in nuclear chromatin and mitochondria. Ablating the expression of Jig prevents CrebA from localizing to the nucleoplasm, affecting mitochondrial functioning and morphology and leads to Drosophila developmental arrest at the early third instar larval stage. Together, these results implicate Jig as an essential mediator of nuclear and mitochondrial processes. We also found that Jig belongs to a family of nine similar proteins, each of which has its own tissue- and time-specific expression profile. Thus, our results are the first to describe the molecular mechanism regulating nuclear and mitochondrial processes in a tissue- and time-specific manner.

Design and synthesis of photostable triphenylamine based neutral AIE nano luminogens: specific and long-term tracking of mitochondria in cells

With the increasing dependence on fluorescence bioimaging, luminogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties have gained significant attention due to their excellent photostabilization, minimal photobleaching, high reliability, and superior biocompatibility. Since mitochondria are crucial subcellular organelles in eukaryotic cells with important biological functions, organelle-specific AIE emitters with distinct functions have been highly sought after, but with limited success using simple synthetic methods. Here, we describe a strategy for synthesizing two triphenylamine (TPA) based acrylonitriles, tethered to different donor groups, TPA and phenothiazine (PTZ), respectively, with superior AIE properties using Suzuki coupling. We conducted a systematic and detailed experimental analysis of the structural characteristics of both AIE luminogens, which exhibited excellent photostability, a large Stokes shift, and bright solid-state emission. A cell viability study carried out with F1 and F2 dyes revealed that both luminogens exhibited excellent biocompatibility. Based on fluorescence experiments, F2 displayed excellent AIE characteristics, permeability, biocompatibility, and photostability compared to rhodamine 123, allowing it to selectively stain and track mitochondria in cancer cells over an extended period of time. The Pearson correlation coefficient of F2 and rhodamine 123 was estimated to have an r-value of 0.99. Our findings are expected to provide insight into the synthesis of an extensive archive of AIE-based acrylonitriles with fascinating properties for mitochondrial staining.

Resveratrol Attenuates the Mitochondrial RNA-Mediated Cellular Response to Immunogenic Stress

Human mitochondria contain a circular genome that encodes 13 subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system. In addition to their role as powerhouses of the cells, mitochondria are also involved in innate immunity as the mitochondrial genome generates long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) that can activate the dsRNA-sensing pattern recognition receptors. Recent evidence shows that these mitochondrial dsRNAs (mt-dsRNAs) are closely associated with the pathogenesis of human diseases that accompany inflammation and aberrant immune activation, such as Huntington's disease, osteoarthritis, and autoimmune Sjögren's syndrome. Yet, small chemicals that can protect cells from a mt-dsRNA-mediated immune response remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the potential of resveratrol (RES), a plant-derived polyphenol with antioxidant properties, on suppressing mt-dsRNA-mediated immune activation. We show that RES can revert the downstream response to immunogenic stressors that elevate mitochondrial RNA expressions, such as stimulation by exogenous dsRNAs or inhibition of ATP synthase. Through high-throughput sequencing, we find that RES can regulate mt-dsRNA expression, interferon response, and other cellular responses induced by these stressors. Notably, RES treatment fails to counter the effect of an endoplasmic reticulum stressor that does not affect the expression of mitochondrial RNAs. Overall, our study demonstrates the potential usage of RES to alleviate the mt-dsRNA-mediated immunogenic stress response.

Defective COX1 expression in aging mice liver

Mitochondrial defects are associated with aging processes and age-related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. In addition, some recent studies suggest mild mitochondrial dysfunctions appear to be associated with longer lifespans. In this context, liver tissue is considered to be largely resilient to aging and mitochondrial dysfunction. Yet, in recent years studies report dysregulation of mitochondrial function and nutrient sensing pathways in ageing livers. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of the aging process on mitochondrial gene expression in liver using wildtype C57BL/6N mice. In our analyses, we observed alteration in mitochondrial energy metabolism with age. To assess if defects in mitochondrial gene expression are linked to this decline, we applied a Nanopore sequencing based approach for mitochondrial transcriptomics. Our analyses show that a decrease of the Cox1 transcript correlates with reduced respiratory complex IV activity in older mice livers.