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Liu Y, Yu X, Jiang W. The Role of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier in Neurological Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04435-7. [PMID: 39177735 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04435-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is a specific protein complex located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Comprising a heterodimer of two homodimeric membrane proteins, mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 and mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 2, MPC connects cytoplasmic metabolism to mitochondrial metabolism by transferring pyruvate from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria. The nervous system requires substantial energy to maintain its function, and the mitochondrial energy supply is closely linked to neurological function. Mitochondrial dysfunction can induce or exacerbate intracerebral pathologies. MPC influences mitochondrial function due to its specific role as a pyruvate transporter. However, recent studies on MPC and mitochondrial dysfunction in neurological disorders have yielded controversial results, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this brief review, we provide an overview of the structure and function of MPC. We further discuss the potential mechanisms and feasibility of targeting MPC in treating Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cerebral ischemia/hypoxia injury. This review aims to offer insights into MPC as a target for clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiying Yu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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2
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Hoogstraten CA, Schirris TJJ, Russel FGM. Unlocking mitochondrial drug targets: The importance of mitochondrial transport proteins. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14150. [PMID: 38666512 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
A disturbed mitochondrial function contributes to the pathology of many common diseases. These organelles are therefore important therapeutic targets. On the contrary, many adverse effects of drugs can be explained by a mitochondrial off-target effect, in particular, due to an interaction with carrier proteins in the inner membrane. Yet this class of transport proteins remains underappreciated and understudied. The aim of this review is to provide a deeper understanding of the role of mitochondrial carriers in health and disease and their significance as drug targets. We present literature-based evidence that mitochondrial carrier proteins are associated with prevalent diseases and emphasize their potential as drug (off-)target sites by summarizing known mitochondrial drug-transporter interactions. Studying these carriers will enhance our knowledge of mitochondrial drug on- and off-targets and provide opportunities to further improve the efficacy and safety of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Hoogstraten
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Tom J J Schirris
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Frans G M Russel
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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3
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Nguyen TTT, Tokuhiro K, Shimada K, Wang H, Mashiko D, Tonai S, Kiyozumi D, Ikawa M. Gene-deficient mouse model established by CRISPR/Cas9 system reveals 15 reproductive organ-enriched genes dispensable for male fertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1411162. [PMID: 38835510 PMCID: PMC11148293 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1411162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the advent of gene-targeting technology in embryonic stem cells, mice have become a primary model organism for investigating human gene function due to the striking genomic similarities between the two species. With the introduction of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for genome editing in mice, the pace of loss-of-function analysis has accelerated significantly. This has led to the identification of numerous genes that play crucial roles in male reproductive processes, including meiosis, chromatin condensation, flagellum formation in the testis, sperm maturation in the epididymis, and fertilization in the oviduct. Despite the advancements, the functions of many genes, particularly those enriched in male reproductive tissues, remain largely unknown. In our study, we focused on 15 genes and generated 13 gene-deficient mice [4933411K16Rik, Adam triple (Adam20, Adam25, and Adam39), BC048671, Cfap68, Gm4846, Gm4984, Gm13570, Nt5c1b, Ppp1r42, Saxo4, Sh3d21, Spz1, and Tektl1] to elucidate their roles in male fertility. Surprisingly, all 13 gene-deficient mice exhibited normal fertility in natural breeding experiments, indicating that these genes are not essential for male fertility. These findings have important implications as they may help prevent other research laboratories from duplicating efforts to generate knockout mice for genes that do not demonstrate an apparent phenotype related to male fertility. By shedding light on the dispensability of these genes, our study contributes to a more efficient allocation of research resources in the exploration of male reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuyen Thi Thanh Nguyen
- Department of Genome Editing, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keizo Tokuhiro
- Department of Genome Editing, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Haoting Wang
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mashiko
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shingo Tonai
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daiji Kiyozumi
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, Japan
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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4
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Tavoulari S, Sichrovsky M, Kunji ERS. Fifty years of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier: New insights into its structure, function, and inhibition. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2023; 238:e14016. [PMID: 37366179 PMCID: PMC10909473 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) resides in the mitochondrial inner membrane, where it links cytosolic and mitochondrial metabolism by transporting pyruvate produced in glycolysis into the mitochondrial matrix. Due to its central metabolic role, it has been proposed as a potential drug target for diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, neurodegeneration, and cancers relying on mitochondrial metabolism. Little is known about the structure and mechanism of MPC, as the proteins involved were only identified a decade ago and technical difficulties concerning their purification and stability have hindered progress in functional and structural analyses. The functional unit of MPC is a hetero-dimer comprising two small homologous membrane proteins, MPC1/MPC2 in humans, with the alternative complex MPC1L/MPC2 forming in the testis, but MPC proteins are found throughout the tree of life. The predicted topology of each protomer consists of an amphipathic helix followed by three transmembrane helices. An increasing number of inhibitors are being identified, expanding MPC pharmacology and providing insights into the inhibitory mechanism. Here, we provide critical insights on the composition, structure, and function of the complex and we summarize the different classes of small molecule inhibitors and their potential in therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotiria Tavoulari
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Maximilian Sichrovsky
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Edmund R. S. Kunji
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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5
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Zhang S, Wang C, Wang Y, Zhang H, Xu C, Cheng Y, Yuan Y, Sha J, Guo X, Cui Y. A novel protein encoded by circRsrc1 regulates mitochondrial ribosome assembly and translation during spermatogenesis. BMC Biol 2023; 21:94. [PMID: 37095490 PMCID: PMC10127071 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01597-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of mammalian RNAs. Several protein products translated by circRNAs have been reported to be involved in the development of various tissues and systems; however, their physiological functions in male reproduction have yet not been explored. RESULTS Here, we report an endogenous circRNA (circRsrc1) that encodes a novel 161-amino-acid protein which we named Rsrc1-161aa through circRNA sequencing coupled with mass spectrometry analysis on mouse testicular tissues. Deletion of Rsrc1-161aa in mice impaired male fertility with a significant decrease in sperm count and motility due to dysfunctions of mitochondrial energy metabolism. A series of in vitro rescue experiments revealed that circRsrc1 regulates mitochondrial functions via its encoded protein Rsrc1-161aa. Mechanistically, Rsrc1-161aa directly interacts with mitochondrial protein C1qbp and enhances its binding activity to mitochondrial mRNAs, thereby regulating the assembly of mitochondrial ribosomes and affecting the translation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins and mitochondrial energy metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Our studies reveal that Rsrc1-161aa protein encoded by circRsrc1 regulates mitochondrial ribosome assembly and translation during spermatogenesis, thereby affecting male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yiwei Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jiahao Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Yiqiang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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6
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Petrelli F, Scandella V, Montessuit S, Zamboni N, Martinou JC, Knobloch M. Mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism regulates the activation of quiescent adult neural stem cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd5220. [PMID: 36857455 PMCID: PMC9977184 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add5220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cellular metabolism is important for adult neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) behavior. However, its role in the transition from quiescence to proliferation is not fully understood. We here show that the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) plays a crucial and unexpected part in this process. MPC transports pyruvate into mitochondria, linking cytosolic glycolysis to mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Despite its metabolic key function, the role of MPC in NSPCs has not been addressed. We show that quiescent NSPCs have an active mitochondrial metabolism and express high levels of MPC. Pharmacological MPC inhibition increases aspartate and triggers NSPC activation. Furthermore, genetic Mpc1 ablation in vitro and in vivo also activates NSPCs, which differentiate into mature neurons, leading to overall increased hippocampal neurogenesis in adult and aged mice. These findings highlight the importance of metabolism for NSPC regulation and identify an important pathway through which mitochondrial pyruvate import controls NSPC quiescence and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Petrelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Scandella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvie Montessuit
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Zamboni
- Institute for Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Marlen Knobloch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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7
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Amaral A. Energy metabolism in mammalian sperm motility. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1569. [DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Amaral
- Department of Developmental Genetics Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Berlin Germany
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8
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Yiew NKH, Finck BN. The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier at the crossroads of intermediary metabolism. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 323:E33-E52. [PMID: 35635330 PMCID: PMC9273276 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00074.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pyruvate metabolism, a central nexus of carbon homeostasis, is an evolutionarily conserved process and aberrant pyruvate metabolism is associated with and contributes to numerous human metabolic disorders including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. As a product of glycolysis, pyruvate is primarily generated in the cytosol before being transported into the mitochondrion for further metabolism. Pyruvate entry into the mitochondrial matrix is a critical step for efficient generation of reducing equivalents and ATP and for the biosynthesis of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids from pyruvate. However, for many years, the identity of the carrier protein(s) that transported pyruvate into the mitochondrial matrix remained a mystery. In 2012, the molecular-genetic identification of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), a heterodimeric complex composed of protein subunits MPC1 and MPC2, enabled studies that shed light on the many metabolic and physiological processes regulated by pyruvate metabolism. A better understanding of the mechanisms regulating pyruvate transport and the processes affected by pyruvate metabolism may enable novel therapeutics to modulate mitochondrial pyruvate flux to treat a variety of disorders. Herein, we review our current knowledge of the MPC, discuss recent advances in the understanding of mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism in various tissue and cell types, and address some of the outstanding questions relevant to this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole K H Yiew
- Center for Human Nutrition, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Brian N Finck
- Center for Human Nutrition, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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9
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Tavoulari S, Schirris TJJ, Mavridou V, Thangaratnarajah C, King MS, Jones DTD, Ding S, Fearnley IM, Kunji ERS. Key features of inhibitor binding to the human mitochondrial pyruvate carrier hetero-dimer. Mol Metab 2022; 60:101469. [PMID: 35278701 PMCID: PMC8968063 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) has emerged as a promising drug target for metabolic disorders, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and diabetes, metabolically dependent cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. A range of structurally diverse small molecule inhibitors have been proposed, but the nature of their interaction with MPC is not understood, and the composition of the functional human MPC is still debated. The goal of this study was to characterise the human MPC protein in vitro, to understand the chemical features that determine binding of structurally diverse inhibitors and to develop novel higher affinity ones. METHODS We recombinantly expressed and purified human MPC hetero-complexes and studied their composition, transport and inhibitor binding properties by establishing in vitro transport assays, high throughput thermostability shift assays and pharmacophore modeling. RESULTS We determined that the functional unit of human MPC is a hetero-dimer. We compared all different classes of MPC inhibitors to find that three closely arranged hydrogen bond acceptors followed by an aromatic ring are shared characteristics of all inhibitors and represent the minimal requirement for high potency. We also demonstrated that high affinity binding is not attributed to covalent bond formation with MPC cysteines, as previously proposed. Following the basic pharmacophore properties, we identified 14 new inhibitors of MPC, one outperforming compound UK5099 by tenfold. Two are the commonly prescribed drugs entacapone and nitrofurantoin, suggesting an off-target mechanism associated with their adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS This work defines the composition of human MPC and the essential MPC inhibitor characteristics. In combination with the functional assays we describe, this new understanding will accelerate the development of clinically relevant MPC modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotiria Tavoulari
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom.
| | - Tom J J Schirris
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Vasiliki Mavridou
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Chancievan Thangaratnarajah
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Martin S King
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel T D Jones
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Shujing Ding
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Ian M Fearnley
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Edmund R S Kunji
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Keith Peters Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, United Kingdom.
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10
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Alves LQ, Ruivo R, Valente R, Fonseca MM, Machado AM, Plön S, Monteiro N, García-Parraga D, Ruiz-Díaz S, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, Gutiérrez-Adán A, Castro LFC. A drastic shift in the energetic landscape of toothed whale sperm cells. Curr Biol 2021; 31:3648-3655.e9. [PMID: 34171300 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian spermatozoa are a notable example of metabolic compartmentalization.1 Energy in the form of ATP production, vital for motility, capacitation, and fertilization, is subcellularly separated in sperm cells. While glycolysis provides a local, rapid, and low-yielding input of ATP along the flagellum fibrous sheath, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), far more efficient over a longer time frame, is concentrated in the midpiece mitochondria.2 The relative weight of glycolysis and OXPHOS pathways in sperm function is variable among species and sensitive to oxygen and substrate availability.3-5 Besides partitioning energy production, sperm cell energetics display an additional singularity: the occurrence of sperm-specific gene duplicates and alternative spliced variants, with conserved function but structurally bound to the flagellar fibrous sheath.6,7 The wider selective forces driving the compartmentalization and adaptability of this energy system in mammalian species remain largely unknown, much like the impact of ecosystem resource availability (e.g., carbohydrates, fatty acids, and proteins) and dietary adaptations in reproductive physiology traits.8 Here, we investigated the Cetacea, an iconic group of fully aquatic and carnivorous marine mammals, evolutionarily related to extant terrestrial herbivores.9 In this lineage, episodes of profound trait remodeling have been accompanied by clear genomic signatures.10-14 We show that toothed whales exhibit impaired sperm glycolysis, due to gene and exon erosion, and demonstrate that dolphin spermatozoa motility depends on endogenous fatty acid β-oxidation, but not carbohydrates. Such unique energetic rewiring substantiates the observation of large mitochondria in toothed whale spermatozoa and emphasizes the radical physiological reorganization imposed by the transition to a carbohydrate-depleted marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Q Alves
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Raquel Ruivo
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Raul Valente
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel M Fonseca
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - André M Machado
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Stephanie Plön
- Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
| | - Nuno Monteiro
- FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; CIBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - David García-Parraga
- Veterinary Services, L'Oceanográfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Junta de Murs i Vals, s/n, 46013 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sara Ruiz-Díaz
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Mistral Fertility Clinics S.L., Clínica Tambre, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria J Sánchez-Calabuig
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - L Filipe C Castro
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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11
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Fernandez-Caggiano M, Eaton P. Heart failure-emerging roles for the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:1149-1158. [PMID: 33473180 PMCID: PMC8027425 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00729-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is the entry point for the glycolytic end-product pyruvate to the mitochondria. MPC activity, which is controlled by its abundance and post-translational regulation, determines whether pyruvate is oxidised in the mitochondria or metabolised in the cytosol. MPC serves as a crucial metabolic branch point that determines the fate of pyruvate in the cell, enabling metabolic adaptations during health, such as exercise, or as a result of disease. Decreased MPC expression in several cancers limits the mitochondrial oxidation of pyruvate and contributes to lactate accumulation in the cytosol, highlighting its role as a contributing, causal mediator of the Warburg effect. Pyruvate is handled similarly in the failing heart where a large proportion of it is reduced to lactate in the cytosol instead of being fully oxidised in the mitochondria. Several recent studies have found that the MPC abundance was also reduced in failing human and mouse hearts that were characterised by maladaptive hypertrophic growth, emulating the anabolic scenario observed in some cancer cells. In this review we discuss the evidence implicating the MPC as an important, perhaps causal, mediator of heart failure progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Fernandez-Caggiano
- grid.4868.20000 0001 2171 1133The William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ UK
| | - Philip Eaton
- grid.4868.20000 0001 2171 1133The William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ UK
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12
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Ruiz-Iglesias A, Mañes S. The Importance of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier in Cancer Cell Metabolism and Tumorigenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071488. [PMID: 33804985 PMCID: PMC8037430 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The characteristic metabolic hallmark of cancer cells is the massive catabolism of glucose by glycolysis, even under aerobic conditions—the so-called Warburg effect. Although energetically unfavorable, glycolysis provides “building blocks” to sustain the unlimited growth of malignant cells. Aberrant glycolysis is also responsible for lactate accumulation and acidosis in the tumor milieu, which fosters hypoxia and immunosuppression. One of the mechanisms used by cancer cells to increase glycolytic flow is the negative regulation of the proteins that conform the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) complex, which transports pyruvate into the mitochondrial matrix to be metabolized in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Evidence suggests that MPC downregulation in tumor cells impacts many aspects of tumorigenesis, including cancer cell-intrinsic (proliferation, invasiveness, stemness, resistance to therapy) and -extrinsic (angiogenesis, anti-tumor immune activity) properties. In many cancers, but not in all, MPC downregulation is associated with poor survival. MPC regulation is therefore central to tackling glycolysis in tumors. Abstract Pyruvate is a key molecule in the metabolic fate of mammalian cells; it is the crossroads from where metabolism proceeds either oxidatively or ends with the production of lactic acid. Pyruvate metabolism is regulated by many enzymes that together control carbon flux. Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is responsible for importing pyruvate from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix, where it is oxidatively phosphorylated to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and to generate intermediates used in multiple biosynthetic pathways. MPC activity has an important role in glucose homeostasis, and its alteration is associated with diabetes, heart failure, and neurodegeneration. In cancer, however, controversy surrounds MPC function. In some cancers, MPC upregulation appears to be associated with a poor prognosis. However, most transformed cells undergo a switch from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism, the so-called Warburg effect, which, amongst other possibilities, is induced by MPC malfunction or downregulation. Consequently, impaired MPC function might induce tumors with strong proliferative, migratory, and invasive capabilities. Moreover, glycolytic cancer cells secrete lactate, acidifying the microenvironment, which in turn induces angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and the expansion of stromal cell populations supporting tumor growth. This review examines the latest findings regarding the tumorigenic processes affected by MPC.
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Park YJ, Pang MG. Mitochondrial Functionality in Male Fertility: From Spermatogenesis to Fertilization. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10010098. [PMID: 33445610 PMCID: PMC7826524 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10010098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are structurally and functionally distinct organelles that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), to provide energy to spermatozoa. They can also produce reactive oxidation species (ROS). While a moderate concentration of ROS is critical for tyrosine phosphorylation in cholesterol efflux, sperm–egg interaction, and fertilization, excessive ROS generation is associated with male infertility. Moreover, mitochondria participate in diverse processes ranging from spermatogenesis to fertilization to regulate male fertility. This review aimed to summarize the roles of mitochondria in male fertility depending on the sperm developmental stage (from male reproductive tract to female reproductive tract). Moreover, mitochondria are also involved in testosterone production, regulation of proton secretion into the lumen to maintain an acidic condition in the epididymis, and sperm DNA condensation during epididymal maturation. We also established the new signaling pathway using previous proteomic data associated with male fertility, to understand the overall role of mitochondria in male fertility. The pathway revealed that male infertility is associated with a loss of mitochondrial proteins in spermatozoa, which induces low sperm motility, reduces OXPHOS activity, and results in male infertility.
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14
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Gyimesi G, Hediger MA. Sequence Features of Mitochondrial Transporter Protein Families. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1611. [PMID: 33260588 PMCID: PMC7761412 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial carriers facilitate the transfer of small molecules across the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) to support mitochondrial function and core cellular processes. In addition to the classical SLC25 (solute carrier family 25) mitochondrial carriers, the past decade has led to the discovery of additional protein families with numerous members that exhibit IMM localization and transporter-like properties. These include mitochondrial pyruvate carriers, sideroflexins, and mitochondrial cation/H+ exchangers. These transport proteins were linked to vital physiological functions and disease. Their structures and transport mechanisms are, however, still largely unknown and understudied. Protein sequence analysis per se can often pinpoint hotspots that are of functional or structural importance. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the sequence features of mitochondrial transporters with a special focus on the newly included SLC54, SLC55 and SLC56 families of the SLC solute carrier superfamily. Taking a step further, we combine sequence conservation analysis with transmembrane segment and secondary structure prediction methods to extract residue positions and sequence motifs that likely play a role in substrate binding, binding site gating or structural stability. We hope that our review will help guide future experimental efforts by the scientific community to unravel the transport mechanisms and structures of these novel mitochondrial carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Gyimesi
- Membrane Transport Discovery Lab, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, and Department of Biomedical Research, Inselspital, University of Bern, Kinderklinik, Freiburgstrasse 15, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland;
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15
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Insights on the Quest for the Structure-Function Relationship of the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9110407. [PMID: 33227948 PMCID: PMC7699257 DOI: 10.3390/biology9110407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary The atomic structure of a biological macromolecule determines its function. Discovering how one or more amino acid chains fold and interact to form a protein complex is critical, from understanding the most fundamental cellular processes to developing new therapies. However, this is far from a straightforward task, especially when studying a membrane protein. The functional link between the oligomeric state and complex composition of the proteins involved in the active mitochondrial transport of cytosolic pyruvate is a decades-old question but remains urgent. We present a brief historical review beginning with the identification of the so-called mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) proteins, followed by a rigorous conceptual analysis of technical approaches in more recent biochemical studies that seek to isolate and reconstitute the functional MPC complex(es) in vitro. We correlate these studies with early kinetic observations and current experimental and computational knowledge to assess their main contributions, identify gaps, resolve ambiguities, and better define the research goal. Abstract The molecular identity of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) was presented in 2012, forty years after the active transport of cytosolic pyruvate into the mitochondrial matrix was first demonstrated. An impressive amount of in vivo and in vitro studies has since revealed an unexpected interplay between one, two, or even three protein subunits defining different functional MPC assemblies in a metabolic-specific context. These have clear implications in cell homeostasis and disease, and on the development of future therapies. Despite intensive efforts by different research groups using state-of-the-art computational tools and experimental techniques, MPCs’ structure-based mechanism remains elusive. Here, we review the current state of knowledge concerning MPCs’ molecular structures by examining both earlier and recent studies and presenting novel data to identify the regulatory, structural, and core transport activities to each of the known MPC subunits. We also discuss the potential application of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies of MPC reconstituted into nanodiscs of synthetic copolymers for solving human MPC2.
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16
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Finch G, Nandyal S, Perretta C, Davies B, Rosendale AJ, Holmes CJ, Gantz JD, Spacht DE, Bailey ST, Chen X, Oyen K, Didion EM, Chakraborty S, Lee RE, Denlinger DL, Matter SF, Attardo GM, Weirauch MT, Benoit JB. Multi-level analysis of reproduction in an Antarctic midge identifies female and male accessory gland products that are altered by larval stress and impact progeny viability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19791. [PMID: 33188214 PMCID: PMC7666147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76139-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica, is a wingless, non-biting midge endemic to Antarctica. Larval development requires at least 2 years, but adults live only 2 weeks. The nonfeeding adults mate in swarms and females die shortly after oviposition. Eggs are suspended in a gel of unknown composition that is expressed from the female accessory gland. This project characterizes molecular mechanisms underlying reproduction in this midge by examining differential gene expression in whole males, females, and larvae, as well as in male and female accessory glands. Functional studies were used to assess the role of the gel encasing the eggs, as well as the impact of stress on reproductive biology. RNA-seq analyses revealed sex- and development-specific gene sets along with those associated with the accessory glands. Proteomic analyses were used to define the composition of the egg-containing gel, which is generated during multiple developmental stages and derived from both the accessory gland and other female organs. Functional studies indicate the gel provides a larval food source as well as a buffer for thermal and dehydration stress. All of these function are critical to juvenile survival. Larval dehydration stress directly reduces production of storage proteins and key accessory gland components, a feature that impacts adult reproductive success. Modeling reveals that bouts of dehydration may have a significant impact on population growth. This work lays a foundation for further examination of reproduction in midges and provides new information related to general reproduction in dipterans. A key aspect of this work is that reproduction and stress dynamics, currently understudied in polar organisms, are likely to prove critical in determining how climate change will alter their survivability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Finch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sonya Nandyal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Carlie Perretta
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Benjamin Davies
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Andrew J Rosendale
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Christopher J Holmes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - J D Gantz
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
- Department of Biology and Health Science, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | - Drew E Spacht
- Departments of Entomology and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Samuel T Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Kennan Oyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elise M Didion
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Souvik Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Richard E Lee
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - David L Denlinger
- Departments of Entomology and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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17
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Böhme I, Schönherr R, Eberle J, Bosserhoff AK. Membrane Transporters and Channels in Melanoma. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 181:269-374. [PMID: 32737752 DOI: 10.1007/112_2020_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has revealed that ion channels and transporters can be important players in tumor development, progression, and therapy resistance in melanoma. For example, members of the ABC family were shown to support cancer stemness-like features in melanoma cells, while several members of the TRP channel family were reported to act as tumor suppressors.Also, many transporter proteins support tumor cell viability and thus suppress apoptosis induction by anticancer therapy. Due to the high number of ion channels and transporters and the resulting high complexity of the field, progress in understanding is often focused on single molecules and is in total rather slow. In this review, we aim at giving an overview about a broad subset of ion transporters, also illustrating some aspects of the field, which have not been addressed in detail in melanoma. In context with the other chapters in this special issue on "Transportome Malfunctions in the Cancer Spectrum," a comparison between melanoma and these tumors will be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Böhme
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Roland Schönherr
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Jürgen Eberle
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Skin Cancer Center Charité, University Medical Center Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Katrin Bosserhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. .,Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany.
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18
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The Multifaceted Pyruvate Metabolism: Role of the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10071068. [PMID: 32708919 PMCID: PMC7407832 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis, plays a major role in cell metabolism. Produced in the cytosol, it is oxidized in the mitochondria where it fuels the citric acid cycle and boosts oxidative phosphorylation. Its sole entry point into mitochondria is through the recently identified mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC). In this review, we report the latest findings on the physiology of the MPC and we discuss how a dysfunctional MPC can lead to diverse pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer.
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19
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Horten P, Colina-Tenorio L, Rampelt H. Biogenesis of Mitochondrial Metabolite Carriers. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1008. [PMID: 32645990 PMCID: PMC7408425 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
: Metabolite carriers of the mitochondrial inner membrane are crucial for cellular physiology since mitochondria contribute essential metabolic reactions and synthesize the majority of the cellular ATP. Like almost all mitochondrial proteins, carriers have to be imported into mitochondria from the cytosol. Carrier precursors utilize a specialized translocation pathway dedicated to the biogenesis of carriers and related proteins, the carrier translocase of the inner membrane (TIM22) pathway. After recognition and import through the mitochondrial outer membrane via the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) complex, carrier precursors are ushered through the intermembrane space by hexameric TIM chaperones and ultimately integrated into the inner membrane by the TIM22 carrier translocase. Recent advances have shed light on the mechanisms of TOM translocase and TIM chaperone function, uncovered an unexpected versatility of the machineries, and revealed novel components and functional crosstalk of the human TIM22 translocase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Horten
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (P.H.); (L.C.-T.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lilia Colina-Tenorio
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (P.H.); (L.C.-T.)
- CIBSS Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heike Rampelt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (P.H.); (L.C.-T.)
- CIBSS Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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20
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Varuzhanyan G, Rojansky R, Sweredoski MJ, Graham RL, Hess S, Ladinsky MS, Chan DC. Mitochondrial fusion is required for spermatogonial differentiation and meiosis. eLife 2019; 8:51601. [PMID: 31596236 PMCID: PMC6805159 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiating cells tailor their metabolism to fulfill their specialized functions. We examined whether mitochondrial fusion is important for metabolic tailoring during spermatogenesis. Acutely after depletion of mitofusins Mfn1 and Mfn2, spermatogenesis arrests due to failure to accomplish a metabolic shift during meiosis. This metabolic shift includes increased mitochondrial content, mitochondrial elongation, and upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). With long-term mitofusin loss, all differentiating germ cell types are depleted, but proliferation of stem-like undifferentiated spermatogonia remains unaffected. Thus, compared with undifferentiated spermatogonia, differentiating spermatogonia and meiotic spermatocytes have cell physiologies that require high levels of mitochondrial fusion. Proteomics in fibroblasts reveals that mitofusin-null cells downregulate respiratory chain complexes and mitochondrial ribosomal subunits. Similarly, mitofusin depletion in immortalized spermatocytes or germ cells in vivo results in reduced OXPHOS subunits and activity. We reveal that by promoting OXPHOS, mitofusins enable spermatogonial differentiation and a metabolic shift during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigor Varuzhanyan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Rebecca Rojansky
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Michael J Sweredoski
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory of the Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Robert Lj Graham
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory of the Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Sonja Hess
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory of the Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Mark S Ladinsky
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - David C Chan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
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21
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Tang BL. Targeting the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier for Neuroprotection. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9090238. [PMID: 31540439 PMCID: PMC6770198 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9090238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial pyruvate carriers mediate pyruvate import into the mitochondria, which is key to the sustenance of the tricarboxylic cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. However, inhibition of mitochondria pyruvate carrier-mediated pyruvate transport was recently shown to be beneficial in experimental models of neurotoxicity pertaining to the context of Parkinson’s disease, and is also protective against excitotoxic neuronal death. These findings attested to the metabolic adaptability of neurons resulting from MPC inhibition, a phenomenon that has also been shown in other tissue types. In this short review, I discuss the mechanism and potential feasibility of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier inhibition as a neuroprotective strategy in neuronal injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor Luen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore 117596, Singapore.
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore.
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22
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Oonthonpan L, Rauckhorst AJ, Gray LR, Boutron AC, Taylor EB. Two human patient mitochondrial pyruvate carrier mutations reveal distinct molecular mechanisms of dysfunction. JCI Insight 2019; 5:126132. [PMID: 31145700 PMCID: PMC6629238 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.126132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier (MPC) occupies a central metabolic node by transporting cytosolic pyruvate into the mitochondrial matrix and linking glycolysis with mitochondrial metabolism. Two reported human MPC1 mutations cause developmental abnormalities, neurological problems, metabolic deficits, and for one patient, early death. We aimed to understand biochemical mechanisms by which the human patient C289T and T236A MPC1 alleles disrupt MPC function. MPC1 C289T encodes two protein variants, a mis-spliced, truncation mutant (A58G) and a full length point mutant (R97W). MPC1 T236A encodes a full length point mutant (L79H). Using human patient fibroblasts and complementation of CRISPR-deleted, MPC1 null mouse C2C12 cells, we investigated how MPC1 mutations cause MPC deficiency. Truncated MPC1 A58G protein was intrinsically unstable and failed to form MPC complexes. The MPC1 R97W protein was less stable but when overexpressed formed complexes with MPC2 that retained pyruvate transport activity. Conversely, MPC1 L79H protein formed stable complexes with MPC2, but these complexes failed to transport pyruvate. These findings inform MPC structure-function relationships and delineate three distinct biochemical pathologies resulting from two human patient MPC1 mutations. They also illustrate an efficient gene pass-through system for mechanistically investigating human inborn errors in pyruvate metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Oonthonpan
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Adam J. Rauckhorst
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Lawrence R. Gray
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Audrey C. Boutron
- Biochemistry Department, CHU Bicetre, Hôpitaux Paris-Sud, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Eric B. Taylor
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC)
- Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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23
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Tavoulari S, Thangaratnarajah C, Mavridou V, Harbour ME, Martinou JC, Kunji ER. The yeast mitochondrial pyruvate carrier is a hetero-dimer in its functional state. EMBO J 2019; 38:e100785. [PMID: 30979775 PMCID: PMC6517818 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2018100785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is critical for cellular homeostasis, as it is required in central metabolism for transporting pyruvate from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix. MPC has been implicated in many diseases and is being investigated as a drug target. A few years ago, small membrane proteins, called MPC1 and MPC2 in mammals and Mpc1, Mpc2 and Mpc3 in yeast, were proposed to form large protein complexes responsible for this function. However, the MPC complexes have never been isolated and their composition, oligomeric state and functional properties have not been defined. Here, we identify the functional unit of MPC from Saccharomyces cerevisiae In contrast to earlier hypotheses, we demonstrate that MPC is a hetero-dimer, not a multimeric complex. When not engaged in hetero-dimers, the yeast Mpc proteins can also form homo-dimers that are, however, inactive. We show that the earlier described substrate transport properties and inhibitor profiles are embodied by the hetero-dimer. This work provides a foundation for elucidating the structure of the functional complex and the mechanism of substrate transport and inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotiria Tavoulari
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Vasiliki Mavridou
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael E Harbour
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Edmund Rs Kunji
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Mutations in CFAP43 and CFAP44 cause male infertility and flagellum defects in Trypanosoma and human. Nat Commun 2018; 9:686. [PMID: 29449551 PMCID: PMC5814398 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02792-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis defects concern millions of men worldwide, yet the vast majority remains undiagnosed. Here we report men with primary infertility due to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella with severe disorganization of the sperm axoneme, a microtubule-based structure highly conserved throughout evolution. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 78 patients allowing the identification of 22 men with bi-allelic mutations in DNAH1 (n = 6), CFAP43 (n = 10), and CFAP44 (n = 6). CRISPR/Cas9 created homozygous CFAP43/44 male mice that were infertile and presented severe flagellar defects confirming the human genetic results. Immunoelectron and stimulated-emission-depletion microscopy performed on CFAP43 and CFAP44 orthologs in Trypanosoma brucei evidenced that both proteins are located between the doublet microtubules 5 and 6 and the paraflagellar rod. Overall, we demonstrate that CFAP43 and CFAP44 have a similar structure with a unique axonemal localization and are necessary to produce functional flagella in species ranging from Trypanosoma to human. Asthenozoospermia is a major cause of male infertility, and multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) is a particularly severe form. Here, using whole-exome sequencing of 78 MMAF patients, the authors identify mutations in two WDR proteins, CFAP43 and CFAP44, and confirm that these proteins are required for flagellogenesis in mouse and Trypanosoma brucei.
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25
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Samandi S, Roy AV, Delcourt V, Lucier JF, Gagnon J, Beaudoin MC, Vanderperre B, Breton MA, Motard J, Jacques JF, Brunelle M, Gagnon-Arsenault I, Fournier I, Ouangraoua A, Hunting DJ, Cohen AA, Landry CR, Scott MS, Roucou X. Deep transcriptome annotation enables the discovery and functional characterization of cryptic small proteins. eLife 2017; 6:27860. [PMID: 29083303 PMCID: PMC5703645 DOI: 10.7554/elife.27860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent functional, proteomic and ribosome profiling studies in eukaryotes have concurrently demonstrated the translation of alternative open-reading frames (altORFs) in addition to annotated protein coding sequences (CDSs). We show that a large number of small proteins could in fact be coded by these altORFs. The putative alternative proteins translated from altORFs have orthologs in many species and contain functional domains. Evolutionary analyses indicate that altORFs often show more extreme conservation patterns than their CDSs. Thousands of alternative proteins are detected in proteomic datasets by reanalysis using a database containing predicted alternative proteins. This is illustrated with specific examples, including altMiD51, a 70 amino acid mitochondrial fission-promoting protein encoded in MiD51/Mief1/SMCR7L, a gene encoding an annotated protein promoting mitochondrial fission. Our results suggest that many genes are multicoding genes and code for a large protein and one or several small proteins. Proteins are often referred to as the workhorses of the cell, and these molecules affect all aspects of human health and disease. Thus, deciphering the entire set of proteins made by an organism is often an important challenge for biologists. Genes contain the instructions to make a protein, but first they must be copied into a molecule called an mRNA. The part of the mRNA that actually codes for the protein is referred to as an open reading frame (or ORF for short). For many years, most scientists assumed that, except for in bacteria, each mature mRNA in an organism has just a single functional ORF, and that this was generally the longest possible ORF within the mRNA. Many also assumed that RNAs copied from genes that had been labelled as “non-coding” or as “pseudogenes” did not contain functional ORFs. Yet, new ORFs encoding small proteins were recently discovered in RNAs (or parts of RNA) that had previously been annotated as non-coding. Working out what these small proteins actually do will require scientists being able to find more of these overlooked ORFs. The RNAs produced by many organisms – from humans and mice to fruit flies and yeast – have been catalogued and the data stored in publicly accessible databases. Samandi, Roy et al. have now taken a fresh look at the data for nine different organisms, and identified several thousand examples of possibly overlooked ORFs, which they refer to as “alternative ORFs”. This included more than 180,000 from humans. Further analysis of other datasets that captured details of the proteins actually produced in human cells uncovered thousands of small proteins encoded by the predicted alternative ORFs. Many of the so-called alternative proteins also resembled parts of other proteins that have a known activity or function. Lastly, Samandi, Roy et al. focused on two alternative proteins and showed that they both might affect the activity of the proteins coded within the main ORF in their respective genes. These findings reveal new details about the different proteins encoded within the genes of humans and other organisms, including that many mRNAs encode more that one protein. The implications and applications of this research could be far-reaching, and may help scientists to better understand how genes work in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sondos Samandi
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada
| | - Annie V Roy
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada
| | - Vivian Delcourt
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada.,INSERM U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire & Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM) F-59000 Lille, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jean-François Lucier
- Department of Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.,Center for Scientific computing, Information Technologies Services,, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jules Gagnon
- Department of Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.,Center for Scientific computing, Information Technologies Services,, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Maxime C Beaudoin
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada
| | - Benoît Vanderperre
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Marc-André Breton
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Julie Motard
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-François Jacques
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada
| | - Mylène Brunelle
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Gagnon-Arsenault
- PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada.,Département de biochimie, microbiologie et bioinformatique, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.,IBIS, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Fournier
- INSERM U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire & Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM) F-59000 Lille, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Aida Ouangraoua
- Department of Computer Science, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Darel J Hunting
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Alan A Cohen
- Department of Family Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Christian R Landry
- PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada.,Département de biochimie, microbiologie et bioinformatique, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.,IBIS, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Michelle S Scott
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Xavier Roucou
- Department of Biochemistry, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,PROTEO, Québec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure and Engineering, Québec, Canada
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Takeda K, Kobayashi E, Akagi S, Nishino K, Kaneda M, Watanabe S. Differentially methylated CpG sites in bull spermatozoa revealed by human DNA methylation arrays and bisulfite analysis. J Reprod Dev 2017; 63:279-287. [PMID: 28320989 PMCID: PMC5481630 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2016-160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The methylation status of sperm DNA differs between individual bulls. However, the relationship between methylation status and bull sperm parameters is not well elucidated. The present study investigated genome-wide methylation
profiles at 450,000 CpG sites in bull spermatozoa by using a human DNA methylation microarray. Semen samples from three adult Japanese Black bulls with different in vitro fertilization (IVF) results and from a
young Holstein bull through sexual maturation (at ages 10, 10.5, 15, and 25 months) were used for the analysis. The heatmap displaying the results of microarray analysis shows inter- and intra-individual differences in methylation
profiles. After setting a cut-off of 0.2 for differences between ages (10, 10.5 vs. 15, 25 months) or between IVF results (developed to the blastocyst-stage, > 20% vs. < 10%), different
methylation levels were detected at approximately 100 CpGs. We confirmed the different DNA methylation levels of CpG sites by using combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA); five of the CpG sites reflected methylation
levels similar to those detected by the microarray. One of the CpG sites was thought to reflect an age-related increase in methylation levels, which was confirmed by COBRA and bisulfite sequencing. However, the relationship
between methylation status and IVF results could not be shown here. In conclusion, methylation profiles of individual and age-related alterations in bull spermatozoa can be revealed using a human microarray, and methylation
changes in some CpG sites can be easily visualized using COBRA. Combined analysis of DNA methylation levels and sperm parameters could be considered an effective approach for assessing bull fertility in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko Takeda
- Animal Breeding and Reproduction Research Division, Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
| | - Eiji Kobayashi
- Animal Breeding and Reproduction Research Division, Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
| | - Satoshi Akagi
- Animal Breeding and Reproduction Research Division, Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
| | - Kagetomo Nishino
- Beef Cattle Institute, Ibaraki Prefectural Livestock Research Center, Ibaraki 319-2224, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kaneda
- Division of Animal Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Shinya Watanabe
- Animal Breeding and Reproduction Research Division, Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
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