Nutritional stress exacerbates hepatic steatosis induced by deletion of the histidine nucleotide-binding (Hint2) mitochondrial protein

Contributing roles of mitochondrial dysfunction and hepatocyte apoptosis in liver diseases through oxidative stress, post-translational modifications, inflammation, and intestinal barrier dysfunction

This review provides an update on recent findings from basic, translational, and clinical studies on the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of hepatocytes in multiple liver diseases, including but not limited to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). While the ethanol-inducible cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP2E1) is mainly responsible for oxidizing binge alcohol via the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system, it is also responsible for metabolizing many xenobiotics, including pollutants, chemicals, drugs, and specific diets abundant in n-6 fatty acids, into toxic metabolites in many organs, including the liver, causing pathological insults through organelles such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula. Oxidative imbalances (oxidative stress) in mitochondria promote the covalent modifications of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids through enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. Excessive changes stimulate various post-translational modifications (PTMs) of mitochondrial proteins, transcription factors, and histones. Increased PTMs of mitochondrial proteins inactivate many enzymes involved in the reduction of oxidative species, fatty acid metabolism, and mitophagy pathways, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, energy depletion, and apoptosis. Unique from other organelles, mitochondria control many signaling cascades involved in bioenergetics (fat metabolism), inflammation, and apoptosis/necrosis of hepatocytes. When mitochondrial homeostasis is shifted, these pathways become altered or shut down, likely contributing to the death of hepatocytes with activation of inflammation and hepatic stellate cells, causing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. This review will encapsulate how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to hepatocyte apoptosis in several types of liver diseases in order to provide recommendations for targeted therapeutics.

Histidine trinucleotide binding protein 2: from basic science to clinical implications

Histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 2 (HINT2) is a dimeric protein that belongs to the histidine triad protein superfamily, predominantly expressed in the liver, pancreas, and adrenal gland, and localised to the mitochondrion. HINT2 binds nucleotides and catalyses the hydrolysis of nucleotidyl substrates. Moreover, HINT2 has been identified as a key regulator of multiple biological processes, including mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, mitochondrial protein acetylation, and steroidogenesis. Genetic manipulation has provided new insights into the physiological roles of HINT2 in several processes, such as inhibition of cancer progression, regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism, and protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The current review outlines the background and functions of HINT2. In addition, it summarises research progress on the correlation between HINT2 and human malignancies, hepatic metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, with an attempt to provide new research directions emerging in this field and to unveil the therapeutic value of HINT2 as a target in the combat of human diseases.

Dynamic Long-Range Interactions Influence Substrate Binding and Catalysis by Human Histidine Triad Nucleotide-Binding Proteins (HINTs), Key Regulators of Multiple Cellular Processes and Activators of Antiviral ProTides

Human histidine triad nucleotide-binding (hHINT) proteins catalyze nucleotide phosphoramidase and acyl-phosphatase reactions that are essential for the activation of antiviral proTides, such as Sofosbuvir and Remdesivir. hHINT1 and hHINT2 are highly homologous but exhibit disparate roles as regulators of opioid tolerance (hHINT1) and mitochondrial activity (hHINT2). NMR studies of hHINT1 reveal a pair of dynamic surface residues (Q62, E100), which gate a conserved water channel leading to the active site 13 Å away. hHINT2 crystal structures identify analogous residues (R99, D137) and water channel. hHINT1 Q62 variants significantly alter the steady-state k_cat and K_m for turnover of the fluorescent substrate (TpAd), while stopped-flow kinetics indicate that K_D also changes. hHINT2, like hHINT1, exhibits a burst phase of adenylation, monitored by fluorescent tryptamine release, prior to rate-limiting hydrolysis and nucleotide release. hHINT2 exhibits a much smaller burst-phase amplitude than hHINT1, which is further diminished in hHINT2 R99Q. Kinetic simulations suggest that amplitude variations can be accounted for by a variable fluorescent yield of the E·S complex from changes in the environment of bound TpAd. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements of inhibitor binding show that these hHINT variants also alter the thermodynamic binding profile. We propose that these altered surface residues engender long-range dynamic changes that affect the orientation of bound ligands, altering the thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of hHINT active site function. Thus, studies of the cellular roles and proTide activation potential by hHINTs should consider the importance of long-range interactions and possible protein binding surfaces far from the active site.

Biochemical, crystallographic and biophysical characterization of histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 2 with different ligands including a non-hydrolyzable analog of Ap4A

BACKGROUND

Human HINT2 is an important mitochondrial enzyme involved in many processes such as apoptosis and bioenergetics, but its endogenous substrates and the three-dimensional structure of the full-length protein have not been identified yet.

METHODS

An HPLC assay was used to test the hydrolytic activity of HINT2 against various adenosine, guanosine, and 2'-deoxyguanosine derivatives containing phosphate bonds of different types and different leaving groups. Data on binding affinity were obtained by microscale thermophoresis (MST). Crystal structures of HINT2, in its apo form and with a dGMP ligand, were resolved to atomic resolution.

RESULTS

HINT2 substrate specificity was similar to that of HINT1, but with the major exception of remarkable discrimination against substrates lacking the 2'-hydroxyl group. The biochemical results were consistent with binding affinity measurements. They showed a similar binding strength of AMP and GMP to HINT2, and much weaker binding of dGMP, in contrast to HINT1. A non-hydrolyzable analog of Ap4A (JB419) interacted with both proteins with similar K_d and Ap4A is the signaling molecule that can interact with hHINT1 and regulate the activity of some transcription factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Several forms of homo- and heterodimers of different lengths of N-terminally truncated polypeptides resulting from degradation of the full-length protein were described. Ser144 in HINT2 appeared to be functionally equivalent to Ser107 in HINT1 by supporting the protonation of the leaving group in the hydrolytic mechanism of HINT2.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results should be considered in future studies on the natural function of HINT2 and its role in nucleotide prodrug processing.

Histidine triad nucleotide-binding proteins HINT1 and HINT2 share similar substrate specificities and little affinity for the signaling dinucleotide Ap4A

Human histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 2 (hHINT2) is an important player in human mitochondrial bioenergetics, but little is known about its catalytic capabilities or its nucleotide phosphoramidate prodrug (proTide)-activating activity akin to the cytosolic isozyme hHINT1. Here, a similar substrate specificity profile (k_cat /K_m ) for model phosphoramidate substrates was found for hHINT2 but with higher k_cat and K_m values when compared with hHINT1. A broader pH range for maximum catalytic activity was determined for hHINT2 (pK₁  = 6.76 ± 0.16, pK₂  = 8.41 ± 0.07). In addition, the known hHINT1-microphthalmia-inducing transcription factor-regulating molecule Ap₄ A was found to have no detectable binding to HINT1 nor HINT2 by isothermal titration calorimetry. These results demonstrate that despite differences in their sequence and localization, HINT1 and HINT2 have similar nucleotide substrate specificities, which should be considered in future proTide design and in studies of their natural function.

The histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 2 (HINT-2) positively regulates hepatocellular energy metabolism

The histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 2 (HINT-2) is a mitochondrial adenosine phosphoramidase expressed in hepatocytes. The phenotype of Hint2 knockout ( Hint2^-/-) mice includes progressive hepatic steatosis and lysine hyperacetylation of mitochondrial proteins, which are features of respiratory chain malfunctions. We postulated that the absence of HINT-2 induces a defect in mitochondria bioenergetics. Isolated Hint2^-/- hepatocytes produced less ATP and generated a lower mitochondrial membrane potential than did Hint2^+/+ hepatocytes. In extracellular flux analyses with glucose, the basal, ATP-linked, and maximum oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) were decreased in Hint2^-/- hepatocytes and in HepG2 cells lacking HINT-2. Conversely, in HINT-2 overexpressing SNU-449 and HepG2 cells, the basal, ATP-linked, and maximum OCRs were increased. Similarly, with palmitate, basal and maximum OCRs were decreased in Hint2^-/- hepatocytes, but they were increased in HINT-2 overexpressing HepG2 cells. When assayed with radiolabeled substrate, palmitate oxidation was reduced by 25% in Hint2^-/- mitochondria. In respirometry assays, complex I- and II-driven, coupled and uncoupled respirations and complex IV KCN-sensitive respiration were reduced in Hint2^-/- mitochondria. Furthermore, HINT-2 associated with cardiolipin and glucose-regulated protein 75 kDa. Our study shows decreased electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation capacity in the absence of HINT-2. The bioenergetics deficit accumulated over time in hepatocytes lacking HINT-2 likely leads to the secondary outcome of steatosis.-Rajasekaran, R., Felser, A., Nuoffer, J.-M., Dufour, J.-F., St-Pierre, M. V. The histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 2 (HINT-2) positively regulates hepatocellular energy metabolism.