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Trends in Cell Biology Oct 2023Mitochondria perform crucial functions in cellular metabolism, protein and lipid biogenesis, quality control, and signaling. The systematic analysis of protein complexes... (Review)
Review
Mitochondria perform crucial functions in cellular metabolism, protein and lipid biogenesis, quality control, and signaling. The systematic analysis of protein complexes and interaction networks provided exciting insights into the structural and functional organization of mitochondria. Most mitochondrial proteins do not act as independent units, but are interconnected by stable or dynamic protein-protein interactions. Protein translocases are responsible for importing precursor proteins into mitochondria and form central elements of several protein interaction networks. These networks include molecular chaperones and quality control factors, metabolite channels and respiratory chain complexes, and membrane and organellar contact sites. Protein translocases link the distinct networks into an overarching network, the mitochondrial import network (MitimNet), to coordinate biogenesis, membrane organization and function of mitochondria.
PubMed: 37914576
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.10.004 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Nov 2023Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal and aggressive human malignancy. The present study examins the anti-tumor effects of deubiquitylating enzymes (DUB) inhibitors...
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal and aggressive human malignancy. The present study examins the anti-tumor effects of deubiquitylating enzymes (DUB) inhibitors in HCC. It is found that the inhibitor of ubiquitin specific peptidase 8 (USP8) and DUB-IN-3 shows the most effective anti-cancer responses. Targeting USP8 inhibits the proliferation of HCC and induces cell ferroptosis. In vivo xenograft and metastasis experiments indicate that inhibition of USP8 suppresses tumor growth and lung metastasis. DUB-IN-3 treatment or USP8 depletion decrease intracellular cystine levels and glutathione biosynthesis while increasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mechanistical studies reveal that USP8 stabilizes O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) via inhibiting K48-specific poly-ubiquitination process on OGT protein at K117 site, and STE20-like kinase (SLK)-mediated S716 phosphorylation of USP8 is required for the interaction with OGT. Most importantly, OGT O-GlcNAcylates solute carrier family 7, member 11 (SLC7A11) at Ser26 in HCC cells, which is essential for SLC7A11 to import the cystine from the extracellular environment. Collectively, this study demonstrates that pharmacological inhibition or knockout of USP8 can inhibit the progression of HCC and induce ferroptosis via decreasing the stability of OGT, which imposes a great challenge that targeting of USP8 is a potential approach for HCC treatment.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Ferroptosis; Cystine; Endopeptidases; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; Amino Acid Transport System y+
PubMed: 37867237
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302953 -
Biometals : An International Journal on... Aug 2023In the genus Pseudomonas, zinc homeostasis is mediated by a complete set of import and export systems, whose expression is precisely controlled by three transcriptional... (Review)
Review
In the genus Pseudomonas, zinc homeostasis is mediated by a complete set of import and export systems, whose expression is precisely controlled by three transcriptional regulators: Zur, CzcR and CadR. In this review, we describe in detail our current knowledge of these systems, their regulation, and the biological significance of zinc homeostasis, taking Pseudomonas aeruginosa as our paradigm. Moreover, significant parts of this overview are dedicated to highlight interactions and cross-regulations between zinc and copper import/export systems, and to shed light, through a review of the literature and comparative genomics, on differences in gene complement and function across the whole Pseudomonas genus. The impact and importance of zinc homeostasis in Pseudomonas and beyond will be discussed throughout this review.
Topics: Pseudomonas; Zinc; Homeostasis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Copper; Bacterial Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
PubMed: 36472780
DOI: 10.1007/s10534-022-00475-5 -
Nature Communications Sep 2023Zinc and plant-derived ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) are dietary components affecting intestinal epithelial barrier function. Here, we explore whether...
Zinc and plant-derived ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) are dietary components affecting intestinal epithelial barrier function. Here, we explore whether zinc and the AHR pathway are linked. We show that dietary supplementation with an AHR pre-ligand offers protection against inflammatory bowel disease in a mouse model while protection fails in mice lacking AHR in the intestinal epithelium. AHR agonist treatment is also ineffective in mice fed zinc depleted diet. In human ileum organoids and Caco-2 cells, AHR activation increases total cellular zinc and cytosolic free Zn concentrations through transcription of genes for zinc importers. Tight junction proteins are upregulated through zinc inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer and calpain activity. Our data show that AHR activation by plant-derived dietary ligands improves gut barrier function at least partly via zinc-dependent cellular pathways, suggesting that combined dietary supplementation with AHR ligands and zinc might be effective in preventing inflammatory gut disorders.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; Zinc; Caco-2 Cells; Ligands; Cytosol; Organic Chemicals
PubMed: 37669965
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41168-y -
Science Advances Aug 2023Loss-of-function variants in NIMA-related kinase 1 (NEK1) constitute a major genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), accounting for 2 to 3% of all cases....
Loss-of-function variants in NIMA-related kinase 1 (NEK1) constitute a major genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), accounting for 2 to 3% of all cases. However, how mutations cause motor neuron (MN) dysfunction is unknown. Using mass spectrometry analyses for NEK1 interactors and NEK1-dependent expression changes, we find functional enrichment for proteins involved in the microtubule cytoskeleton and nucleocytoplasmic transport. We show that α-tubulin and importin-β1, two key proteins involved in these processes, are phosphorylated by NEK1 in vitro. NEK1 is essential for motor control and survival in models in vivo, while using several induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-MN models, including NEK1 knockdown, kinase inhibition, and a patient mutation, we find evidence for disruptions in microtubule homeostasis and nuclear import. Notably, stabilizing microtubules with two distinct classes of drugs restored NEK1-dependent deficits in both pathways. The capacity of NEK1 to modulate these processes that are critically involved in ALS pathophysiology renders this kinase a formidable therapeutic candidate.
Topics: Humans; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; NIMA-Related Kinase 1; Proteins; Motor Neurons; Microtubules; Homeostasis
PubMed: 37585529
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5548 -
Trends in Cell Biology Sep 2023Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and transported into mitochondria by protein translocases. Yet, mitochondria contain their own genome and gene... (Review)
Review
Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and transported into mitochondria by protein translocases. Yet, mitochondria contain their own genome and gene expression system, which generates proteins that are inserted in the inner membrane by the oxidase assembly (OXA) insertase. OXA contributes to targeting proteins from both genetic origins. Recent data provides insights into how OXA cooperates with the mitochondrial ribosome during synthesis of mitochondrial-encoded proteins. A picture of OXA emerges in which it coordinates insertion of OXPHOS core subunits and their assembly into protein complexes but also participates in the biogenesis of select imported proteins. These functions position the OXA as a multifunctional protein insertase that facilitates protein transport, assembly, and stability at the inner membrane.
Topics: Humans; Oxidoreductases; Electron Transport Complex IV; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Proteins; Carrier Proteins
PubMed: 36863885
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.02.001 -
Mitochondrion Nov 2023Allotopic expression is the functional transfer of an organellar gene to the nucleus, followed by synthesis of the gene product in the cytosol and import into the... (Review)
Review
Allotopic expression is the functional transfer of an organellar gene to the nucleus, followed by synthesis of the gene product in the cytosol and import into the appropriate organellar sub compartment. Here, we focus on mitochondrial genes encoding OXPHOS subunits that were naturally transferred to the nucleus, and critically review experimental evidence that claim their allotopic expression. We emphasize aspects that may have been overlooked before, i.e., when modifying a mitochondrial gene for allotopic expression━besides adapting the codon usage and including sequences encoding mitochondrial targeting signals━three additional constraints should be considered: (i) the average apparent free energy of membrane insertion (μΔG) of the transmembrane stretches (TMS) in proteins earmarked for the inner mitochondrial membrane, (ii) the final, functional topology attained by each membrane-bound OXPHOS subunit; and (iii) the defined mechanism by which the protein translocator TIM23 sorts cytosol-synthesized precursors. The mechanistic constraints imposed by TIM23 dictate the operation of two pathways through which alpha-helices in TMS are sorted, that eventually determine the final topology of membrane proteins. We used the biological hydrophobicity scale to assign an average apparent free energy of membrane insertion (μΔG) and a "traffic light" color code to all TMS of OXPHOS membrane proteins, thereby predicting which are more likely to be internalized into mitochondria if allotopically produced. We propose that the design of proteins for allotopic expression must make allowance for μΔG maximization of highly hydrophobic TMS in polypeptides whose corresponding genes have not been transferred to the nucleus in some organisms.
Topics: Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Membranes; Membrane Proteins; Genes, Mitochondrial; Protein Transport; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
PubMed: 37739243
DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2023.09.004 -
Basic Research in Cardiology Aug 2023Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been identified as a key cardioprotective signal not only in animal studies but also in... (Review)
Review
Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been identified as a key cardioprotective signal not only in animal studies but also in humans-in animals, STAT3 is causally involved in cardioprotection. In response to late ischemic conditioning, canonical function of STAT3 activation upregulates the expression of cardioprotective and anti-apoptotic proteins. In its non-canonical function, STAT3 is activated during ischemic conditioning and is part of the cardioprotective cytosolic survival activating factor enhancement pathway. Activated STAT3 is imported and localized to the mitochondria. Mitochondrial STAT3 stimulates the activity of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I, reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. Finally, two novel aspects of STAT activation in cardioprotection are discussed: a genetic variance of the STAT encoding region as a potential primordial confounding variable for cardioprotection, and the cardioprotective potential of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors through STAT3 activation.
Topics: Animals; Humans; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 37620559
DOI: 10.1007/s00395-023-01003-3 -
European Journal of Pharmacology Sep 2023Dysregulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling impairs cellular homeostasis and promotes cancer development. KPNB1 is a member of karyopherin β family, mediating the... (Review)
Review
Dysregulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling impairs cellular homeostasis and promotes cancer development. KPNB1 is a member of karyopherin β family, mediating the transportation of proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In a variety of cancers, the expression of KPNB1 is upregulated to facilitate tumor growth and progression. Both downregulation of KPNB1 level and inhibition of KPNB1 activity prevent the entry of cancer-related transcription factors into the nucleus, subsequently suppressing the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. Currently, five KPNB1 inhibitors have been reported and exhibited good efficacy against cancer. This paper provides an overview of the role and mechanism of KPNB1 in different cancers and KPNB1-targeted anticancer compounds which hold promise for the future.
Topics: Humans; Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; beta Karyopherins; Down-Regulation; Cell Nucleus; Neoplasms
PubMed: 37473981
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175925 -
Cell Host & Microbe Oct 2023Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encodes several proteins that inhibit host interferon responses. Among these, ORF6 antagonizes interferon...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encodes several proteins that inhibit host interferon responses. Among these, ORF6 antagonizes interferon signaling by disrupting nucleocytoplasmic trafficking through interactions with the nuclear pore complex components Nup98-Rae1. However, the roles and contributions of ORF6 during physiological infection remain unexplored. We assessed the role of ORF6 during infection using recombinant viruses carrying a deletion or loss-of-function (LoF) mutation in ORF6. ORF6 plays key roles in interferon antagonism and viral pathogenesis by interfering with nuclear import and specifically the translocation of IRF and STAT transcription factors. Additionally, ORF6 inhibits cellular mRNA export, resulting in the remodeling of the host cell proteome, and regulates viral protein expression. Interestingly, the ORF6:D61L mutation that emerged in the Omicron BA.2 and BA.4 variants exhibits reduced interactions with Nup98-Rae1 and consequently impairs immune evasion. Our findings highlight the role of ORF6 in antagonizing innate immunity and emphasize the importance of studying the immune evasion strategies of SARS-CoV-2.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Immunity, Innate; Interferons; SARS-CoV-2; Viral Proteins
PubMed: 37738983
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.08.003