scholarly journals Emerging Links between Control of Mitochondrial Protein ATAD3A and Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 7917
Author(s):  
Liwei Lang ◽  
Reid Loveless ◽  
Yong Teng

Spanning from the mitochondria’s outer surface to the inner membrane, the nuclear-encoded protein ATAD3A maintains vital roles in regulating mitochondrial dynamics, homeostasis, metabolism, and interactions with the endoplasmic reticulum. Recently, elevated levels of ATAD3A have been reported in several types of cancer and to be tightly correlated with cancer development and progression, including increased cancer cell potential of proliferation, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the current review, we reveal ATAD3A as the link between mitochondrial functions and cancer biology and the accumulating evidence presenting ATAD3A as an attractive target for the development of novel cancer therapy to inhibit aberrant cancer metabolism and progression.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Serricchio ◽  
Peter Bütikofer

Mitochondria are essential organelles involved in cellular energy production. The inner mitochondrial membrane protein stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2) is a member of the SPFH (stomatin, prohibitin, flotilin, and HflK/C) superfamily and binds to the mitochondrial glycerophospholipid cardiolipin, forming cardiolipin-enriched membrane domains to promote the assembly and/or stabilization of protein complexes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. In addition, human SLP-2 anchors a mitochondrial processing complex required for proteolytic regulation of proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics and quality control. We now show that deletion of the gene encoding the Trypanosoma brucei homolog TbSlp2 has no effect on respiratory protein complex stability and mitochondrial functions under normal culture conditions and is dispensable for growth of T. brucei parasites. In addition, we demonstrate that TbSlp2 binds to the metalloprotease TbYme1 and together they form a large mitochondrial protein complex. The two proteins negatively regulate each other’s expression levels by accelerating protein turnover. Furthermore, we show that TbYme1 plays a role in heat-stress resistance, as TbYme1 knock-out parasites displayed mitochondrial fragmentation and loss of viability when cultured at elevated temperatures. Unbiased interaction studies uncovered putative TbYme1 substrates, some of which were differentially affected by the absence of TbYme1. Our results support emerging evidence for the presence of mitochondrial quality control pathways in this ancient eukaryote.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Máté A. Demény ◽  
László Virág

The 17-member poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase enzyme family, also known as the ADP-ribosyl transferase diphtheria toxin-like (ARTD) enzyme family, contains DNA damage-responsive and nonresponsive members. Only PARP1, 2, 5a, and 5b are capable of modifying their targets with poly ADP-ribose (PAR) polymers; the other PARP family members function as mono-ADP-ribosyl transferases. In the last decade, PARP1 has taken center stage in oncology treatments. New PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have been introduced for the targeted treatment of breast cancer 1 or 2 (BRCA1/2)-deficient ovarian and breast cancers, and this novel therapy represents the prototype of the synthetic lethality paradigm. Much less attention has been paid to other PARPs and their potential roles in cancer biology. In this review, we summarize the roles played by all PARP enzyme family members in six intrinsic hallmarks of cancer: uncontrolled proliferation, evasion of growth suppressors, cell death resistance, genome instability, reprogrammed energy metabolism, and escape from replicative senescence. In a companion paper, we will discuss the roles of PARP enzymes in cancer hallmarks related to cancer-host interactions, including angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, evasion of the anticancer immune response, and tumor-promoting inflammation. While PARP1 is clearly involved in all ten cancer hallmarks, an increasing body of evidence supports the role of other PARPs in modifying these cancer hallmarks (e.g., PARP5a and 5b in replicative immortality and PARP2 in cancer metabolism). We also highlight controversies, open questions, and discuss prospects of recent developments related to the wide range of roles played by PARPs in cancer biology. Some of the summarized findings may explain resistance to PARPi therapy or highlight novel biological roles of PARPs that can be therapeutically exploited in novel anticancer treatment paradigms.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1792
Author(s):  
Debashri Manna ◽  
Devanand Sarkar

Cancer development results from the acquisition of numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer cells themselves, as well as continuous changes in their microenvironment. The plasticity of cancer cells allows them to continuously adapt to selective pressures brought forth by exogenous environmental stresses, the internal milieu of the tumor and cancer treatment itself. Resistance to treatment, either inherent or acquired after the commencement of treatment, is a major obstacle an oncologist confronts in an endeavor to efficiently manage the disease. Resistance to chemotherapy, chemoresistance, is an important hallmark of aggressive cancers, and driver oncogene-induced signaling pathways and molecular abnormalities create the platform for chemoresistance. The oncogene Astrocyte elevated gene-1/Metadherin (AEG-1/MTDH) is overexpressed in a diverse array of cancers, and its overexpression promotes all the hallmarks of cancer, such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis and chemoresistance. The present review provides a comprehensive description of the molecular mechanism by which AEG-1 promotes tumorigenesis, with a special emphasis on its ability to regulate chemoresistance.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 232
Author(s):  
Srikanth Elesela ◽  
Nicholas W. Lukacs

Viral diseases account for an increasing proportion of deaths worldwide. Viruses maneuver host cell machinery in an attempt to subvert the intracellular environment favorable for their replication. The mitochondrial network is highly susceptible to physiological and environmental insults, including viral infections. Viruses affect mitochondrial functions and impact mitochondrial metabolism, and innate immune signaling. Resurgence of host-virus interactions in recent literature emphasizes the key role of mitochondria and host metabolism on viral life processes. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to damage of mitochondria that generate toxic compounds, importantly mitochondrial DNA, inducing systemic toxicity, leading to damage of multiple organs in the body. Mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy are essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial quality control and homeostasis. Therefore, metabolic antagonists may be essential to gain a better understanding of viral diseases and develop effective antiviral therapeutics. This review briefly discusses how viruses exploit mitochondrial dynamics for virus proliferation and induce associated diseases.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 674
Author(s):  
Francesco Capriglia ◽  
Francesca Rizzo ◽  
Giuseppe Petrosillo ◽  
Veronica Morea ◽  
Giulia d’Amati ◽  
...  

The m.3243A>G mutation within the mitochondrial mt-tRNALeu(UUR) gene is the most prevalent variant linked to mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome. This pathogenic mutation causes severe impairment of mitochondrial protein synthesis due to alterations of the mutated tRNA, such as reduced aminoacylation and a lack of post-transcriptional modification. In transmitochondrial cybrids, overexpression of human mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS2) has proven effective in rescuing the phenotype associated with m.3243A>G substitution. The rescuing activity resides in the carboxy-terminal domain (Cterm) of the enzyme; however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated. To deepen our knowledge on the rescuing mechanisms, we demonstrated the interactions of the Cterm with mutated mt-tRNALeu(UUR) and its precursor in MELAS cybrids. Further, the effect of Cterm expression on mitochondrial functions was evaluated. We found that Cterm ameliorates de novo mitochondrial protein synthesis, whilst it has no effect on mt-tRNALeu(UUR) steady-state levels and aminoacylation. Despite the complete recovery of cell viability and the increase in mitochondrial translation, Cterm-overexpressing cybrids were not able to recover bioenergetic competence. These data suggest that, in our MELAS cell model, the beneficial effect of Cterm may be mediated by factors that are independent of the mitochondrial bioenergetics.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4259-4264
Author(s):  
B L Seidel-Rogol ◽  
J King ◽  
H Bertrand

The natural-death mutant of Neurospora crassa has an accelerated senescence phenotype caused by a recessive mutation, nd, in a nuclear gene that is located in linkage group I. An examination of mitochondrial functions, however, revealed that the mutant has phenotypic and molecular defects similar to those commonly associated with maternally transmitted fungal senescence syndromes, including (i) deficiencies in cytochromes aa3 and b; (ii) a deficit in small subunits of mitochondrial ribosomes, and hence defective mitochondrial protein synthesis; and (iii) accumulation of gross rearrangements, including large deletions, in the mitochondrial chromosome of vegetatively propagated cells. These traits indicate that the nd+ allele codes for a function that is essential for stable maintenance of the mitochondrial chromosome, possibly a protein involved in replication, repair, or recombination.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4259-4264 ◽  
Author(s):  
B L Seidel-Rogol ◽  
J King ◽  
H Bertrand

The natural-death mutant of Neurospora crassa has an accelerated senescence phenotype caused by a recessive mutation, nd, in a nuclear gene that is located in linkage group I. An examination of mitochondrial functions, however, revealed that the mutant has phenotypic and molecular defects similar to those commonly associated with maternally transmitted fungal senescence syndromes, including (i) deficiencies in cytochromes aa3 and b; (ii) a deficit in small subunits of mitochondrial ribosomes, and hence defective mitochondrial protein synthesis; and (iii) accumulation of gross rearrangements, including large deletions, in the mitochondrial chromosome of vegetatively propagated cells. These traits indicate that the nd+ allele codes for a function that is essential for stable maintenance of the mitochondrial chromosome, possibly a protein involved in replication, repair, or recombination.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuriñe Antón ◽  
Grace Mullally ◽  
Holly Ford ◽  
Marc W. van der Kamp ◽  
Mark D. Szczelkun ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCurrent methodologies for targeting the mitochondrial genome for basic research and/or therapeutic strategy development in mitochondrial diseases are restricted by practical limitations and technical inflexibility. The development of a functional molecular toolbox for CRISPR-mediated mitochondrial genome editing is therefore desirable, as this could enable precise targeting of mtDNA haplotypes using the precision and tuneability of CRISPR enzymes; however, published reports of “MitoCRISPR” systems have, to date, lacked reproducibility and independent corroboration. Here, we have explored the requirements for a functional MitoCRISPR system in human cells by engineering several versions of CRISPR nucleases, including the use of alternative mitochondrial protein targeting sequences and smaller paralogues, and the application of gRNA modifications that reportedly induce mitochondrial import. We demonstrate varied mitochondrial targeting efficiencies and influences on mitochondrial dynamics/function of different CRISPR nucleases, with Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006 (Lb) Cas12a being better targeted and tolerated than Cas9 variants. We also provide evidence of Cas9 gRNA association with mitochondria in HeLa cells and isolated yeast mitochondria, even in the absence of a targeting RNA aptamer. Finally, we present evidence linking mitochondrial-targeted LbCas12a/crRNA with increased mtDNA copy number dependent upon DNA binding and cleavage activity. We discuss reproducibility issues and the future steps necessary if MitoCRISPR is to be realised.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingna Xu ◽  
Xi Wang ◽  
Jia Zhou ◽  
Yunyi Qiu ◽  
Weina Shang ◽  
...  

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–mitochondria contact sites (ERMCSs) are crucial for multiple cellular processes such as calcium signaling, lipid transport, and mitochondrial dynamics. However, the molecular organization, functions, regulation of ERMCS, and the physiological roles of altered ERMCSs are not fully understood in higher eukaryotes. We found that Miga, a mitochondrion located protein, markedly increases ERMCSs and causes severe neurodegeneration upon overexpression in fly eyes. Miga interacts with an ER protein Vap33 through its FFAT-like motif and an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease related Vap33 mutation considerably reduces its interaction with Miga. Multiple serine residues inside and near the Miga FFAT motif were phosphorylated, which is required for its interaction with Vap33 and Miga-mediated ERMCS formation. The interaction between Vap33 and Miga promoted further phosphorylation of upstream serine/threonine clusters, which fine-tuned Miga activity. Protein kinases CKI and CaMKII contribute to Miga hyperphosphorylation. MIGA2, encoded by the miga mammalian ortholog, has conserved functions in mammalian cells. We propose a model that shows Miga interacts with Vap33 to mediate ERMCSs and excessive ERMCSs lead to neurodegeneration.


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