scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms of Melatonin-Mediated Cell Protection and Signaling in Health and Disease

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Dalia M. Kopustinskiene ◽  
Jurga Bernatoniene
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Membrane Phospholipids ◽  
Cell Protection ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Beneficial Action

Melatonin, an endogenously synthesized indolamine, is a powerful antioxidant exerting beneficial action in many pathological conditions. Melatonin protects from oxidative stress in ischemic/reperfusion injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging, decreases inflammation, modulates the immune system, inhibits proliferation, counteracts the Warburg effect, and promotes apoptosis in various cancer models. Melatonin stimulates antioxidant enzymes in the cells, protects mitochondrial membrane phospholipids, especially cardiolipin, from oxidation thus preserving integrity of the membranes, affects mitochondrial membrane potential, stimulates activity of respiratory chain enzymes, and decreases the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore and cytochrome c release. This review will focus on the molecular mechanisms of melatonin effects in the cells during normal and pathological conditions and possible melatonin clinical applications.

scholarly journals Adenine Nucleotide Translocase-1, a Component of the Permeability Transition Pore, Can Dominantly Induce Apoptosis

1999 ◽  
Vol 147 (7) ◽  
pp. 1493-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel K.A. Bauer ◽  
Alexis Schubert ◽  
Oliver Rocks ◽  
Stefan Grimm
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Adenine Nucleotide ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Adenine Nucleotide Translocase ◽  
Cyclophilin D ◽  
Protein Aggregate ◽  
Cytochrome C Release

Here, we describe the isolation of adenine nucleotide translocase-1 (ANT-1) in a screen for dominant, apoptosis-inducing genes. ANT-1 is a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition complex, a protein aggregate connecting the inner with the outer mitochondrial membrane that has recently been implicated in apoptosis. ANT-1 expression led to all features of apoptosis, such as phenotypic alterations, collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, caspase activation, and DNA degradation. Both point mutations that impair ANT-1 in its known activity to transport ADP and ATP as well as the NH2-terminal half of the protein could still induce apoptosis. Interestingly, ANT-2, a highly homologous protein could not lead to cell death, demonstrating the specificity of the signal for apoptosis induction. In contrast to Bax, a proapoptotic Bcl-2 gene, ANT-1 was unable to elicit a form of cell death in yeast. This and the observed repression of apoptosis by the ANT-1–interacting protein cyclophilin D suggest that the suicidal effect of ANT-1 is mediated by specific protein–protein interactions within the permeability transition pore.

scholarly journals Physiopathology of the Permeability Transition Pore: Molecular Mechanisms in Human Pathology

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Bonora ◽  
Simone Patergnani ◽  
Daniela Ramaccini ◽  
Giampaolo Morciano ◽  
Gaia Pedriali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Inner Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Human Pathology ◽  
Cell Death Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Permeabilization

Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is the sudden loss in the permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) to low-molecular-weight solutes. Due to osmotic forces, MPT is paralleled by a massive influx of water into the mitochondrial matrix, eventually leading to the structural collapse of the organelle. Thus, MPT can initiate outer-mitochondrial-membrane permeabilization (MOMP), promoting the activation of the apoptotic caspase cascade and caspase-independent cell-death mechanisms. The induction of MPT is mostly dependent on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+, but is also dependent on the metabolic stage of the affected cell and signaling events. Therefore, since its discovery in the late 1970s, the role of MPT in human pathology has been heavily investigated. Here, we summarize the most significant findings corroborating a role for MPT in the etiology of a spectrum of human diseases, including diseases characterized by acute or chronic loss of adult cells and those characterized by neoplastic initiation.

Benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide induced p53-independent necrosis via the mitochondria-associated pathway involving Bax and Bak activation

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Zhang ◽  
N Liu ◽  
X Wang ◽  
X Jin ◽  
H Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Necrotic Cell Death ◽  
Necrotic Cell ◽  
Cytochrome C Release

Benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) is a highly reactive DNA damage agent and can induce cell death through both p53-independent and -dependent pathways. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of p53-independent pathways in BPDE-induced cell death. To understand the p53-independent mechanisms, we have now examined BPDE-induced cytotoxicity in p53-deficient baby mouse kidney (BMK) cells. The results showed that BPDE could induce Bax and Bak activation, cytochrome c release, caspases activation, and necrotic cell death in the BMK cells. Bax and Bak, two key molecules of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, were interdependently activated by BPDE, with Bax and Bak translocation to and Bax/Bak homo-oligomerization in mitochondria, release of cytochrome c was induced. Importantly, cytochrome c release and necrotic cell death were diminished in BMK cells (Bax−/−), BMK cells (Bak−/−), and BMK cells (Bax−/−/Bak−/−). Furthermore, overexpression of Bcl-2 could ameliorate BPDE-induced cytochrome c release and necrosis. Together the findings suggested that BPDE-induced necrosis was modulated by the p53-independent pathway, which was related to the translocation of Bax and Bak to mitochondria, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspases.

Effect of chronic contractile activity on SS and IMF mitochondrial apoptotic susceptibility in skeletal muscle

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (3) ◽  
pp. E748-E755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Adhihetty ◽  
Vladimir Ljubicic ◽  
David A. Hood
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Manganese Superoxide Dismutase ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Apoptosis Inducing Factor

Chronic contractile activity of skeletal muscle induces an increase in mitochondria located in proximity to the sarcolemma [subsarcolemmal (SS)] and in mitochondria interspersed between the myofibrils [intermyofibrillar (IMF)]. These are energetically favorable metabolic adaptations, but because mitochondria are also involved in apoptosis, we investigated the effect of chronic contractile activity on mitochondrially mediated apoptotic signaling in muscle. We hypothesized that chronic contractile activity would provide protection against mitochondrially mediated apoptosis despite an elevation in the expression of proapoptotic proteins. To induce mitochondrial biogenesis, we chronically stimulated (10 Hz; 3 h/day) rat muscle for 7 days. Chronic contractile activity did not alter the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, an index of apoptotic susceptibility, and did not affect manganese superoxide dismutase levels. However, contractile activity increased antiapoptotic 70-kDa heat shock protein and apoptosis repressor with a caspase recruitment domain by 1.3- and 1.4-fold ( P < 0.05), respectively. Contractile activity elevated SS mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production 1.4- and 1.9-fold ( P < 0.05) during states IV and III respiration, respectively, whereas IMF mitochondrial state IV ROS production was suppressed by 28% ( P < 0.05) and was unaffected during state III respiration. Following stimulation, exogenous ROS treatment produced less cytochrome c release (25–40%) from SS and IMF mitochondria, and also reduced apoptosis-inducing factor release (≈30%) from IMF mitochondria, despite higher inherent cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor expression. Chronic contractile activity did not alter mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mtPTP) components in either subfraction. However, SS mitochondria exhibited a significant increase in the time to Vmax of mtPTP opening. Thus, chronic contractile activity induces predominantly antiapoptotic adaptations in both mitochondrial subfractions. Our data suggest the possibility that chronic contractile activity can exert a protective effect on mitochondrially mediated apoptosis in muscle.

scholarly journals Hepatitis B Virus Replication Is Associated with an HBx-Dependent Mitochondrion-Regulated Increase in Cytosolic Calcium Levels

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (21) ◽  
pp. 12061-12065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. McClain ◽  
Amy J. Clippinger ◽  
Rebecca Lizzano ◽  
Michael J. Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Cytosolic Calcium ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus

ABSTRACT The nonstructural hepatitis B virus (HBV) protein HBx has an important role in HBV replication and in HBV-associated liver disease. Many activities have been linked to HBx expression; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying many of these activities are unknown. One proposed HBx function is the regulation of cytosolic calcium. We analyzed calcium levels in HepG2 cells that expressed HBx or replicating HBV, and we demonstrated that HBx, expressed in the absence of other HBV proteins or in the context of HBV replication, elevates cytosolic calcium. We linked this elevation of cytosolic calcium to the association of HBx with the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.

scholarly journals Bax-induced Cytochrome C Release from Mitochondria Is Independent of the Permeability Transition Pore but Highly Dependent on Mg2+ Ions

1998 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Eskes ◽  
Bruno Antonsson ◽  
Astrid Osen-Sand ◽  
Sylvie Montessuit ◽  
Christoph Richter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cyclosporin A ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability ◽  
Isolated Mitochondria ◽  
Mammalian Homologue

Bcl-2 family members either promote or repress programmed cell death. Bax, a death-promoting member, is a pore-forming, mitochondria-associated protein whose mechanism of action is still unknown. During apoptosis, cytochrome C is released from the mitochondria into the cytosol where it binds to APAF-1, a mammalian homologue of Ced-4, and participates in the activation of caspases. The release of cytochrome C has been postulated to be a consequence of the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). We now report that Bax is sufficient to trigger the release of cytochrome C from isolated mitochondria. This pathway is distinct from the previously described calcium-inducible, cyclosporin A–sensitive PTP. Rather, the cytochrome C release induced by Bax is facilitated by Mg2+ and cannot be blocked by PTP inhibitors. These results strongly suggest the existence of two distinct mechanisms leading to cytochrome C release: one stimulated by calcium and inhibited by cyclosporin A, the other Bax dependent, Mg2+ sensitive but cyclosporin insensitive.

scholarly journals Quantification of active mitochondrial permeability transition pores using GNX-4975 inhibitor titrations provides insights into molecular identity

2016 ◽  
Vol 473 (9) ◽  
pp. 1129-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Richardson ◽  
Andrew P. Halestrap
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability Transition ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Mitochondrial Permeability ◽  
Molecular Identity ◽  
Permeability Transition Pores

The molecular identity of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), a key player in cell death, remains controversial. Here we use a novel MPTP inhibitor to demonstrate that formation of the pore involves native mitochondrial membrane proteins adopting novel conformations.

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