Genetically controlled mtDNA editing prevents ROS damage by arresting oxidative phosphorylation

Abstract

Deletion of mitochondrial DNA in eukaryotes is mainly attributed to rare accidental events associated with mitochondrial replication or repair of double-strand breaks. We report the discovery that yeast cells arrest harmful intramitochondrial superoxide production by shutting down respiration through genetically controlled deletion of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes. We show that the regulatory circuitry underlying this editing critically involves the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase 2 and two-way mitochondrial-nuclear communication. While mitochondrial DNA homeostasis is rapidly restored after cessation of a short-term superoxide stress, long-term stress causes maladaptive persistence of the deletion process, leading to complete annihilation of the cellular pool of intact mitochondrial genomes and irrevocable loss of respiratory ability. Our results may therefore be of etiological as well as therapeutic importance with regard to age-related mitochondrial impairment and disease. One-Sentence Summary Genetically controlled editing of mitochondrial DNA is an integral part of the yeast’s defenses against oxidative damage.