Al-Walid Mohsen

Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) Protein Regulates Long-chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase by Deacetylating Conserved Lysines Near the Active Site

Background: Reversible lysine acetylation regulates the fatty acid oxidation enzyme long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD). Results: Residues Lys-318 and Lys-322 are responsible for these effects. Conclusion: Acetylation of Lys-318/Lys-322 alters the conformation of the LCAD active site. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) deacetylates these lysines and restores function. Significance: Acetylation of LCAD Lys-318/Lys-322 can disrupt fatty acid oxidation and contribute to metabolic disease. Long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) is a key mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation enzyme. We previously demonstrated increased LCAD lysine acetylation in SIRT3 knockout mice concomitant with reduced LCAD activity and reduced fatty acid oxidation. To study the effects of acetylation on LCAD and determine sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) target sites, we chemically acetylated recombinant LCAD. Acetylation impeded substrate binding and reduced catalytic efficiency. Deacetylation with recombinant SIRT3 partially restored activity. Residues Lys-318 and Lys-322 were identified as SIRT3-targeted lysines. Arginine substitutions at Lys-318 and Lys-322 prevented the acetylation-induced activity loss. Lys-318 and Lys-322 flank residues Arg-317 and Phe-320, which are conserved among all acyl-CoA dehydrogenases and coordinate the enzyme-bound FAD cofactor in the active site. We propose that acetylation at Lys-318/Lys-322 causes a conformational change which reduces hydride transfer from substrate to FAD. Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase 9, two related enzymes with lysines at positions equivalent to Lys-318/Lys-322, were also efficiently deacetylated by SIRT3 following chemical acetylation. These results suggest that acetylation/deacetylation at Lys-318/Lys-322 is a mode of regulating fatty acid oxidation. The same mechanism may regulate other acyl-CoA dehydrogenases.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases: Dynamic History of Protein Family Evolution

The acyl-CoA dehydrogenases (ACADs) are enzymes that catalyze the α,β-dehydrogenation of acyl-CoA esters in fatty acid and amino acid catabolism. Eleven ACADs are now recognized in the sequenced human genome, and several homologs have been reported from bacteria, fungi, plants, and nematodes. We performed a systematic comparative genomic study, integrating homology searches with methods of phylogenetic reconstruction, to investigate the evolutionary history of this family. Sequence analyses indicate origin of the family in the common ancestor of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota, illustrating its essential role in the metabolism of early life. At least three ACADs were already present at that time: ancestral glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCD), isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVD), and ACAD10/11. Two gene duplications were unique to the eukaryotic domain: one resulted in the VLCAD and ACAD9 paralogs and another in the ACAD10 and ACAD11 paralogs. The overall patchy distribution of specific ACADs across the tree of life is the result of dynamic evolution that includes numerous rounds of gene duplication and secondary losses, interdomain lateral gene transfer events, alteration of cellular localization, and evolution of novel proteins by domain acquisition. Our finding that eukaryotic ACAD species are more closely related to bacterial ACADs is consistent with endosymbiotic origin of ACADs in eukaryotes and further supported by the localization of all nine previously studied ACADs in mitochondria.

Novel mutation in MYH7 gene associated with distal myopathy and cardiomyopathy.

A 25-year-old woman had childhood-onset muscle weakness and dilated cardiomyopathy. She exhibited predominantly distal weakness with early toe walking. Dilated cardiomyopathy required cardiac transplantation at age 15 years. We identified a de-novo, heterozygous, missense mutation, c.2348G>C (p. Arg783Pro), in exon 21 of the MYH7 gene, which encodes slow skeletal muscle fiber/β-cardiac myosin heavy chain protein, that replaces a highly conserved arginine with a proline. This novel mutation that results in the unusual combined cardiac and skeletal muscle phenotype localizes to the essential light chain binding area, a region only previously shown to be mutated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Complex I assembly function and fatty acid oxidation enzyme activity of ACAD9 both contribute to disease severity in ACAD9 deficiency

Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase 9 (ACAD9) is an assembly factor for mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I (CI), and ACAD9 mutations are recognized as a frequent cause of CI deficiency. ACAD9 also retains enzyme ACAD activity for long-chain fatty acids in vitro, but the biological relevance of this function remains controversial partly because of the tissue specificity of ACAD9 expression: high in liver and neurons and minimal in skin fibroblasts. In this study, we hypothesized that this enzymatic ACAD activity is required for full fatty acid oxidation capacity in cells expressing high levels of ACAD9 and that loss of this function is important in determining phenotype in ACAD9-deficient patients. First, we confirmed that HEK293 cells express ACAD9 abundantly. Then, we showed that ACAD9 knockout in HEK293 cells affected long-chain fatty acid oxidation along with Cl, both of which were rescued by wild type ACAD9. Further, we evaluated whether the loss of ACAD9 enzymatic fatty acid oxidation affects clinical severity in patients with ACAD9 mutations. The effects on ACAD activity of 16 ACAD9 mutations identified in 24 patients were evaluated using a prokaryotic expression system. We showed that there was a significant inverse correlation between residual enzyme ACAD activity and phenotypic severity of ACAD9-deficient patients. These results provide evidence that in cells where it is strongly expressed, ACAD9 plays a physiological role in fatty acid oxidation, which contributes to the severity of the phenotype in ACAD9-deficient patients. Accordingly, treatment of ACAD9 patients should aim at counteracting both CI and fatty acid oxidation dysfunctions.

Molecular and Cellular Pathology of Very-Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency

BACKGROUND Very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency (VLCADD) is diagnosed in the US through newborn screening (NBS). NBS often unequivocally identifies affected individuals, but a growing number of variant patterns can represent mild disease or heterozygous carriers. AIMS To evaluate the validity of standard diagnostic procedures for VLCADD by using functional in vitro tools. METHODS We retrospectively investigated 13 patient samples referred to our laboratory because of a suspicion of VLCADD but with some uncertainty to the diagnosis. All 13 patients were suspected of having VLCADD either because of abnormal NBS or suggestive clinical findings. ACADVL genomic DNA sequencing data were available for twelve of them. Ten of the patients had an abnormal NBS suggestive of VLCADD, with three samples showing equivocal results. Three exhibited suggestive clinical findings and blood acylcarnitine profile (two of them had a normal NBS and the third one was unscreened). Assay of VLCAD activity and immunoblotting or immunohistologic staining for VLCAD were performed on fibroblasts. Prokaryotic mutagenesis and expression studies were performed for nine uncharacterized ACADVL missense mutations. RESULTS VLCAD activity was abnormal in fibroblast cells from 9 patients (8 identified through abnormal NBS, 1 through clinical symptoms). For these 9 patients, immunoblotting/staining showed the variable presence of VLCAD; all but one had two mutated alleles. Two patients with equivocal NBS results (and a heterozygous genotype) and the two patients with normal NBS exhibited normal VLCAD activity and normal VLCAD protein on immunoblotting/staining thus ruling out VLCAD deficiency. Nine pathogenic missense mutations were characterized with prokaryotic expression studies and showed a decrease in enzyme activity and variable stability of VLCAD antigen. CONCLUSIONS These results emphasize the importance of functional investigation of abnormal NBS or clinical testing suggestive but not diagnostic of VLCADD. A larger prospective study is necessary to better define the clinical and metabolic ramifications of the defects identified in such patients.

Low expression of long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in human skeletal muscle.

PURPOSE Long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) is a mitochondrial flavoenzyme thought to be one of the major enzymes responsible for the first step of long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) beta-oxidation. Surprisingly, recent studies have shown LCAD is hardly detectable in human tissues such as liver and heart. Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body in terms of mass, and accounts for the majority of LCFA oxidation, especially during exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression levels of LCAD in human skeletal muscle. METHODS Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis of healthy athletic men and women, and examined for mRNA abundance, protein content, and enzyme activity of LCAD. We compared LCAD content with that of very-long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD); two mitochondrial beta-oxidation enzymes that have overlapping chain-length specificity to that of LCAD. LCAD protein content and enzyme activity were also examined in enriched mitochondrial protein fractions. As controls, LCAD presence in skeletal muscle was compared to human heart, liver, and mouse skeletal muscle. RESULTS The mRNA presence of LCAD in human skeletal muscle is significantly less than VLCAD and MCAD (0.08+/-0.01 vs 7.3+/-0.5 vs 2.4+/-0.2 respectively, P<or=0.0001). LCAD protein was undetectable in human muscle homogenates, and coordinately LCAD enzyme activity was undetectable in enriched mitochondrial samples. CONCLUSION LCAD is minimally expressed in human skeletal muscle and likely does not play a significant role in LCFA oxidation.

Evidence for involvement of medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in the metabolism of phenylbutyrate.

Sodium phenylbutyrate is used for treating urea cycle disorders, providing an alternative for ammonia excretion. Following conversion to its CoA ester, phenylbutyryl-CoA is postulated to undergo one round of β-oxidation to phenylacetyl-CoA, the active metabolite. Molecular modeling suggests that medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD; EC 1.3.99.3), a key enzyme in straight chain fatty acid β-oxidation, could utilize phenylbutyryl-CoA as substrate. Moreover, phenylpropionyl-CoA has been shown to be a substrate for MCAD and its intermediates accumulate in patients with MCAD deficiency. We have examined the involvement of MCAD and other acyl-CoA dehydrogenases (ACADs) in the metabolism of phenylbutyryl-CoA. Anaerobic titration of purified recombinant human MCAD with phenylbutyryl-CoA caused changes in the MCAD spectrum that are similar to those induced by octanoyl-CoA, its bona fide substrate, and unique to the development of the charge transfer ternary complex. The calculated apparent dissociation constant (K(D app)) for these substrates was 2.16 μM and 0.12 μM, respectively. The MCAD reductive and oxidative half reactions were monitored using the electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) fluorescence reduction assay. The catalytic efficiency and the K(m) for phenylbutyryl-CoA were 0.2 mM 34(-1)·sec(-1) and 5.3 μM compared to 4.0 mM(-1)·sec(-1) and 2.8 μM for octanoyl-CoA. Extracts of wild type and MCAD-deficient lymphoblast cells were tested for the ability to reduce ETF using phenylbutyryl-CoA as substrate. While ETF reduction activity was detected in extracts of wild type cells, it was undetectable in extracts of cells deficient in MCAD. The results are consistent with MCAD playing a key role in phenylbutyrate metabolism.

Evaluation of mitochondrial bioenergetics, dynamics, endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria crosstalk, and reactive oxygen species in fibroblasts from patients with complex I deficiency

Mitochondrial complex I (CI) deficiency is the most frequent cause of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) disorders in humans. In order to benchmark the effects of CI deficiency on mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics, respiratory chain (RC) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria communication, and superoxide production, fibroblasts from patients with mutations in the ND6, NDUFV1 or ACAD9 genes were analyzed. Fatty acid metabolism, basal and maximal respiration, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP levels were decreased. Changes in proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics were detected in various combinations in each cell line, while variable changes in RC components were observed. ACAD9 deficient cells exhibited an increase in RC complex subunits and DDIT3, an ER stress marker. The level of proteins involved in ER-mitochondria communication was decreased in ND6 and ACAD9 deficient cells. |ΔΨ| and cell viability were further decreased in all cell lines. These findings suggest that disruption of mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics, ER-mitochondria crosstalk, and increased superoxide contribute to the pathophysiology in patients with ACAD9 deficiency. Furthermore, treatment of ACAD9 deficient cells with JP4-039, a novel mitochondria-targeted reactive oxygen species, electron and radical scavenger, decreased superoxide level and increased basal and maximal respiratory rate, identifying a potential therapeutic intervention opportunity in CI deficiency.

Mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders in the Old Order Amish population.

The Old Order Amish populations in the US are one of the Plain People groups and are descendants of the Swiss Anabaptist immigrants who came to North America in the early eighteenth century. They live in numerous small endogamous demes that have resulted in reduced genetic diversity along with a high prevalence of specific genetic disorders, many of them autosomal recessive. Mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiencies arising from mitochondrial or nuclear DNA mutations have not previously been reported in the Plain populations. Here we present four different Amish families with mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders. Mutations in two mitochondrial encoded genes leading to mitochondrial respiratory chain disorder were identified in two patients. In the first case, MELAS syndrome caused by a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation (m.3243A>G) was identified in an extended Amish pedigree following a presentation of metabolic strokes in the proband. Characterization of the extended family of the proband by a high resolution melting assay identified the same mutation in many previously undiagnosed family members with a wide range of clinical symptoms. A MELAS/Leigh syndrome phenotype caused by a mtDNA mutation [m.13513G>A; p.Asp393Asn] in the ND5 gene encoding the ND5 subunit of respiratory chain complex I was identified in a patient in a second family. Mutations in two nuclear encoded genes leading to mitochondrial respiratory chain disorder were also identified in two patients. One patient presented with Leigh syndrome and had a homozygous deletion in the NDUFAF2 gene, while the second patient had a homozygous mutation in the POLG gene, [c.1399G>A; p.Ala467Thr]. Our findings identify mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency as a cause of disease in the Old Order Amish that must be considered in the context of otherwise unexplained systemic disease, especially if neuromuscular symptoms are present.

Kinetic and spectral properties of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase and interaction with ligands.

Isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVD) catalyzes the conversion of isovaleryl-CoA to 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA and the transfer of electrons to the electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF). Recombinant human IVD purifies with bound CoA-persulfide. A modified purification protocol was developed to isolate IVD without bound CoA-persulfide and to protect the protein thiols from oxidation. The CoA-persulfide-free IVD specific activity was 112.5 μmol porcine ETF min(-)(1) mg(-)(1), which was ∼20-fold higher than that of its CoA-persulfide bound form. The Km and catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) for isovaleryl-CoA were 1.0 μM and 4.3 × 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) per monomer, respectively, and its Km for ETF was 2.0 μM. Anaerobic titration of isovaleryl-CoA into an IVD solution resulted in a stable blue complex with increased absorbance at 310 nm, decreased absorbance at 373 and 447 nm, and the appearance of the charge transfer complex band at 584 nm. The apparent dissociation constant (KDapp) determined spectrally for isovaleryl-CoA was 0.54 μM. Isovaleryl-CoA, acetoacetyl-CoA, methylenecyclopropyl-acetyl-CoA, and ETF induced CD spectral changes at the 250-500 nm region while isobutyryl-CoA did not, suggesting conformational changes occur at the flavin ring that are ligand specific. Replacement of the IVD Trp166 with a Phe did not block IVD interaction with ETF, indicating that its indole ring is not essential for electron transfer to ETF. A twelve amino acid synthetic peptide that matches the sequence of the ETF docking peptide competitively inhibited the enzyme reaction when ETF was used as the electron acceptor with a Ki of 1.5 mM.