Markus Deckers

Dynamin-related proteins Vps1p and Dnm1p control peroxisome abundance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains three dynamin-related-proteins, Vps1p, Dnm1p and Mgm1p. Previous data from glucose-grown VPS1 and DNM1 null mutants suggested that Vps1p, but not Dnm1p, plays a role in regulating peroxisome abundance. Here we show that deletion of DNM1 also results in reduction of peroxisome numbers. This was not observed in glucose-grown dnm1 cells, but was evident in cells grown in the presence of oleate. Similar observations were made in cells lacking Fis1p, a protein involved in Dnm1p function. Fluorescence microscopy of cells producing Dnm1-GFP or GFP-Fis1p demonstrated that both proteins had a dual localization on mitochondria and peroxisomes. Quantitative analysis revealed a greater reduction in peroxisome number in oleate-induced vps1 cells relative to dnm1 or fis1 cells. A significant fraction of oleate-induced vps1 cells still contained two or more peroxisomes. Conversely, almost all cells of a dnm1 vps1 double-deletion strain contained only one, enlarged peroxisome. This suggests that deletion of DNM1 reinforces the vps1 peroxisome phenotype. Time-lapse imaging indicated that during budding of dnm1 vps1 cells, the single peroxisome present in the mother cell formed long protrusions into the developing bud. This organelle divided at a very late stage of the budding process, possibly during cytokinesis.

Uniform nomenclature for the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system

The mitochondrial inner membrane contains a large protein complex that functions in inner membrane organization and formation of membrane contact sites. The complex was variably named the mitochondrial contact site complex, mitochondrial inner membrane organizing system, mitochondrial organizing structure, or Mitofilin/Fcj1 complex. To facilitate future studies, we propose to unify the nomenclature and term the complex “mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system” and its subunits Mic10 to Mic60.

MINOS1 is a conserved component of mitofilin complexes and required for mitochondrial function and cristae organization

MINOS1/Mio10, a conserved mitochondrial protein, is required for mitochondrial inner membrane organization and cristae morphology. MINOS1/Mio10 is a novel constituent of the mitofilin/Fcj1 complex of the inner membrane, linking the morphology phenotype of the mutant to the activity of the mitochondrial inner membrane organizing complex.

STED super-resolution microscopy reveals an array of MINOS clusters along human mitochondria

The mitochondrial inner membrane organizing system (MINOS) is a conserved large hetero-oligomeric protein complex in the mitochondrial inner membrane, crucial for the maintenance of cristae morphology. MINOS has been suggested to represent the core of an extended protein network that controls mitochondrial function and structure, and has been linked to several human diseases. The spatial arrangement of MINOS within mitochondria is ill-defined, however. Using super-resolution stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and immunogold electron microscopy, we determined the distribution of three known human MINOS subunits (mitofilin, MINOS1, and CHCHD3) in mammalian cells. Super-resolution microscopy revealed that all three subunits form similar clusters within mitochondria, and that MINOS is more abundant in mitochondria around the nucleus than in peripheral mitochondria. At the submitochondrial level, mitofilin, a core MINOS subunit, is preferentially localized at cristae junctions. In primary human fibroblasts, mitofilin labeling uncovered a regularly spaced pattern of clusters arranged in parallel to the cell growth surfaces. We suggest that this array of MINOS complexes might explain the observed phenomenon of largely horizontally arranged cristae junctions that connect the inner boundary membrane to lamellar cristae. The super-resolution images demonstrate an unexpectedly high level of regularity in the nanoscale distribution of the MINOS complex in human mitochondria, supporting an integrating role of MINOS in the structural organization of the organelle.

Coa3 and Cox14 are essential for negative feedback regulation of COX1 translation in mitochondria

Coa3 and Cox14 form assembly intermediates with newly synthesized Cox1 and are required for association of the Mss51 translational activator with these complexes.

Ribosome-binding Proteins Mdm38 and Mba1 Display Overlapping Functions for Regulation of Mitochondrial Translation

Here we report that Mdm38 and Mba1 display overlapping functions in mitochondrial protein expression. Both Mdm38 and Mba1 interact with mitochondrial ribosomes and are required for translation of COX1 and cytochrome b mRNAs.

The Mitochondrial Oxidase Assembly Protein1 (Oxa1) Insertase Forms a Membrane Pore in Lipid Bilayers

Background: Oxa1 mediates the insertion of mitochondrion-encoded precursors into the inner mitochondrial membrane. Results: Oxa1 forms a voltage- and substrate-dependent membrane pore. Conclusion: The channel properties of the Oxa1 pore are compatible with the membrane-potential regulated protein insertase. Significance: This is the first report on the pore-forming capacity of Oxa1, providing mechanistic insight into the insertase mechanism of Oxa1. The inner membrane of mitochondria is especially protein-rich. To direct proteins into the inner membrane, translocases mediate transport and membrane insertion of precursor proteins. Although the majority of mitochondrial proteins are imported from the cytoplasm, core subunits of respiratory chain complexes are inserted into the inner membrane from the matrix. Oxa1, a conserved membrane protein, mediates the insertion of mitochondrion-encoded precursors into the inner mitochondrial membrane. The molecular mechanism by which Oxa1 mediates insertion of membrane spans, entailing the translocation of hydrophilic domains across the inner membrane, is still unknown. We investigated if Oxa1 could act as a protein-conducting channel for precursor transport. Using a biophysical approach, we show that Oxa1 can form a pore capable of accommodating a translocating protein segment. After purification and reconstitution, Oxa1 acts as a cation-selective channel that specifically responds to mitochondrial export signals. The aqueous pore formed by Oxa1 displays highly dynamic characteristics with a restriction zone diameter between 0.6 and 2 nm, which would suffice for polypeptide translocation across the membrane. Single channel analyses revealed four discrete channels per active unit, suggesting that the Oxa1 complex forms several cooperative hydrophilic pores in the inner membrane. Hence, Oxa1 behaves as a pore-forming translocase that is regulated in a membrane potential and substrate-dependent manner.

Cooperation between COA6 and SCO2 in COX2 Maturation during Cytochrome c Oxidase Assembly Links Two Mitochondrial Cardiomyopathies

Three mitochondria-encoded subunits form the catalytic core of cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the respiratory chain. COX1 and COX2 contain heme and copper redox centers, which are integrated during assembly of the enzyme. Defects in this process lead to an enzyme deficiency and manifest as mitochondrial disorders in humans. Here we demonstrate that COA6 is specifically required for COX2 biogenesis. Absence of COA6 leads to fast turnover of newly synthesized COX2 and a concomitant reduction in cytochrome c oxidase levels. COA6 interacts transiently with the copper-containing catalytic domain of newly synthesized COX2. Interestingly, similar to the copper metallochaperone SCO2, loss of COA6 causes cardiomyopathy in humans. We show that COA6 and SCO2 interact and that corresponding pathogenic mutations in each protein affect complex formation. Our analyses define COA6 as a constituent of the mitochondrial copper relay system, linking defects in COX2 metallation to cardiac cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

The INA complex facilitates assembly of the peripheral stalk of the mitochondrial F1Fo-ATP synthase.

Mitochondrial F1Fo‐ATP synthase generates the bulk of cellular ATP. This molecular machine assembles from nuclear‐ and mitochondria‐encoded subunits. Whereas chaperones for formation of the matrix‐exposed hexameric F1‐ATPase core domain have been identified, insight into how the nuclear‐encoded F1‐domain assembles with the membrane‐embedded Fo‐region is lacking. Here we identified the INA complex (INAC) in the inner membrane of mitochondria as an assembly factor involved in this process. Ina22 and Ina17 are INAC constituents that physically associate with the F1‐module and peripheral stalk, but not with the assembled F1Fo‐ATP synthase. Our analyses show that loss of Ina22 and Ina17 specifically impairs formation of the peripheral stalk that connects the catalytic F1‐module to the membrane embedded Fo‐domain. We conclude that INAC represents a matrix‐exposed inner membrane protein complex that facilitates peripheral stalk assembly and thus promotes a key step in the biogenesis of mitochondrial F1Fo‐ATP synthase.

MITRAC7 Acts as a COX1-Specific Chaperone and Reveals a Checkpoint during Cytochrome c Oxidase Assembly

Cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the respiratory chain, is assembled from mitochondria- and nuclear-encoded subunits. The MITRAC complex represents the central assembly intermediate during this process as it receives imported subunits and regulates mitochondrial translation of COX1 mRNA. The molecular processes that promote and regulate the progression of assembly downstream of MITRAC are still unknown. Here, we identify MITRAC7 as a constituent of a late form of MITRAC and as a COX1-specific chaperone. MITRAC7 is required for cytochrome c oxidase biogenesis. Surprisingly, loss of MITRAC7 or an increase in its amount causes selective cytochrome c oxidase deficiency in human cells. We demonstrate that increased MITRAC7 levels stabilize and trap COX1 in MITRAC, blocking progression in the assembly process. In contrast, MITRAC7 deficiency leads to turnover of newly synthesized COX1. Accordingly, MITRAC7 affects the biogenesis pathway by stabilizing newly synthesized COX1 in assembly intermediates, concomitantly preventing turnover.