Michael Lazarou

The ubiquitin kinase PINK1 recruits autophagy receptors to induce mitophagy

Protein aggregates and damaged organelles are tagged with ubiquitin chains to trigger selective autophagy. To initiate mitophagy, the ubiquitin kinase PINK1 phosphorylates ubiquitin to activate the ubiquitin ligase parkin, which builds ubiquitin chains on mitochondrial outer membrane proteins, where they act to recruit autophagy receptors. Using genome editing to knockout five autophagy receptors in HeLa cells, here we show that two receptors previously linked to xenophagy, NDP52 and optineurin, are the primary receptors for PINK1- and parkin-mediated mitophagy. PINK1 recruits NDP52 and optineurin, but not p62, to mitochondria to activate mitophagy directly, independently of parkin. Once recruited to mitochondria, NDP52 and optineurin recruit the autophagy factors ULK1, DFCP1 and WIPI1 to focal spots proximal to mitochondria, revealing a function for these autophagy receptors upstream of LC3. This supports a new model in which PINK1-generated phospho-ubiquitin serves as the autophagy signal on mitochondria, and parkin then acts to amplify this signal. This work also suggests direct and broader roles for ubiquitin phosphorylation in other autophagy pathways.

Mitochondrial membrane potential regulates PINK1 import and proteolytic destabilization by PARL

Differential localization to the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes regulates PINK1 stability and function.

PINK1 phosphorylates ubiquitin to activate Parkin E3 ubiquitin ligase activity

PINK1 phosphorylates ubiquitin, which then binds to Parkin and activates its E3 ligase activity, leading to induction of selective autophagy of damaged mitochondria.

Role of PINK1 Binding to the TOM Complex and Alternate Intracellular Membranes in Recruitment and Activation of the E3 Ligase Parkin

Mutations in the mitochondrial kinase PINK1 and the cytosolic E3 ligase Parkin can cause Parkinsons disease. Damaged mitochondria accumulate PINK1 on the outer membrane where, dependent on kinase activity, it recruits and activates Parkin to induce mitophagy, potentially maintaining organelle fidelity. How PINK1 recruits Parkin is unknown. We show that endogenous PINK1 forms a 700 kDa complex with the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) selectively on depolarized mitochondria whereas PINK1 ectopically targeted to the outer membrane retains association with TOM on polarized mitochondria. Inducibly targeting PINK1 to peroxisomes or lysosomes, which lack a TOM complex, recruits Parkin and activates ubiquitin ligase activity on the respective organelles. Once there, Parkin induces organelle selective autophagy of peroxisomes but not lysosomes. We propose that the association of PINK1 with the TOM complex allows rapid reimport of PINK1 to rescue repolarized mitochondria from mitophagy, and discount mitochondrial-specific factors for Parkin translocation and activation.

Analysis of the Assembly Profiles for Mitochondrial- and Nuclear-DNA-Encoded Subunits into Complex I

ABSTRACT Complex I of the respiratory chain is composed of at least 45 subunits that assemble together at the mitochondrial inner membrane. Defects in human complex I result in energy generation disorders and are also implicated in Parkinsons disease and altered apoptotic signaling. The assembly of this complex is poorly understood and is complicated by its large size and its regulation by two genomes, with seven subunits encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the remainder encoded by nuclear genes. Here we analyzed the assembly of a number of mtDNA- and nuclear-gene-encoded subunits into complex I. We found that mtDNA-encoded subunits first assemble into intermediate complexes and require significant chase times for their integration into the holoenzyme. In contrast, a set of newly imported nuclear-gene-encoded subunits integrate with preexisting complex I subunits to form intermediates and/or the fully assembly holoenzyme. One of the intermediate complexes represents a subassembly associated with the chaperone B17.2L. By using isolated patient mitochondria, we show that this subassembly is a productive intermediate in complex I assembly since import of the missing subunit restores complex I assembly. Our studies point to a mechanism of complex I biogenesis involving two complementary processes, (i) synthesis of mtDNA-encoded subunits to seed de novo assembly and (ii) exchange of preexisting subunits with newly imported ones to maintain complex I homeostasis. Subunit exchange may also act as an efficient mechanism to prevent the accumulation of oxidatively damaged subunits that would otherwise be detrimental to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and have the potential to cause disease.

Assembly of mitochondrial complex I and defects in disease

Isolated complex I deficiency is the most common cause of respiratory chain dysfunction. Defects in human complex I result in energy generation disorders and they are also implicated in neurodegenerative disease and altered apoptotic signaling. Complex I dysfunction often occurs as a result of its impaired assembly. The assembly process of complex I is poorly understood, complicated by the fact that in mammals, it is composed of 45 different subunits and is regulated by both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. However, in recent years we have gained new insights into complex I biogenesis and a number of assembly factors involved in this process have also been identified. In most cases, these factors have been discovered through their gene mutations that lead to specific complex I defects and result in mitochondrial disease. Here we review how complex I is assembled and the factors required to mediate this process.

Human CIA30 is involved in the early assembly of mitochondrial complex I and mutations in its gene cause disease

In humans, complex I of the respiratory chain is composed of seven mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)‐encoded and 38 nuclear‐encoded subunits that assemble together in a process that is poorly defined. To date, only two complex I assembly factors have been identified and how each functions is not clear. Here, we show that the human complex I assembly factor CIA30 (complex I intermediate associated protein) associates with newly translated mtDNA‐encoded complex I subunits at early stages in their assembly before dissociating at a later stage. Using antibodies we identified a CIA30‐deficient patient who presented with cardioencephalomyopathy and reduced levels and activity of complex I. Genetic analysis revealed the patient had mutations in both alleles of the NDUFAF1 gene that encodes CIA30. Complex I assembly in patient cells was defective at early stages with subunits being degraded. Complementing the deficiency in patient fibroblasts with normal CIA30 using a novel lentiviral system restored steady‐state complex I levels. Our results indicate that CIA30 is a crucial component in the early assembly of complex I and mutations in its gene can cause mitochondrial disease.

PINK1 drives Parkin self-association and HECT-like E3 activity upstream of mitochondrial binding

PINK1 activates the HECT-like E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and self-association of Parkin upstream of its translocation to mitochondria and induction of mitophagy.

Deciphering the Molecular Signals of PINK1/Parkin Mitophagy

Functional mitochondria are critically important for the maintenance of cellular integrity and survival. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinsons disease (PD). Two gene products mutated in familial Parkinsonism, PINK1 and Parkin, function together to degrade damaged mitochondria through a selective form of autophagy termed mitophagy. PINK1 accumulates on the surface of dysfunctional mitochondria where it simultaneously recruits and activates Parkins E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. This forms the basis of multiple signaling events that culminate in engulfment of damaged mitochondria within autophagosomes and degradation by lysosomes. This review discusses the molecular signals of PINK1/Parkin mitophagy and the ubiquitin code that drives not only Parkin recruitment and activation by PINK1 but also the downstream signaling events of mitophagy.

INHIBITION OF BAK ACTIVATION BY VDAC2 IS DEPENDENT ON THE BAK TRANSMEMBRANE ANCHOR

Bax and Bak are pro-apoptotic factors that are required for cell death by the mitochondrial or intrinsic pathway. Bax is found in an inactive state in the cytosol and upon activation is targeted to the mitochondrial outer membrane where it releases cytochrome c and other factors that cause caspase activation. Although Bak functions in the same way as Bax, it is constitutively localized to the mitochondrial outer membrane. In the membrane, Bak activation is inhibited by the voltage-dependent anion channel isoform 2 (VDAC2) by an unknown mechanism. Using blue native gel electrophoresis, we show that in healthy cells endogenous inactive Bak exists in a 400-kDa complex that is dependent on the presence of VDAC2. Activation of Bak is concomitant with its release from the 400-kDa complex and the formation of lower molecular weight species. Furthermore, substitution of the Bak transmembrane anchor with that of the mitochondrial outer membrane tail-anchored protein hFis1 prevents association of Bak with the VDAC2 complex and increases the sensitivity of cells to an apoptotic stimulus. Our results suggest that VDAC2 interacts with the hydrophobic tail of Bak to sequester it in an inactive state in the mitochondrial outer membrane, thereby raising the stimulation threshold necessary for permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane and cell death.