Shubhi Srivastava

An antioxidant nanozyme that uncovers the cytoprotective potential of vanadia nanowires.

Nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties has attracted significant interest, although limited information is available on their biological activities in cells. Here we show that V2O5 nanowires (Vn) functionally mimic the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase by using cellular glutathione. Although bulk V2O5 is known to be toxic to the cells, the property is altered when converted into a nanomaterial form. The Vn nanozymes readily internalize into mammalian cells of multiple origin (kidney, neuronal, prostate, cervical) and exhibit robust enzyme-like activity by scavenging the reactive oxygen species when challenged against intrinsic and extrinsic oxidative stress. The Vn nanozymes fully restore the redox balance without perturbing the cellular antioxidant defense, thus providing an important cytoprotection for biomolecules against harmful oxidative damage. Based on our findings, we envision that biocompatible Vn nanowires can provide future therapeutic potential to prevent ageing, cardiac disorders and several neurological conditions, including Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease.

Highly Efficient Glutathione Peroxidase and Peroxiredoxin Mimetics Protect Mammalian Cells against Oxidative Damage

Novel isoselenazoles with high glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and peroxiredoxin (Prx) activities provide remarkable cytoprotection to human cells, mainly by exhibiting antioxidant activities in the presence of cellular thiols. The cytotoxicity of the isoselenazoles is found to be significantly lower than that of ebselen, which is being clinically evaluated by several groups for the treatment of reperfusion injuries and stroke, hearing loss, and bipolar disorder. The compounds reported in this paper have the potential to be used as therapeutic agents for disorders mediated by reactive oxygen species.

Unraveling the Intricate Organization of Mammalian Mitochondrial Presequence Translocases: Existence of Multiple Translocases for Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function

ABSTRACT Mitochondria are indispensable organelles implicated in multiple aspects of cellular processes, including tumorigenesis. Heat shock proteins play a critical regulatory role in accurately delivering the nucleus-encoded proteins through membrane-bound presequence translocase (Tim23 complex) machinery. Although altered expression of mammalian presequence translocase components had been previously associated with malignant phenotypes, the overall organization of Tim23 complexes is still unsolved. In this report, we show the existence of three distinct Tim23 complexes, namely, B1, B2, and A, involved in the maintenance of normal mitochondrial function. Our data highlight the importance of Magmas as a regulator of translocase function and in dynamically recruiting the J-proteins DnaJC19 and DnaJC15 to individual translocases. The basic housekeeping function involves translocases B1 and B2 composed of Tim17b isoforms along with DnaJC19, whereas translocase A is nonessential and has a central role in oncogenesis. Translocase B, having a normal import rate, is essential for constitutive mitochondrial functions such as maintenance of electron transport chain complex activity, organellar morphology, iron-sulfur cluster protein biogenesis, and mitochondrial DNA. In contrast, translocase A, though dispensable for housekeeping functions with a comparatively lower import rate, plays a specific role in translocating oncoproteins lacking presequence, leading to reprogrammed mitochondrial functions and hence establishing a possible link between the TIM23 complex and tumorigenicity.

Redox Modulatory Mn3O4 Nanozyme with Multi-enzyme Activity Provides Efficient Cytoprotection to Human Cells in Parkinson's Disease Model

Nanomaterials with enzyme-like activities (nanozymes) attracts significant interest due to their therapeutic potential for the treatment of various diseases. Herein, we report that a Mn3 O4 nanozyme functionally mimics three major antioxidant enzymes, that is, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the multienzyme activity is size as well as morphology-dependent. The redox modulatory effect of Mn3 O4 plays a crucial role in protecting the cells from MPP+ induced cytotoxicity in a Parkinson disease (PD)-like cellular model, indicating that manganese-based nanomaterials having multi-enzyme activity can robustly rescue the cells from oxidative damage and thereby possess therapeutic potential to prevent ROS-mediated neurological disorders.

Magmas functions as a ROS regulator and provides cytoprotection against oxidative stress-mediated damages.

Redox imbalance generates multiple cellular damages leading to oxidative stress-mediated pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer progression. Therefore, maintenance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis is most important that involves well-defined antioxidant machinery. In the present study, we have identified for the first time a component of mammalian protein translocation machinery Magmas to perform a critical ROS regulatory function. Magmas overexpression has been reported in highly metabolically active tissues and cancer cells that are prone to oxidative damage. We found that Magmas regulates cellular ROS levels by controlling its production as well as scavenging. Magmas promotes cellular tolerance toward oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, thus preventing induction of apoptosis and damage to cellular components. Magmas enhances the activity of electron transport chain (ETC) complexes, causing reduced ROS production. Our results suggest that J-like domain of Magmas is essential for maintenance of redox balance. The function of Magmas as a ROS sensor was found to be independent of its role in protein import. The unique ROS modulatory role of Magmas is highlighted by its ability to increase cell tolerance to oxidative stress even in yeast model organism. The cytoprotective capability of Magmas against oxidative damage makes it an important candidate for future investigation in therapeutics of oxidative stress-related diseases.

The Presence of Multiple Cellular Defects Associated with a Novel G50E Iron-Sulfur Cluster Scaffold Protein (ISCU) Mutation Leads to Development of Mitochondrial Myopathy

Background: Muscle-specific deficiency of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster scaffold protein (ISCU) leads to myopathy. Results: Cells carrying the myopathy-associated G50E ISCU mutation demonstrate impaired Fe-S cluster biogenesis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusion: Reduced mitochondrial respiration as a result of diminished Fe-S cluster synthesis results in muscle weakness in myopathy patients. Significance: The molecular mechanism behind disease progression should provide invaluable information to combat ISCU myopathy. Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are versatile cofactors involved in regulating multiple physiological activities, including energy generation through cellular respiration. Initially, the Fe-S clusters are assembled on a conserved scaffold protein, iron-sulfur cluster scaffold protein (ISCU), in coordination with iron and sulfur donor proteins in human mitochondria. Loss of ISCU function leads to myopathy, characterized by muscle wasting and cardiac hypertrophy. In addition to the homozygous ISCU mutation (g.7044G→C), compound heterozygous patients with severe myopathy have been identified to carry the c.149G→A missense mutation converting the glycine 50 residue to glutamate. However, the physiological defects and molecular mechanism associated with G50E mutation have not been elucidated. In this report, we uncover mechanistic insights concerning how the G50E ISCU mutation in humans leads to the development of severe ISCU myopathy, using a human cell line and yeast as the model systems. The biochemical results highlight that the G50E mutation results in compromised interaction with the sulfur donor NFS1 and the J-protein HSCB, thus impairing the rate of Fe-S cluster synthesis. As a result, electron transport chain complexes show significant reduction in their redox properties, leading to loss of cellular respiration. Furthermore, the G50E mutant mitochondria display enhancement in iron level and reactive oxygen species, thereby causing oxidative stress leading to impairment in the mitochondrial functions. Thus, our findings provide compelling evidence that the respiration defect due to impaired biogenesis of Fe-S clusters in myopathy patients leads to manifestation of complex clinical symptoms.

Mapping Key Residues of ISD11 Critical for NFS1-ISD11 Subcomplex Stability: IMPLICATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MITOCHONDRIAL DISORDER, COXPD19*

Background: NFS1-ISD11 complex is essential for the Fe-S cluster assembly process and the homozygous R68L ISD11 mutation causes the mitochondrial disorder, COXPD19. Results: Putative helix-3 and the C terminus of ISD11 are critical for NFS1-ISD11 subcomplex formation and Fe-S cluster biogenesis. Conclusion: ISD11 interaction is critical for NFS1 stability and its steady-state levels, in vivo. Significance: Identified important ISD11 residues will provides valuable information to understand COXPD19 progression. Biogenesis of the iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster is an indispensable process in living cells. In mammalian mitochondria, the initial step of the Fe-S cluster assembly process is assisted by the NFS1-ISD11 complex, which delivers sulfur to scaffold protein ISCU during Fe-S cluster synthesis. Although ISD11 is an essential protein, its cellular role in Fe-S cluster biogenesis is still not defined. Our study maps the important ISD11 amino acid residues belonging to putative helix 1 (Phe-40), helix 3 (Leu-63, Arg-68, Gln-69, Ile-72, Tyr-76), and C-terminal segment (Leu-81, Glu-84) are critical for in vivo Fe-S cluster biogenesis. Importantly, mutation of these conserved ISD11 residues into alanine leads to its compromised interaction with NFS1, resulting in reduced stability and enhanced aggregation of NFS1 in the mitochondria. Due to altered interaction with ISD11 mutants, the levels of NFS1 and Isu1 were significantly depleted, which affects Fe-S cluster biosynthesis, leading to reduced electron transport chain complex (ETC) activity and mitochondrial respiration. In humans, a clinically relevant ISD11 mutation (R68L) has been associated in the development of a mitochondrial genetic disorder, COXPD19. Our findings highlight that the ISD11 R68A/R68L mutation display reduced affinity to form a stable subcomplex with NFS1, and thereby fails to prevent NFS1 aggregation resulting in impairment of the Fe-S cluster biogenesis. The prime affected machinery is the ETC complex, which showed compromised redox properties, causing diminished mitochondrial respiration. Furthermore, the R68L ISD11 mutant displayed accumulation of mitochondrial iron and reactive oxygen species, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, which correlates with the phenotype observed in COXPD19 patients.

Functional Diversity of Human Mitochondrial J-proteins Is Independent of Their Association with the Inner Membrane Presequence Translocase.

Mitochondrial J-proteins play a critical role in governing Hsp70 activity and, hence, are essential for organellar protein translocation and folding. In contrast to yeast, which has a single J-protein Pam18, humans involve two J-proteins, DnaJC15 and DnaJC19, associated with contrasting cellular phenotype, to transport proteins into the mitochondria. Mutation in DnaJC19 results in dilated cardiomyopathy and ataxia syndrome, whereas expression of DnaJC15 regulates the response of cancer cells to chemotherapy. In the present study we have comparatively assessed the biochemical properties of the J-protein paralogs in relation to their association with the import channel. Both DnaJC15 and DnaJC19 formed two distinct subcomplexes with Magmas at the import channel. Knockdown analysis suggested an essential role for Magmas and DnaJC19 in organellar protein translocation and mitochondria biogenesis, whereas DnaJC15 had dispensable supportive function. The J-proteins were found to have equal affinity for Magmas and could stimulate mitochondrial Hsp70 ATPase activity by equivalent levels. Interestingly, we observed that DnaJC15 exhibits bifunctional properties. At the translocation channel, it involves conserved interactions and mechanism to translocate the precursors into mitochondria. In addition to protein transport, DnaJC15 also showed a dual role in yeast where its expression elicited enhanced sensitivity of cells to cisplatin that required the presence of a functional J-domain. The amount of DnaJC15 expressed in the cell was directly proportional to the sensitivity of cells. Our analysis indicates that the differential cellular phenotype displayed by human mitochondrial J-proteins is independent of their activity and association with Magmas at the translocation channel.

Regulation of mitochondrial protein import by the nucleotide exchange factors GrpEL1 and GrpEL2 in human cells

Mitochondria are organelles indispensable for maintenance of cellular energy homeostasis. Most mitochondrial proteins are nuclearly encoded and are imported into the matrix compartment where they are properly folded. This process is facilitated by the mitochondrial heat shock protein 70 (mtHsp70), a chaperone contributing to mitochondrial protein quality control. The affinity of mtHsp70 for its protein clients and its chaperone function are regulated by binding of ATP/ADP to mtHsp70s nucleotide-binding domain. Nucleotide exchange factors (NEFs) play a crucial role in exchanging ADP for ATP at mtHsp70s nucleotide-binding domain, thereby modulating mtHsp70s chaperone activity. A single NEF, Mge1, regulates mtHsp70s chaperone activity in lower eukaryotes, but the mammalian orthologs are unknown. Here, we report that two putative NEF orthologs, GrpE-like 1 (GrpEL1) and GrpEL2, modulate mtHsp70s function in human cells. We found that both GrpEL1 and GrpEL2 associate with mtHsp70 as a hetero-oligomeric subcomplex and regulate mtHsp70 function. The formation of this subcomplex was critical for conferring stability to the NEFs, helped fine-tune mitochondrial protein quality control, and regulated crucial mtHsp70 functions, such as import of preproteins and biogenesis of Fe–S clusters. Our results also suggested that GrpEL2 has evolved as a possible stress resistance protein in higher vertebrates to maintain chaperone activity under stress conditions. In conclusion, our findings support the idea that GrpEL1 has a role as a stress modulator in mammalian cells and highlight that multiple NEFs are involved in controlling protein quality in mammalian mitochondria.