Complex II inactivation is lethal in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Mitochondrial recovery by the UPRmt: Insights from C. elegans

Mitochondria are multifaceted organelles, with such functions as the production of cellular energy to the regulation of cell death. However, mitochondria incur various sources of damage from the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and DNA mutations that can impact the protein folding environment and impair their function. Since mitochondrial dysfunction is often associated with reductions in organismal fitness and possibly disease, cells must have safeguards in place to protect mitochondrial function and promote recovery during times of stress. The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is a transcriptional adaptation that promotes mitochondrial repair to aid in cell survival during stress. While the earlier discoveries into the regulation of the UPRmt stemmed from studies using mammalian cell culture, much of our understanding about this stress response has been bestowed to us by the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Indeed, the facile but powerful genetics of this relatively simple nematode has uncovered multiple regulators of the UPRmt, as well as several physiological roles of this stress response. In this review, we will summarize these major advancements originating from studies using C. elegans.

Mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase function is essential for sperm motility and male fertility

Mitochondrial health is crucial to sperm quality and male fertility, but the precise role of mitochondria in sperm function remains unclear. SDHA is a component of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex and plays a critical role in mitochondria. In humans, SDH activity is positively correlated with sperm quality, and mutations in SDHA are associated with Leigh Syndrome. Here we report that the C. elegans SDHA orthologue SDHA-2 is essential for male fertility: sdha-2 mutants produce dramatically fewer offspring due to defective sperm activation and motility, have hyperfused sperm mitochondria, and disrupted redox balance. Similar sperm motility defects in sdha-1 and icl-1 mutant animals suggest an imbalance in metabolites may underlie the fertility defect. Our results demonstrate a role for SDHA-2 in sperm motility and male reproductive health and establish an animal model of SDH deficiency-associated infertility.

Hijacking Cellular Stress Responses to Promote Lifespan

Organisms are constantly exposed to stress both from the external environment and internally within the cell. To maintain cellular homeostasis under different environmental and physiological conditions, cell have adapted various stress response signaling pathways, such as the heat shock response (HSR), unfolded protein responses of the mitochondria (UPR^MT), and the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPR^ER). As cells grow older, all cellular stress responses have been shown to deteriorate, which is a major cause for the physiological consequences of aging and the development of numerous age-associated diseases. In contrast, elevated stress responses are often associated with lifespan extension and amelioration of degenerative diseases in different model organisms, including C. elegans. Activating cellular stress response pathways could be considered as an effective intervention to alleviate the burden of aging by restoring function of essential damage-clearing machinery, including the ubiquitin-proteosome system, chaperones, and autophagy. Here, we provide an overview of newly emerging concepts of these stress response pathways in healthy aging and longevity with a focus on the model organism, C. elegans.

Cell Biology of the Mitochondrion

Mitochondria are best known for harboring pathways involved in ATP synthesis through the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Major advances in understanding these roles were made with Caenorhabditiselegans mutants affecting key components of the metabolic pathways. These mutants have not only helped elucidate some of the intricacies of metabolism pathways, but they have also served as jumping off points for pharmacology, toxicology, and aging studies. The field of mitochondria research has also undergone a renaissance, with the increased appreciation of the role of mitochondria in cell processes other than energy production. Here, we focus on discoveries that were made using C. elegans, with a few excursions into areas that were studied more thoroughly in other organisms, like mitochondrial protein import in yeast. Advances in mitochondrial biogenesis and membrane dynamics were made through the discoveries of novel functions in mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins. Some of these functions were only apparent through the use of diverse model systems, such as C. elegans Studies of stress responses, exemplified by mitophagy and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, have also benefitted greatly from the use of model organisms. Recent developments include the discoveries in C. elegans of cell autonomous and nonautonomous pathways controlling the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, as well as mechanisms for degradation of paternal mitochondria after fertilization. The evolutionary conservation of many, if not all, of these pathways ensures that results obtained with C. elegans are equally applicable to studies of human mitochondria in health and disease.

Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model for anthelmintic discovery

Parasitic nematodes infect one quarter of the world's population and impact all humans through widespread infection of crops and livestock. Resistance to current anthelmintics has prompted the search for new drugs. Traditional screens that rely on parasitic worms are costly and labour intensive and target-based approaches have failed to yield novel anthelmintics. Here, we present our screen of 67,012 compounds to identify those that kill the non-parasitic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We then rescreen our hits in two parasitic nematode species and two vertebrate models (HEK293 cells and zebrafish), and identify 30 structurally distinct anthelmintic lead molecules. Genetic screens of 19 million C. elegans mutants reveal those nematicides for which the generation of resistance is and is not likely. We identify the target of one lead with nematode specificity and nanomolar potency as complex II of the electron transport chain. This work establishes C. elegans as an effective and cost-efficient model system for anthelmintic discovery.

The paradox of mitochondrial dysfunction and extended longevity

Mitochondria play numerous, essential roles in the life of eukaryotes. Disruption of mitochondrial function in humans is often pathological or even lethal. Surprisingly, in some organisms mitochondrial dysfunction can result in life extension. This paradox has been studied most extensively in the long-lived Mit mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In this review, we explore the major responses that are activated following mitochondrial dysfunction in these animals and how these responses potentially act to extend their life. We focus our attention on five broad areas of current research--reactive oxygen species signaling, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, autophagy, metabolic adaptation, and the roles played by various transcription factors. Lastly, we also examine why disruption of complexes I and II differ in their ability to induce the Mit phenotype and extend lifespan.

Model animals for the study of oxidative stress from complex II

Mitochondria play a role of energy production and produce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially superoxide anion (O2(-)) as a byproduct of energy metabolism at the same time. O2(-) is converted from oxygen and is overproduced by excessive electron leakage from the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It is well known that mitochondrial complexes I and III in the electron transport system are the major endogenous ROS sources. We have previously demonstrated that mutations in complex II can result in excessive ROS (specifically in SDHC: G71E in Caenorhabditis elegans, I71E in Drosophila and V69E in mouse). Moreover, this results in premature death in C. elegans and Drosophila as well as tumorigenesis in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. In humans, it has been reported that mutations in SDHB, SDHC or SDHD, which are the subunits of mitochondrial complex II, often result in inherited head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs). Recently, we established Tet-mev-1 conditional transgenic mice using our uniquely developed Tet-On/Off system, which can induce the mutated SDHC gene to be equally and competitively expressed compared to the endogenous wild-type SDHC gene. These mice experienced mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction that resulted in oxidative stress. The mitochondrial oxidative stress caused excessive apoptosis in several tissues leading to low-birth-weight infants and growth retardation during neonatal developmental phase in Tet-mev-1 mice. Tet-mev-1 mice also displayed precocious age-dependent corneal physiological changes, delayed corneal epithelialization, decreased corneal endothelial cells, thickened Descemet's membrane and thinning of parenchyma with corneal pathological dysfunctions such as keratitis, Fuchs' corneal dystrophy (FCD) and probably keratoconus after the normal development and growth phase. Here, we review the relationships between mitochondrial oxidative stress and phenomena in mev-1 animal models with mitochondrial complex II SDHC mutations. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory complex II: Role in cellular physiology and disease.

Mitochondrial superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) inducible "mev-1" animal models for aging research

Most intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) that is converted from oxygen, are overproduced by excessive electron leakage from the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Intracellular oxidative stress that damages cellular components can contribute to lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis, and age-related diseases such as cancer and neuronal degenerative diseases. We have previously demonstrated that the excessive mitochondrial O(2)(-) production caused by SDHC mutations (G71E in C. elegans, I71E in Drosophila and V69E in mouse) results in premature death in C. elegans and Drosophila, cancer in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells and infertility in transgenic mice. SDHC is a subunit of mitochondrial complex II. In humans, it has been reported that mutations in SDHB, SDHC or SDHD often result in inherited head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs). Recently, we established Tet-mev-1 conditional transgenic mice using our uniquely developed Tet-On/Off system, which equilibrates transgene expression to endogenous levels. These mice experienced mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction that resulted in O(2)(-) overproduction. The mitochondrial oxidative stress caused excessive apoptosis leading to low birth weight and growth retardation in the neonatal developmental phase in Tet-mev-1 mice. Here, we briefly describe the relationships between mitochondrial O(2)(-) and aging phenomena in mev-1 animal models. [BMB reports 2011; 44(5): 298-305].

Caenorhabditis elegans UCP4 protein controls complex II-mediated oxidative phosphorylation through succinate transport

The novel uncoupling proteins (UCP2-5) are implicated in the mitochondrial control of oxidant production, insulin signaling, and aging. Attempts to understand their functions have been complicated by overlapping expression patterns in most organisms. Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes are unique because they express only one UCP ortholog, ceUCP4 (ucp4). Here, we performed detailed metabolic analyzes in genetically modified nematodes to define the function of the ceUCP4. The knock-out mutant ucp4 (ok195) exhibited sharply decreased mitochondrial succinate-driven (complex II) respiration. However, respiratory coupling and electron transport chain function were normal in ucp4 mitochondria. Surprisingly, isolated ucp4 mitochondria showed markedly decreased succinate uptake. Similarly, ceUCP4 inhibition blocked succinate respiration and import in wild type mitochondria. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of complex I function was selectively lethal to ucp4 worms, arguing that ceUCP4-regulated succinate transport is required for optimal complex II function in vivo. Additionally, ceUCP4 deficiency prolonged lifespan in the short-lived mev1 mutant that exhibits complex II-generated oxidant production. These results identify a novel function for ceUCP4 in the regulation of complex II-based metabolism through an unexpected mechanism involving succinate transport.

A potential biochemical mechanism underlying the influence of sterol deprivation stress on Caenorhabditis elegans longevity

To investigate the biochemical mechanism underlying the effect of sterol deprivation on longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans, we treated parent worms (P0) with 25-azacoprostane (Aza), which inhibits sitosterol-to-cholesterol conversion, and measured mean lifespan (MLS) in F2 worms. At 25 μM (∼EC(50)), Aza reduced total body sterol by 82.5%, confirming sterol depletion. Aza (25 μM) treatment of wild-type (N2) C. elegans grown in sitosterol (5 μg/ml) reduced MLS by 35%. Similar results were obtained for the stress-related mutants daf-16(mu86) and gas-1(fc21). Unexpectedly, Aza had essentially no effect on MLS in the stress-resistant daf-2(e1370) or mitochondrial complex II mutant mev-1(kn1) strains, indicating that Aza may target both insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) and mitochondrial complex II. Aza increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels 2.7-fold in N2 worms, but did not affect ROS production by mev-1(kn1), suggesting a direct link between Aza treatment and mitochondrial ROS production. Moreover, expression of the stress-response transcription factor SKN-1 was decreased in amphid neurons by Aza and that of DAF-28 was increased when DAF-6 was involved, contributing to lifespan reduction.

Reactive Oxygen Species and Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans: Causal or Casual Relationship?

The free radical theory of aging proposes a causal relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and aging. While it is clear that oxidative damage increases with age, its role in the aging process is uncertain. Testing the free radical theory of aging requires experimentally manipulating ROS production or detoxification and examining the resulting effects on lifespan. In this review, we examine the relationship between ROS and aging in the genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, summarizing experiments using long-lived mutants, mutants with altered mitochondrial function, mutants with decreased antioxidant defenses, worms treated with antioxidant compounds, and worms exposed to different environmental conditions. While there is frequently a negative correlation between oxidative damage and lifespan, there are many examples in which they are uncoupled. Neither is resistance to oxidative stress sufficient for a long life nor are all long-lived mutants more resistant to oxidative stress. Similarly, sensitivity to oxidative stress does not necessarily shorten lifespan and is in fact compatible with long life. Overall, the data in C. elegans indicate that oxidative damage can be dissociated from aging in experimental situations.

Deletion of the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase sod-2 extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

The oxidative stress theory of aging postulates that aging results from the accumulation of molecular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during normal metabolism. Superoxide dismutases (SODs) counteract this process by detoxifying superoxide. It has previously been shown that elimination of either cytoplasmic or mitochondrial SOD in yeast, flies, and mice results in decreased lifespan. In this experiment, we examine the effect of eliminating each of the five individual sod genes present in Caenorhabditis elegans. In contrast to what is observed in other model organisms, none of the sod deletion mutants shows decreased lifespan compared to wild-type worms, despite a clear increase in sensitivity to paraquat- and juglone-induced oxidative stress. In fact, even mutants lacking combinations of two or three sod genes survive at least as long as wild-type worms. Examination of gene expression in these mutants reveals mild compensatory up-regulation of other sod genes. Interestingly, we find that sod-2 mutants are long-lived despite a significant increase in oxidatively damaged proteins. Testing the effect of sod-2 deletion on known pathways of lifespan extension reveals a clear interaction with genes that affect mitochondrial function: sod-2 deletion markedly increases lifespan in clk-1 worms while clearly decreasing the lifespan of isp-1 worms. Combined with the mitochondrial localization of SOD-2 and the fact that sod-2 mutant worms exhibit phenotypes that are characteristic of long-lived mitochondrial mutants-including slow development, low brood size, and slow defecation-this suggests that deletion of sod-2 extends lifespan through a similar mechanism. This conclusion is supported by our demonstration of decreased oxygen consumption in sod-2 mutant worms. Overall, we show that increased oxidative stress caused by deletion of sod genes does not result in decreased lifespan in C. elegans and that deletion of sod-2 extends worm lifespan by altering mitochondrial function.

Relationship between mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction, development, and life extension in Caenorhabditis elegans

Prior studies have shown that disruption of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) function in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can result in life extension. Counter to these findings, many mutations that disrupt ETC function in humans are known to be pathologically life-shortening. In this study, we have undertaken the first formal investigation of the role of partial mitochondrial ETC inhibition and its contribution to the life-extension phenotype of C. elegans. We have developed a novel RNA interference (RNAi) dilution strategy to incrementally reduce the expression level of five genes encoding mitochondrial proteins in C. elegans: atp-3, nuo-2, isp-1, cco-1, and frataxin (frh-1). We observed that each RNAi treatment led to marked alterations in multiple ETC components. Using this dilution technique, we observed a consistent, three-phase lifespan response to increasingly greater inhibition by RNAi: at low levels of inhibition, there was no response, then as inhibition increased, lifespan responded by monotonically lengthening. Finally, at the highest levels of RNAi inhibition, lifespan began to shorten. Indirect measurements of whole-animal oxidative stress showed no correlation with life extension. Instead, larval development, fertility, and adult size all became coordinately affected at the same point at which lifespan began to increase. We show that a specific signal, initiated during the L3/L4 larval stage of development, is sufficient for initiating mitochondrial dysfunction–dependent life extension in C. elegans. This stage of development is characterized by the last somatic cell divisions normally undertaken by C. elegans and also by massive mitochondrial DNA expansion. The coordinate effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on several cell cycle–dependent phenotypes, coupled with recent findings directly linking cell cycle progression with mitochondrial activity in C. elegans, lead us to propose that cell cycle checkpoint control plays a key role in specifying longevity of mitochondrial mutants.

The worm Caenorhabditis elegans has afforded major advances in our understanding of aging, in part because a limited number of genetic pathways appear to govern aging in this organism. In this study, we explore one class of long-lived C. elegans, the Mit mutants, which are characterized by defective mitochondrial electron transport chain activity and, hence, ATP production. How disruption of mitochondrial function could lead to life extension has remained a mystery, especially because some of the same genes that cause life extension in worms (including nuo-2 and frh-1), result in pathology in people. Here, we resolve this paradox by showing that life extension of the Mit mutants is limited to a discrete window of electron transport chain dysfunction. We show that the onset of life extension correlates with the disruption of several cell cycle–related phenomena, including larval development, adult size, and fertility and fecundity. We find no overt correlation between levels of oxidative stress and longevity. We propose that life extension in the Mit mutants is intimately connected to DNA checkpoint signaling and that the Mit mutants provide a powerful model for studying human mitochondrial disorders and aging.

Previous publications showed that the inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport in C. elegans both extended and decreased lifespan. Here this paradox is resolved by showing that the fate depends on the degree of inhibition.

Role of oxidative stress from mitochondria on aging and cancer

Much attention has been focused on the hypothesis that oxidative damage plays a part in cellular and organismal aging. Oxygen is initially converted to superoxide anion (O2), one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), by electrons mainly leaked from complex III in the electron transport system present in mitochondria, where it is the major endogenous source of ROS. We have shown that a mutation in a subunit, cytochrome b large subunit (SDHC), of complex II, also results in increasing O2 production and therefore leads to apoptosis and precocious aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. Recently, individuals with an inherited propensity for vascularized head and neck tumors (ie, paragangliomas) have been shown to possess one of several mutations in complex II. To further explore the role of oxidative stress from mitochondria on apoptosis and cancer, we established a transgenic cell line with a point mutation at the ubiquinone binding region in the SDHC gene. As expected, this mutation increased O2 production from complex II and led to excess apoptosis. Moreover, a significant fraction of the surviving cells from the apoptosis were transformed, as evidenced by increased tumor formation, after injection into mice. Oxidative stress results in damage to the cellular components including mitochondria and therefore leads to apoptosis. Furthermore, oxidative stress seems to cause mutations in DNA and leads to cancer. It is suggested that oxidative stress from mitochondria plays an important role in apoptosis, which leads to precocious aging and cancer.

The role of the electron transport SDHC gene on lifespan and cancer

Much attention has been focused on the hypothesis that oxidative damage plays in cellular and organismal aging. It is known that oxygen is initially converted to superoxide anion (O2-), one of reactive oxygen species (ROS), by electron leaked from mainly complex III in the electron transport system present in mitochondria, where it is the major endogenous source of ROS. We have shown that a mutation in a subunit, cytochrome b large subunit (SDHC), of complex II, also results in increasing O2- production and therefore lead to apoptosis and precocious aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. Recently, individuals with an inherited propensity for vascularized head and neck tumors (i.e., paragangliomas) have been demonstrated to contain one of several mutations in complex II. To further explore the role of oxidative stress from mitochondria on apoptosis and cancer, we established a transgenic cell line with a point mutation at the ubiquinone binding region in the SDHC gene. As expected, this mutation increased O2- production from complex II and led to excess apoptosis. Moreover, a significant fraction of the surviving cells from the apoptosis were transformed, as evidenced by increased tumor formation after injection into mice. Oxidative stress results in the damage to the cellular components including mitochondria and, therefore leads to apoptosis. Furthermore, oxidative stress must cause mutations in DNA and leads to cancer. It is suggested that oxidative stress from mitochondria play an important role of both apoptosis, which leads to precocious aging, and cancer.

The role of the electron transport gene SDHC on lifespan and cancer

Much attention has been focused on the hypothesis that oxidative damage contributes to cellular and organismal aging. A mev-1 mutation in the cytochrome b large subunit (SDHC) of complex II results in superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) overproduction and therefore leads to apoptosis and precocious aging in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. To extend these data, a transgenic mouse cell line was constructed with a homologous mutation to mev-1. Many of the mutant nematode phenotypes (e.g., increased superoxide anion production, apoptosis) were recapitulated in the mouse. In addition, a significant fraction of the cells that survived apoptosis were transformed. These data support the notion that oxidative stress from mitochondria play an important role of both apoptosis, which leads to precocious aging, and cancer.

A Mutation in the SDHC Gene of Complex II Increases Oxidative Stress, Resulting in Apoptosis and Tumorigenesis

Intracellular oxidative stress from mitochondria is thought to be important in carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis, but direct experimental proof is limited. In this study, a transgenic mouse cell line (SDHC E69) with a mutated SDHC gene (a subunit of complex II in the electron transport chain) was constructed to test this question. The SDHC E69 cells overproduced superoxide anion (O2−) from mitochondria, had elevated cytoplasmic carbonyl proteins and 8-OH-deoxyguanine in their DNA as well as significantly higher mutation frequencies than wild type. There were many apoptotic cells in this cell line, as predicted by the observed increase in caspase 3 activity, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and structural changes in their mitochondria. In addition, some cells that escaped from apoptosis underwent transformation, as evidenced by the fact that SDHC E69 cells caused benign tumors when injected under the epithelium of nude mice. These results underscore the notion that mitochondrially generated oxidative stress can contribute to nuclear DNA damage, mutagenesis, and ultimately, tumorigenesis.