Human pentatricopeptide proteins: only a few and what do they do?

Epigenetic Activation of PTCD3 Promotes CRC Glutamine Metabolism and Metastasis via IGF2BP2-Mediated SLC38A2 m6A Modification

Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, shifting their programs toward aerobic glycolysis and enhanced glutaminolysis to fulfill the requirements of rapid proliferation. Investigating the mechanisms underlying glutaminolysis and its connection with colorectal cancer (CRC) could aid in identifying novel therapeutic targets. PTCD3, a mitochondrial RNA-binding protein, is implicated in cancer progression, and IGF2BP2 regulates mRNA stability and translation. SLC38A2, a key transporter in glutamine metabolism, plays a crucial role in supporting cancer cell growth. This study aims to develop inhibitors of PTCD3 or SLC38A2 to prevent metabolic changes in cancer cells that facilitate rapid growth and metastasis in CRC. RT-qPCR, western blot, IHC, and IF staining assays confirmed the targeted gene and protein expression. Proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, scratch assay, and Transwell assay, respectively. Co-IP, RIP, and dual-luciferase assays were conducted to investigate the interactions among PTCD3, IGF2BP2, and SLC38A2. A CRC xenograft nude mice model was established for additional in vivo validation. PTCD3 was upregulated in CRC and positively correlated with GLS1. PTCD3 knockdown suppressed CRC cell glutaminolysis, thereby inhibiting CRC migration and invasion. PTCD3 promoted SLC38A2 mRNA stability in an IGF2BP2-dependent manner. KAT2A promoted the expression of PTCD3 by increasing H3K27 acetylation. The inhibitory effect of PTCD3 depletion on the glutaminolysis of CRC cells, as well as CRC cell proliferation and migration, was reversed by SLC38A2 overexpression. The in vivo mouse experiments further confirmed that silencing of PTCD3 inhibited CRC tumor growth. In summary, KAT2A upregulates PTCD3 expression by promoting H3K27 acetylation, which promotes glutaminolysis and metastasis in CRC via enhancing SLC38A2 mRNA stability in an IGF2BP2-dependent manner.

Pentatricopeptide repeat protein targeting CUG repeat RNA ameliorates RNA toxicity in a myotonic dystrophy type 1 mouse model

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant multisystemic disorder caused by the expansion of a CTG-triplet repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. It results in the transcription of toxic RNAs that contain expanded CUG repeats (CUGexp). Splicing factors, such as muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1), are sequestered by CUGexp, thereby disrupting the normal splicing program that is essential for various cellular functions. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, originally found in plants, regulate RNA in organelles by binding in a sequence-specific manner. Here, we designed PPR proteins that specifically bind to the hexamer of CUG repeat RNAs (CUG-PPRs) and showed that CUG-PPR1 could ameliorate RNA toxicity induced by CUGexp in cell models of DM1. A single systemic recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV9) vector-mediated gene delivery of CUG-PPR1 demonstrated long-term therapeutic effects on myotonia and restored splicing activity in a mouse model of DM1. These results highlight the potential of PPR molecules to target pathogenic RNA sequences in DM1 and potentially other RNA-mediated disorders.

A Novel Disulfidptosis-Related Risk Signature for Prognostic Prediction in Patients With Ewing Sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant bone tumor prevalent among children and adolescents. Disulfidptosis represents a novel form of cell death; however, the mechanism of disulfidptosis in ES remains unclear. Our aim is to explore the disulfidptosis-related prognostic signature in ES. Utilizing transcriptomic and clinical data of ES, disulfidptosis-related hub genes (DRHGs) were identified by differential gene expression analysis and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis. A disulfidptosis-related risk score model (DRRS) was constructed based on these DRHGs. The performance of DRRS was assessed using survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Immune cell infiltration in different risk subgroups and correlations between DRRS and antitumor reagents were also analyzed. In this study, we developed a disulfidptosis-related prognostic feature based on LRPPRC (leucine rich pentatricopeptide repeat containing), IQGAP1 (IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1), NDUFS1 (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S1), and TLN1 (talin 1), which may serve as a predictive and independent risk factor for ES. ES patients in the high-risk group exhibited a poorer prognosis, had a higher proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and M2 type of tumor-associated macrophages, and showed heightened sensitivity to some antitumor agents such as nilotinib and olaparib. This study is the first to construct a disulfidptosis-related prognostic signature that may predict the prognosis and immune response in ES patients, thereby providing a new reference for understanding the mechanisms of ES and guiding immunotherapy.

Analysis of mRNA Pentatricopeptide Repeat Domain 1 as a prospective oncogene in clear cell renal cell carcinoma that accelerates tumor cells proliferation and invasion via the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND

Although pentatricopeptide repeat domain 1 (PTCD1) has been found to modulate mitochondrial metabolic and oxidative phosphorylation, its contribution in the growth of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unknown.

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was utilized to examine the transcriptional alterations, patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, as well as pathway activation of PTCD1. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was performed to investigate potential genes that associated with PTCD1. The researchers estimated the relationship between PTCD1, tumor immunology, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Researchers studied how PTCD1 affects the functional behavior of tumor cells in vitro.

RESULTS

PTCD1 expression was greater in ccRCC samples than in normal samples, and expression increased gradually as the stage increased. In TCGA cohorts, higher PTCD1 expression was substantially associated with a poorer clinical stage, histological grading, T stage, N stage, M stage, and survival outcomes. The results of multivariate analysis showed that PTCD1 was an independent variable affecting the survival outcomes of ccRCC patients (p < 0.001). PTCD1 regulated ccRCC progression via various cancer mechanisms including PI3K-Akt signaling, focal adhesion, PD-L1 expression, and PD-1 checkpoints in cancer. WGCNA discovered a significant relationship between PTCD1 and IARS2, LRPPRC, MT-ND2, MT-CO1, MT-CO2, MT-CYB, MT-ATP6, and MT-ND4. Furthermore, PTCD1 expression levels was closely associated with immune infiltrating, immunological checkpoint, EMT, immunotherapy responsiveness, and anti-tumor medication sensitivities. Upregulation of PTCD1 in ccRCC cells resulted in considerably increased cellular invasion and migration. Mechanistically, the upregulation of PTCD1 increased the phosphorylation of AKT at Ser473 and GSK-3β at Ser9, as well as enhanced activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

CONCLUSION

Elevated expression of PTCD1 was associated with malignant biological behaviors and poor outcomes of ccRCC patients, and PTCD1 may accelerate tumor cells proliferation and invasion via the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway. Our findings indicated that PTCD1 had the potential to become a new target for predicting prognosis and targeted therapy.

Comprehensive review on leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (LRPPRC, PPR protein): A burgeoning target for cancer therapy

Leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing (LRPPRC), known as the gene mutations that cause Leigh Syndrome French Canadian, encodes a high molecular weight PPR protein (157,905 Da), LRPPRC. LRPPRC binds to DNA, RNA, and proteins to regulate transcription and translation, leading to changes in cell fate. Increasing evidence indicates that LRPPRC plays a pivotal role in various human diseases, particularly cancer in recent years. Here, we review the structure, function, molecular mechanism, as well as inhibitors of LRPPRC. LRPPRC expression elevates in most cancer types and high expression of LRPPRC predicts the poor prognosis of cancer patients. Targeting LRPPRC suppresses tumor progression by affecting several cancer hallmarks, including signal transduction, cancer metabolism, and immune regulation. LRPPRC is a promising target in cancer research, serving as both a biomarker and therapeutic target. Further studies are required to extend the understanding of LRPPRC function and molecular mechanism, as well as to refine novel therapeutic strategies targeting LRPPRC in cancer therapy.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a fundamental model for research on mitochondrial gene expression: Progress, achievements and outlooks

Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast) is an attractive model for mitochondrial research. The organism resembles human cells in terms of mitochondrial inheritance, mitochondrial transport, sugar metabolism, mitogenome structure and dependence of viability on the mitogenome (the petite-negative phenotype). Transcriptions of these genomes produce only a few polycistronic transcripts, which then undergo processing as per the tRNA punctuation model. In general, the machinery for mitochondrial gene expression is structurally and functionally conserved between fission yeast and humans. Furthermore, molecular research on S. pombe is supported by a considerable number of experimental techniques and database resources. Owing to these advantages, fission yeast has significantly contributed to biomedical and fundamental research. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding S. pombe mitochondrial gene expression, and emphasise the pertinence of fission yeast as both a model and tool, especially for studies on mitochondrial translation.

The deletion of ppr2 interferes iron sensing and leads to oxidative stress response in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Pentatricopeptide repeat proteins are involved in mitochondrial both transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation. Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ppr2 is a general mitochondrial translation factor that plays a critical role in the synthesis of all mitochondrial DNA-encoded oxidative phosphorylation subunits, which are essential for mitochondrial respiration. Our previous analysis showed that ppr2 deletion resulted in increased expression of iron uptake genes and caused ferroptosis-like cell death in S. pombe. In the present work, we showed that deletion of ppr2 reduced viability on glycerol- and galactose-containing media.Php4 is a transcription repressor that regulates iron homeostasis in fission yeast. We found that in the ppr2 deletion strain, Php4 was constitutively active and accumulated in the nucleus in the stationary phase. We also found that deletion of ppr2 decreased the ferroptosis-related protein Gpx1 in the mitochondria. Overexpression of Gpx1 improves the viability of Δppr2 cells. We showed that the deletion of ppr2 increased the production of ROS, downregulated heme synthesis and iron-sulfur cluster proteins, and induced stress proteins. Finally, we observed the nuclear accumulation of Pap1-GFP and Sty1-GFP, suggesting that Sty1 and Pap1 in response to cellular stress in the ppr2 deletion strain. These results suggest thatppr2 deletion may cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which is likely to lead to iron-sensing defect and iron starvation response, resulting in perturbation of iron homeostasis and increased hydroxyl radical production. The increased hydroxyl radical production triggers cellular responses in theppr2 deletion strain.

Sls1 and Mtf2 mediate the assembly of the Mrh5C complex required for activation of cox1 mRNA translation

Mitochondrial translation depends on mRNA-specific activators. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, DEAD-box protein Mrh5, pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein Ppr4, Mtf2, and Sls1 form a stable complex (designated Mrh5C) required for translation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded cox1 mRNA, the largest subunit of the cytochrome c oxidase complex. However, how Mrh5C is formed and what role Mrh5C plays in cox1 mRNA translation have not been reported. To address these questions, we investigated the role of individual Mrh5C subunits in the assembly and function of Mrh5C. Our results revealed that Mtf2 and Sls1 form a subcomplex that serves as a scaffold to bring Mrh5 and Ppr4 together. Mrh5C binds to the small subunit of the mitoribosome (mtSSU), but each subunit could not bind to the mtSSU independently. Importantly, Mrh5C is required for the association of cox1 mRNA with the mtSSU. Finally, we investigated the importance of the signature DEAD-box in Mrh5. We found that the DEAD-box of Mrh5 is required for the association of Mrh5C and cox1 mRNA with the mtSSU. Unexpectedly, this motif is also required for the interaction of Mrh5 with other Mrh5C subunits. Altogether, our results suggest that Mrh5 and Ppr4 cooperate in activating the translation of cox1 mRNA. Our results also suggest that Mrh5C activates the translation of cox1 mRNA by promoting the recruitment of cox1 mRNA to the mtSSU.

Mitochondrial RNA maturation

The vast majority of oxygen-utilizing eukaryotes need to express their own mitochondrial genome, mtDNA, to survive. In comparison to size of their nuclear genome, mtDNA is minimal, even in the most exceptional examples. Having evolved from bacteria in an endosymbiotic event, it might be expected that the process of mtDNA expression would be relatively simple. The aim of this short review is to illustrate just how wrong this assumption is. The production of functional mitochondrial RNA across species evolved in many directions. Organelles use a dizzying array of RNA processing, modifying, editing, splicing and maturation events that largely require the import of nuclear-encoded proteins from the cytosol. These processes are sometimes driven by the unusual behaviour of the mitochondrial genome from which the RNA is originally transcribed, but in many examples the complex processes that are essential for the production of functional RNA in the organelle, are fascinating and bewildering.

LRPPRC regulates malignant behaviors, protects mitochondrial homeostasis, mitochondrial function in osteosarcoma and derived cancer stem-like cells

BACKGROUND

Leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat containing (LRPPRC) is a potential oncogene in multiple tumor types, including lung adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cancer. LRPPRC exerts its tumor-promoting effects mainly by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis and inducing oxidative stress. However, the exact role and mechanisms by which LRPPRC acts in osteosarcoma and osteosarcoma-derived cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), which potentially critically contribute to recurrence, metastasis and chemoresistance, are still largely unclear.

METHODS

LRPPRC level in osteosarcoma cells and CSCs were detected by western blot. Effects of LRPPRC on CSCs were accessed after LRPPRC knockdown by introducing lentivirus containing shRNA targeting to LRPPRC mRNA.

RESULTS

we found that LRPPRC was highly expressed in several osteosarcoma cell lines and that LRPPRC knockdown inhibited malignant behaviors, including proliferation, invasion, colony formation and tumor formation, in MG63 and U2OS cells. Enriched CSCs derived from MG63 and U2OS cells presented upregulated LRPPRC levels compared to parental cells (PCs), and LRPPRC knockdown markedly decreased the sphere-forming capacity. These findings demonstrate that LRPPRC knockdown decreased stemness in CSCs. Consistent with a previous report, LRPPRC knockdown decreased the expression levels of FOXM1 and its downstream target genes, including PRDX3, MnSOD and catalase, which are responsible for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Expectedly, LRPPRC knockdown increased the accumulation of ROS in osteosarcoma and osteosarcoma-derived CSCs under hypoxic conditions due to the decrease in ROS scavenging proteins. Moreover, LRPPRC knockdown sensitized osteosarcomas and CSCs against carboplatin, a ROS-inducing chemoagent, and promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, LRPPRC knockdown significantly decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, disturbed mitochondrial homeostasis and led to mitochondrial dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these findings indicated that LRPPRC exerts critical roles in regulating mitochondrial homeostasis, mitochondrial function and tumorigenesis in osteosarcomas and osteosarcoma-derived CSCs. This suggests that LRPPRC might be a promising therapeutic target for osteosarcomas.

A seven-transmembrane protein-TM7SF3, resides in nuclear speckles and regulates alternative splicing

The seven-transmembrane superfamily member 3 protein (TM7SF3) is a p53-regulated homeostatic factor that attenuates cellular stress and the unfolded protein response. Here we show that TM7SF3 localizes to nuclear speckles; eukaryotic nuclear bodies enriched in splicing factors. This unexpected location for a trans -membranal protein enables formation of stable complexes between TM7SF3 and pre-mRNA splicing factors including DHX15, LARP7, HNRNPU, RBM14, and HNRNPK. Indeed, TM7SF3 regulates alternative splicing of >330 genes, mainly at the 3'end of introns by directly modulating the activity of splicing factors such as HNRNPK. These effects are observed both in cell lines and primary human pancreatic islets. Accordingly, silencing of TM7SF3 results in differential expression of 1465 genes (about 7% of the human genome); with 844 and 621 genes being up- or down-regulated, respectively. Our findings implicate TM7SF3, as a resident protein of nuclear speckles and suggest a role for seven-transmembrane proteins as regulators of alternative splicing.

Pentatricopeptide Protein PTCD2 Regulates COIII Translation in Mitochondria of the HeLa Cell Line

Protein biosynthesis in mitochondria is tightly coupled with assembly of inner membrane complexes and therefore must be coordinated with cytosolic translation of the mRNAs corresponding to the subunits which are encoded in the nucleus. Molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of mitochondrial translation remain unclear despite recent advances in structural biology. Until now, only one translational regulator of protein biosynthesis in mammalian mitochondria is known-protein TACO1, which regulates translation of COI mRNA. Here we describe the function of pentatricopeptide-containing protein PTCD2 as a translational regulator of another mitochondrially encoded subunit of cytochrome c oxidase-COIII in the HeLa cell line. Deletion of the PTCD2 gene leads to significant decrease in COIII translation efficiency and impairment in CIV activity. Additionally, we show that PTCD2 protein is partially co-sedimentates with associated mitochondrial ribosome and associates with mitochondrial ribosome proteins in pull-down assays. These data allow concluding that PTCD2 is a specific translational regulator of COIII which attracts the mRNA to the mitochondrial ribosome.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe MAP kinase Sty1 promotes survival of Δppr10 cells with defective mitochondrial protein synthesis

Deletion of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe pentatricopeptide repeat gene ppr10 severely impairs mitochondrial translation, resulting in defective oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). ppr10 deletion also induces iron starvation response, resulting in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and reduced viability under fermentative conditions. S. pombe has two principal stress-response pathways, which are mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase Sty1 and the basic leucine zipper transcription factor Pap1, respectively. In this study, we examined the roles of Sty1 and Pap1 in the cellular response to the mitochondrial translation defect caused by ppr10 deletion. We found that ppr10 deletion resulted in two waves of stress protein activation. The early response occurred in exponential phase and resulted in the expression of a subset of stress proteins including Gst2 and Obr1. The upregulation of some of these stress proteins in Δppr10 cells in early response is dependent on the basal nuclear levels of Sty1 or Pap1. The late response occurred in early stationary phase and coincided with the stable localization of Sty1 and Pap1 in the nucleus, presumably resulting in persistent activation of a large set of stress proteins. Deletion of sty1 in Δppr10 cells caused severe defects in cell division and growth, and further impaired cell viability. Deletion of the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase gene sod2 whose expression is controlled by Sty1 severely inhibited the growth of Δppr10 cells. Overexpression of sod2 improves the viability of Δppr10 cells. Our results support an important role for Sty1 in counteracting stress induced by ppr10 deletion under fermentative growth conditions.

Downregulation of PTCD1 in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Predicts Poor Prognosis and Levels of Immune Infiltration

Pentatricopeptide repeat domain 1 (PTCD1) was reported to regulate mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. However, the effect and mechanism of PTCD1 in the development of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) remain unclear. The databases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) were used to analyze the expression changes, clinical features, and prognostic values of PTCD1. A nomogram was built to predict the prognostic outcomes of BLCA cases. The potential genes interacting with PTCD1 were explored by Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA). The estimation of associations between PTCD1 and tumor mutations, tumor immunities, and m6A methylations was performed. The study found that the gradual decrease of PTCD1 expression was observed with the increase of stage and grade. Low PTCD1 expression was greatly correlated with higher pathological stage, N stage, and poor prognosis in TCGA cohorts; interestingly, low-grade BLCA cases all exhibited high expression of PTCD1. HPA database analysis implied that the expression of PTCD1 protein in BLCA was lower than that in normal bladder tissue, and the protein expression of PTCD1 in high-grade BLCA was lower than that in low-grade BLCA. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that PTCD1 may serve as an independent factor influencing prognosis of BLCA. Mechanistically, PTCD1 played a regulatory role in BLCA progression through multiple tumor-related pathways containing PI3K-Akt signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, oxidative phosphorylation, and extracellular matrix organization. WGCNA reported that PTCD1 had a strong positive correlation with POLR2J, ZNHT1, ATP5MF, PDAP1, BUD31, and COPS6. Besides, the mRNA expression of PTCD1 was negatively associated with immune cells' infiltrations, immune functions, and checkpoints, especially with some m6A methylation regulators in BLCA. In sum, downregulation of PTCD1 expression may be involved in the development of BLCA and remarkably correlated with poor prognosis. Meantime, it showed an influence in immune cell infiltration and may serve as an agreeable prognostic indicator in BLCA.

Generation of a mitochondrial protein compendium in Dictyostelium discoideum

The social ameba Dictyostelium discoideum has emerged as a powerful model to study mitochondrial genetics and bioenergetics. However, a comprehensive inventory of mitochondrial proteins that is critical to understanding mitochondrial processes has yet to be curated. Here, we utilized high-throughput multiplexed protein quantitation and homology analyses to generate a high-confidence mitochondrial protein compendium consisting of 936 proteins. Our proteomic approach, which utilizes mass spectrometry in combination with mathematical modeling, was validated through mitochondrial targeting sequence prediction and live-cell imaging. Our final compendium consists of 936 proteins. Nearly, a third of D. discoideum mitochondrial proteins do not have homologs in humans, budding yeasts, or an ancestral alphaproteobacteria. Additionally, we leverage our compendium to highlight the complexity of metabolic reprogramming during starvation-induced development. Our compendium lays a foundation to investigate mitochondrial processes that are unique in ameba and to understand the functions of conserved mitochondrial proteins in D. discoideum.

LRPPRC regulates redox homeostasis via the circANKHD1/FOXM1 axis to enhance bladder urothelial carcinoma tumorigenesis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are continuously generated mainly by mitochondria, have been proved to play an important role in the stress signaling of cancer cells. Moreover, pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins have been suggested to take part in mitochondrial metabolism. However, the mechanisms integrating the actions of these distinct networks in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) pathogenesis are elusive. In this study, we found that leucine rich pentatricopeptide repeat containing (LRPPRC) was frequently upregulated in UCB and that it was an independent prognostic factor in UCB. We further revealed that LRPPRC promoted UCB tumorigenesis by regulating the intracellular ROS homeostasis. Mechanistically, LRPPRC modulates ROS balance and protects UCB cells from oxidative stress via mt-mRNA metabolism and the circANKHD1/FOXM1 axis. In addition, the SRA stem-loop interacting RNA binding protein (SLIRP) directly interacted with LRPPRC to protect it from ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Notably, we showed that LRPPRC modulated the tumorigenesis of UCB cells in a circANKHD1-FOXM1-dependent manner. In conclusion, LRPPRC exerts critical roles in regulating UCB redox homeostasis and tumorigenesis, and is a prognostic factor for UCB; suggesting that LRPPRC may serve as an exploitable therapeutic target in UCB.

Abnormal Circulating Maternal miRNA Expression Is Associated with a Low (<4%) Cell-Free DNA Fetal Fraction

The present pilot study investigates whether an abnormal miRNA profile in NIPT plasma samples can explain the finding of a low cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fetal fraction (cfDNAff) in euploid fetuses and non-obese women. Twelve women who underwent neoBona^® NIPT with a normal fetal karyotype were studied. Six with a cfDNAff < 4% were matched with a control group with normal levels of cfDNAff > 4%. Samples were processed using the nanostring nCounter^® platform with a panel of 800 miRNAs. Four of the maternal miRNAs, miR-579, miR-612, miR-3144 and miR-6721, had a significant abnormal expression in patients. A data filtering analysis showed that miR-579, miR-612, miR-3144 and miR-6721 targeted 169, 1, 48 and 136 placenta-specific genes, respectively. miR-579, miR-3144 and miR-6721 shared placenta-specific targeted genes involved in trophoblast invasion and migration pathways (IGF2R, PTCD2, SATB2, PLAC8). Moreover, the miRNA target genes encoded proteins localized in the placenta and involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, including chorion-specific transcription factor GCMa, PRG2, Lin-28 Homolog B and IGFBP1. In conclusion, aberrant maternal miRNA expression in circulating plasma could be a source of dysregulating trophoblast invasion and migration and could represent a novel cause of a low cfDNAff in the sera of pregnant women at the time of NIPT analysis.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ppr10 and Mpa1 together mediate mitochondrial translational initiation

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are a large family of proteins that act primarily at different posttranscriptional steps of organellar gene expression. We have previously found that the Schizosaccharomyces pombe PPR protein mpal10 interacts with mitochondrial translational activator Mpa1, and both are essential for mitochondrial protein synthesis. However, it is unclear how these two proteins function in mitochondrial protein synthesis in S. pombe. In this study, we further investigated the role of Ppr10 and Mpa1 in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Mitochondrial translational initiation requires two initiation factors, Mti2 and Mti3, which bind to the small subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome (mt-SSU) during the formation of the mitochondrial translational initiation complex. Using sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis, we found that disruption of ppr10, mpa1, or the PPR motifs in Ppr10 impairs the association of Mti2 and Mti3 with the mt-SSU, suggesting that both Ppr10 and Mpa1 may be required for the interaction of Mti2 and Mti3 with the mt-SSU during the assembly of mitochondrial translational initiation complex. Loss of Ppr10 perturbs the association of mitochondrially encoded cytochrome b (cob1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mRNAs with assembled mitochondrial ribosomes. Proteomic analysis revealed that a fraction of Ppr10 and Mpa1 copurified with a subset of mitoribosomal proteins. The PPR motifs of Ppr10 are necessary for its interaction with Mpa1 and that disruption of these PPR motifs impairs mitochondrial protein synthesis. Our results suggest that Ppr10 and Mpa1 function together to mediate mitochondrial translational initiation.

The Mitochondrial Ribosome: A World of Opportunities for Mitochondrial Dysfunction Toward Parkinson's Disease

Significance: Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) are organelles that translate mitochondrial messenger RNA in the matrix and, in mammals, have evolved to translate 13 polypeptides of the pathway that performs oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Although a number of devastating diseases result from defects in this mitochondrial translation apparatus, most are associated with genetic mutations and little is known about allelopathic defects caused by antibiotics, toxins, or nonproteinogenic amino acids. Recent Advances: The levels of mitochondrial ribosomal subunits 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in cells/tissues from patients carrying mutations in these genes have been associated with alterations in mitochondrial translation efficiency and with impaired OXPHOS activities, as well as with the severity of clinical phenotypes. In recent decades, important studies revealed a prominent role of mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the involvement of mitoribosomes remains largely unknown. Critical Issues: Considering that mitoribosomal structure and function can determine the efficiency of OXPHOS and that an impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain is a common finding in PD, we argue that the mitoribosome may be key to disease onset and progression. With this review, we comprehensively integrate the available knowledge on the composition, assembly, and role of the mitoribosome in mitochondrial efficiency, reflecting on its possible involvement in the etiopathogenesis of this epidemic disease as an appealing research avenue. Future Directions: If a direct correlation between mitoribosome failure and PD pathology is demonstrated, these mitochondrial organelles will provide valuable early clinical markers and potentially attractive targets for the development of innovative PD-directed therapeutic agents.

A restorer-of-fertility-like pentatricopeptide repeat protein promotes cytoplasmic male sterility in Arabidopsis thaliana

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins form a large family of proteins targeted to organelles, where they post-transcriptionally modulate gene expression through binding to specific RNA sequences. Among them, the mitochondria-targeted restorer-of-fertility (Rf) PPRs inhibit peculiar mitochondrial genes that are detrimental to male gametes and cause cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Here, we revealed three nuclear loci involved in CMS in a cross between two distant Arabidopsis thaliana strains, Sha and Cvi-0. We identified the causal gene at one of these loci as RFL24, a conserved gene encoding a PPR protein related to known Rf PPRs. By analysing fertile revertants obtained in a male sterile background, we demonstrate that RFL24 promotes pollen abortion, in contrast with the previously described Rf PPRs, which allow pollen to survive in the presence of a sterilizing cytoplasm. We show that the sterility caused by the RFL24 Cvi-0 allele results from higher expression of the gene during early pollen development. Finally, we predict a binding site for RFL24 upstream of two mitochondrial genes, the CMS gene and the important gene cob. These results suggest that the conservation of RFL24 is linked to a primary role of ensuring a proper functioning of mitochondria, and that it was subsequently diverted by the CMS gene to its benefit.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ppr10 is required for mitochondrial translation

The mitochondrial genome encodes key components of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system, whose expression is essential for mitochondrial functions. We have previously shown that deletion of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ppr10 encoding a pentatricopeptide repeat protein severely reduces the mature levels of intron-containing mitochondrial transcripts cox1 and cob1, and severely impairs mitochondrial translation. In this study, we examined the possibility that the reduced levels of Cox1 and Cob1 proteins in cells were due to lowered levels of cox1 and cob1 mRNAs. We found that deletion of ppr10 did not affect the levels of mature cox1 and cob1 mRNAs in a mitochondrial intronless background. However, synthesis of Cox1 and Cob1 proteins were still severely affected by deletion of ppr10 in a mitochondrial intronless background. Consistent with this, we found that deletion of mitochondrial introns could not rescue the respiratory growth defect of Δppr10 cells. Our results reveal that Ppr10 is not required for the stability of cox1 and cob1 mRNAs, and provide further support for the idea that Ppr10 plays a critical role in mitochondrial translation.

Novel LRPPRC compound heterozygous mutation in a child with early-onset Leigh syndrome French-Canadian type: case report of an Italian patient

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial diseases, also known as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) disorders, with a prevalence rate of 1:5000, are the most frequent inherited metabolic diseases. Leigh Syndrome French Canadian type (LSFC), is caused by mutations in the nuclear gene (2p16) leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing (LRPPRC). It is an autosomal recessive neurogenetic OXPHOS disorder, phenotypically distinct from other types of Leigh syndrome, with a carrier frequency up to 1:23 and an incidence of 1:2063 in the Saguenay-Lac-St Jean region of Quebec. Recently, LSFC has also been reported outside the French-Canadian population.

PATIENT PRESENTATION

We report a male Italian (Sicilian) child, born preterm at 28 + 6/7 weeks gestation, carrying a novel LRPPRC compound heterozygous mutation, with facial dysmorphisms, neonatal hypotonia, non-epileptic paroxysmal motor phenomena, and absent sucking-swallowing-breathing coordination requiring, at 4.5 months, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement. At 5 months brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed diffuse cortical atrophy, hypoplasia of corpus callosum, cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, and unfolded hippocampi. Both auditory and visual evoked potentials were pathological. In the following months Video EEG confirmed the persistence of sporadic non epileptic motor phenomena. No episode of metabolic decompensation, acidosis or ketosis, frequently observed in LSFC has been reported. Actually, aged 14 months corrected age for prematurity, the child shows a severe global developmental delay. Metabolic investigations and array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) results were normal. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) found a compound heterozygous mutation in the LRPPRC gene, c.1921-7A > G and c.2056A > G (p.Ile686Val), splicing-site and missense variants, inherited from the mother and the father, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We first characterized the clinical and molecular features of a novel LRPPRC variant in a male Sicilian child with early onset encephalopathy and psychomotor impairment. Our patient showed a phenotype characterized by a severe neurodevelopmental delay and absence of metabolic decompensation attributable to a probable residual enzymatic activity. LRPPRC is a rare cause of metabolic encephalopathy outside of Québec. Our patient adds to and broaden the spectrum of LSFC phenotypes. WES analysis is a pivotal genetic test and should be performed in infants and children with hypotonia and developmental delay in whom metabolic investigations and aCGH are normal.

Yeast pentatricopeptide protein Dmr1 (Ccm1) binds a repetitive AU-rich motif in the small subunit mitochondrial ribosomal RNA

PPR proteins are a diverse family of RNA binding factors found in all Eukaryotic lineages. They perform multiple functions in the expression of organellar genes, mostly on the post-transcriptional level. PPR proteins are also significant determinants of evolutionary nucleo-organellar compatibility. Plant PPR proteins recognize their RNA substrates using a simple modular code. No target sequences recognized by animal or yeast PPR proteins were identified prior to the present study, making it impossible to assess whether this plant PPR code is conserved in other organisms. Dmr1p (Ccm1p, Ygr150cp) is a S. cerevisiae PPR protein essential for mitochondrial gene expression and involved in the stability of 15S ribosomal RNA. We demonstrate that in vitro Dmr1p specifically binds a motif composed of multiple AUA repeats occurring twice in the 15S rRNA sequence as the minimal 14 nt (AUA)₄AU or longer (AUA)₇ variant. Short RNA fragments containing this motif are protected by Dmr1p from exoribonucleolytic activity in vitro. Presence of the identified motif in mtDNA of different yeast species correlates with the compatibility between their Dmr1p orthologs and S. cerevisiae mtDNA. RNA recognition by Dmr1p is likely based on a rudimentary form of a PPR code specifying U at every third position, and depends on other factors, like RNA structure.

K. S, T. S, Sachdeva K, Bathula C, K. V, K. S. N, Damodar S, Dhar SK, Das M. Relative quantification of BCL2 mRNA for diagnostic usage needs stable uncontrolled genes as reference

Dysregulation of BCL2 is a pathophysiology observed in haematological malignancies. For implementation of available treatment-options it is preferred to know the relative quantification of BCL2 mRNA with appropriate reference genes. For the choice of reference genes-(i) Reference Genes were selected by assessing variation of >60,000 genes from 4 RNA-seq datasets of haematological malignancies followed by filtering based on their GO biological process annotations and proximity of their chromosomal locations to known disease translocations. Selected genes were experimentally validated across various haematological malignancy samples followed by stability comparison using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and RefFinder. (ii) 43 commonly used Reference Genes were obtained from literature through extensive systematic review. Levels of BCL2 mRNA was assessed by qPCR normalized either by novel reference genes from this study or GAPDH, the most cited reference gene in literature and compared. The analysis showed PTCD2, PPP1R3B and FBXW9 to be the most unregulated genes across lymph-nodes, bone marrow and PBMC samples unlike the Reference Genes used in literature. BCL2 mRNA level shows a consistent higher expression in haematological malignancy patients when normalized by these novel Reference Genes as opposed to GAPDH, the most cited Reference Gene. These reference genes should also be applicable in qPCR platforms using Taqman probes and other model systems including cell lines and rodent models. Absence of sample from healthy-normal individual in diagnostic cases call for careful selection of Reference Genes for relative quantification of a biomarker by qPCR.BCL2 can be used as molecular diagnostics only if normalized with a set of reference genes with stable yet low levels of expression across different types of haematological malignancies.

A mosquito salivary protein promotes flavivirus transmission by activation of autophagy

Transmission from an infected mosquito to a host is an essential process in the life cycle of mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Numerous studies have demonstrated that mosquito saliva facilitates viral transmission. Here we find that a saliva-specific protein, named Aedes aegypti venom allergen-1 (AaVA-1), promotes dengue and Zika virus transmission by activating autophagy in host immune cells of the monocyte lineage. The AG6 mice (ifnar1^–/–ifngr1^–/–) bitten by the virus-infected AaVA-1-deficient mosquitoes present a lower viremia and prolonged survival. AaVA-1 intracellularly interacts with a dominant negative binder of Beclin-1, known as leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (LRPPRC), and releases Beclin-1 from LRPPRC-mediated sequestration, thereby enabling the initialization of downstream autophagic signaling. A deficiency in Beclin-1 reduces viral infection in mice and abolishes AaVA-1-mediated enhancement of ZIKV transmission by mosquitoes. Our study provides a mechanistic insight into saliva-aided viral transmission and could offer a potential prophylactic target for reducing flavivirus transmission.

Mosquito saliva affects transmission of flaviviruses, but underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, the authors show that Aedes aegypti venom allergen-1 (AaVA-1) promotes dengue and Zika virus transmission by activating autophagy in host immune cells of the monocyte lineage.

The Rice Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein PPR756 Is Involved in Pollen Development by Affecting Multiple RNA Editing in Mitochondria

In land plants, the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins form a large family involved in post-transcriptional processing of RNA in mitochondria and chloroplasts, which is critical for plant development and evolutionary adaption. Although studies showed a number of PPR proteins generally influence the editing of organellar genes, few of them were characterized in detail in rice. Here, we report a PLS-E subclass PPR protein in rice, PPR756, loss of function of which led to the abolishment of RNA editing events among three mitochondrial genes including atp6, ccmC, and nad7. Their defective C-to-U transformation then resulted in improper amino acid retention which could cause abortive pollen development. Furthermore, PPR756 could bind to the three target genes directly and interact with three OsMORFs (multiple organellar RNA editing factors): OsMORF1, OsMORF8-1, and OsMORF8-2. The knock-out plants of PPR756 exhibited retarded growth and greener leaves during the early vegetative stages, along with sterile pollen and lower seed setting at the reproductive stage. These results established a role for PPR756 in rice development, participating in RNA editing of three various transcripts and cooperating with OsMORFs via an editosome manner in rice.

Disruption of ppr3, ppr4, ppr6 or ppr10 induces flocculation and filamentous growth in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are major players in mitochondrial and chloroplast RNA metabolism, which is essential for normal organellar function. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has 10 PPR proteins. We have previously reported that loss of ppr3, ppr4, ppr6 or ppr10 perturbs iron homeostasis leading to accumulation of reactive oxygen species and apoptotic cell death. In the present study, we show that loss of ppr3, ppr4, ppr6 or ppr10 can cause non-sexual flocculation and filamentous growth of cells. Furthermore, expression of a number of genes encoding cell-surface flocculins and cell wall-remodeling enzymes are induced in these ppr-deletion mutants. We also show that Δppr10 cells, and, to a lesser extent, Δppr4 and Δppr6 cells, exhibited increased tolerance to H2O2 toxicity compared with the wild-type strain. Finally, we found that overexpression of genes involved in iron uptake and/or iron homeostasis could cause the flocculation of wild-type cells. Our findings suggest that an elevated level of intracellular iron in the mutant caused by loss of ppr3, ppr4, ppr6 or ppr10 may result in flocculation and filamentous growth in S. pombe.

Arabidopsis translation initiation factors eIFiso4G1/2 link repression of mRNA cap-binding complex eIFiso4F assembly with RNA-binding protein SOAR1-mediated ABA signaling

The translation initiation factor eIF4E-binding protein-mediated regulation of protein translation by interfering with assembly of mRNA cap-binding complex eIF4F is well described in mammalian and yeast cells. However, it remains unknown whether a signaling regulator or pathway interacts directly with any translation initiation factor to modulate assembly of eIF4F in plant cells. Here, we report that the two isoforms of Arabidopsis eIF4G, eIFiso4G1 and eIFiso4G2, interact with a cytoplasmic-nuclear dual-localized pentatricopeptide repeat protein SOAR1 to regulate abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. SOAR1 inhibits interactions of eIFiso4E, eIF4Es, eIF4A1, eIF4B2 and poly(A)-binding protein PAB6 with eIFiso4G1 and eIFiso4G2, thereby inhibiting eIFiso4F/mixed eIF4F assembly and repressing translation initiation. SOAR1 binds mRNA of a key ABA-responsive gene ABI5 and cooperates with eIFiso4G1/2 to repress translation of ABI5. The binding of SOAR1 to ABI5 mRNA is likely to inhibit the interaction of SOAR1 with eIFiso4G1/2, suggesting a regulatory loop. Our findings identify a novel translation initiation repressor interfering with cap-binding complex assembly, and establish a link between cap-binding complex assembly and ABA signaling.

Defects of mitochondrial RNA turnover lead to the accumulation of double-stranded RNA in vivo

The RNA helicase SUV3 and the polynucleotide phosphorylase PNPase are involved in the degradation of mitochondrial mRNAs but their roles in vivo are not fully understood. Additionally, upstream processes, such as transcript maturation, have been linked to some of these factors, suggesting either dual roles or tightly interconnected mechanisms of mitochondrial RNA metabolism. To get a better understanding of the turn-over of mitochondrial RNAs in vivo, we manipulated the mitochondrial mRNA degrading complex in Drosophila melanogaster models and studied the molecular consequences. Additionally, we investigated if and how these factors interact with the mitochondrial poly(A) polymerase, MTPAP, as well as with the mitochondrial mRNA stabilising factor, LRPPRC. Our results demonstrate a tight interdependency of mitochondrial mRNA stability, polyadenylation and the removal of antisense RNA. Furthermore, disruption of degradation, as well as polyadenylation, leads to the accumulation of double-stranded RNAs, and their escape out into the cytoplasm is associated with an altered immune-response in flies. Together our results suggest a highly organised and inter-dependable regulation of mitochondrial RNA metabolism with far reaching consequences on cellular physiology.

Although a number of factors have been implemented in the turnover of mitochondrial (mt) DNA-derived transcripts, their exact functions and interplay with one another is not entirely clear. Several of these factors have been proposed to co-ordinately regulate both transcript maturation, as well as degradation, but the order of events during mitochondrial RNA turnover is less well understood. Using a range of different genetically modified Drosophila melanogaster models, we studied the involvement of the RNA helicase SUV3, the polynucleotide phosphorylase PNPase, the leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat motif-containing protein LRPPRC, and the mitochondrial RNA poly(A) polymerase MTPAP, in stabilisation, polyadenylation, and degradation of mitochondrial transcripts. Our results show a tight collaborative activity of these factors in vivo and reveal a clear hierarchical order of events leading to mitochondrial mRNA maturation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the loss of SUV3, PNPase, or MTPAP leads to the accumulation of mitochondrial-derived antisense RNA in the cytoplasm of cells, which is associated with an altered immune-response in flies.

Lipidomics unveils lipid dyshomeostasis and low circulating plasmalogens as biomarkers in a monogenic mitochondrial disorder

Mitochondrial dysfunction characterizes many rare and common age-associated diseases. The biochemical consequences, underlying clinical manifestations, and potential therapeutic targets, remain to be better understood. We tested the hypothesis that lipid dyshomeostasis in mitochondrial disorders goes beyond mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation, particularly in liver. This was achieved using comprehensive untargeted and targeted lipidomics in a case-control cohort of patients with Leigh syndrome French-Canadian variant (LSFC), a mitochondrial disease caused by mutations in LRPPRC, and in mice harboring liver-specific inactivation of Lrpprc (H-Lrpprc-/-). We discovered a plasma lipid signature discriminating LSFC patients from controls encompassing lower levels of plasmalogens and conjugated bile acids, which suggest perturbations in peroxisomal lipid metabolism. This premise was reinforced in H-Lrpprc-/- mice, which compared with littermates recapitulated a similar, albeit stronger peroxisomal metabolic signature in plasma and liver including elevated levels of very-long-chain acylcarnitines. These mice also presented higher transcript levels for hepatic markers of peroxisome proliferation in addition to lipid remodeling reminiscent of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. Our study underscores the value of lipidomics to unveil unexpected mechanisms underlying lipid dyshomeostasis ensuing from mitochondrial dysfunction herein implying peroxisomes and liver, which likely contribute to the pathophysiology of LSFC, but also other rare and common mitochondrial diseases.

Elevated expression of PTCD3 correlates with tumor progression and predicts poor prognosis in patients with prostate cancer

Pentatricopeptide repeat domain protein 3 (PTCD3) is a mitochondrial RNA-binding protein that serves a role in mitochondrial translation. PTCD3 was originally reported as an oncogene that is involved in breast cancer and lymphoma. However, the expression and function of PTCD3 in prostate cancer (PCa) are unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of PTCD3 and its clinical significance in PCa. Immunohistochemistry and dataset analyses revealed that PTCD3 protein expression levels were enhanced in human PCa tissues and mouse PCa models. PTCD3 expression levels were positively correlated with advanced PCa pathological grade and clinical stage. Additionally, PTCD3 mRNA expression was positively correlated with tissue malignancy, high Gleason score and distant metastasis in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that high PTCD3 levels can predict the increased biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival in all patients with or without metastasis. The overexpression of PTCD3 could be used as an independent prognostic marker of poor BCR-free survival. Immunofluorescence and western blot analysis in human PCa cell lines further confirmed that PTCD3 levels were associated with the hormone independence of PCa. Therefore, the present study revealed that PTCD3 levels may serve as a novel biomarker for PCa prognosis.

Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complexes

Mitochondria are the power stations of the eukaryotic cell, using the energy released by the oxidation of glucose and other sugars to produce ATP. Electrons are transferred from NADH, produced in the citric acid cycle in the mitochondrial matrix, to oxygen by a series of large protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which create a transmembrane electrochemical gradient by pumping protons across the membrane. The flow of protons back into the matrix via a proton channel in the ATP synthase leads to conformational changes in the nucleotide binding pockets and the formation of ATP. The three proton pumping complexes of the electron transfer chain are NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase or complex I, ubiquinone-cytochrome c oxidoreductase or complex III, and cytochrome c oxidase or complex IV. Succinate dehydrogenase or complex II does not pump protons, but contributes reduced ubiquinone. The structures of complex II, III and IV were determined by x-ray crystallography several decades ago, but complex I and ATP synthase have only recently started to reveal their secrets by advances in x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. The complexes I, III and IV occur to a certain extent as supercomplexes in the membrane, the so-called respirasomes. Several hypotheses exist about their function. Recent cryo-electron microscopy structures show the architecture of the respirasome with near-atomic detail. ATP synthase occurs as dimers in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which by their curvature are responsible for the folding of the membrane into cristae and thus for the huge increase in available surface that makes mitochondria the efficient energy plants of the eukaryotic cell.

The FASTK family of proteins: emerging regulators of mitochondrial RNA biology

The FASTK family proteins have recently emerged as key post-transcriptional regulators of mitochondrial gene expression. FASTK, the founding member and its homologs FASTKD1-5 are architecturally related RNA-binding proteins, each having a different function in the regulation of mitochondrial RNA biology, from mRNA processing and maturation to ribosome assembly and translation. In this review, we outline the structure, evolution and function of these FASTK proteins and discuss the individual role that each has in mitochondrial RNA biology. In addition, we highlight the aspects of FASTK research that still require more attention.

Novel LRPPRC Mutation in a Boy With Mild Leigh Syndrome, French-Canadian Type Outside of Québec

Background:

Leigh syndrome, French–Canadian type is unique to patients from a genetic isolate in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Québec. It has also been recently described in 10 patients with LRPPRC mutation outside of Québec. It is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder with fatal metabolic crisis and severe neurological morbidity in infancy caused by LRPPRC mutation.

Methods and Results:

The authors report a boy with a novel LRPPRC compound heterozygous missense mutations c.3130C>T, c.3430C>T, and c.4078G>A found on whole-exome sequencing which correlated with isolated cytochrome c-oxidase deficiency found in skeletal muscle.

Conclusion:

LRPPRC mutation is a rare cause of cytochrome c-oxidase–deficient form of Leigh syndrome outside of Québec. Our patient broadens the spectrum of phenotypes of Leigh syndrome, French–Canadian type. LRPPRC mutation should be considered in children with early childhood neurodegenerative disorder, even in the absence of metabolic crisis. Early evaluation with whole-exome sequencing is useful for early diagnosis and for genetic counseling.

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe PPR protein Ppr10 associates with a novel protein Mpa1 and acts as a mitochondrial translational activator

The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins characterized by tandem repeats of a degenerate 35-amino-acid motif function in all aspects of organellar RNA metabolism, many of which are essential for organellar gene expression. In this study, we report the characterization of a fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe PPR protein, Ppr10 and a novel Ppr10-associated protein, designated Mpa1. The ppr10 deletion mutant exhibits growth defects in respiratory media, and is dramatically impaired for viability during the late-stationary phase. Deletion of ppr10 affects the accumulation of specific mitochondrial mRNAs. Furthermore, deletion of ppr10 severely impairs mitochondrial protein synthesis, suggesting that Ppr10 plays a general role in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Ppr10 interacts with Mpa1 in vivo and in vitro and the two proteins colocalize in the mitochondrial matrix. The ppr10 and mpa1 deletion mutants exhibit very similar phenotypes. One of Mpa1's functions is to maintain the normal protein level of Ppr10 protein by protecting it from degradation by the mitochondrial matrix protease Lon1. Our findings suggest that Ppr10 functions as a general mitochondrial translational activator, likely through interaction with mitochondrial mRNAs and mitochondrial translation initiation factor Mti2, and that Ppr10 requires Mpa1 association for stability and function.

Drosophila protease ClpXP specifically degrades DmLRPPRC1 controlling mitochondrial mRNA and translation

ClpXP is the major protease in the mitochondrial matrix in eukaryotes, and is well conserved among species. ClpXP is composed of a proteolytic subunit, ClpP, and a chaperone-like subunit, ClpX. Although it has been proposed that ClpXP is required for the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, additional roles for ClpXP in mitochondrial biogenesis are unclear. Here, we found that Drosophila leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat domain-containing protein 1 (DmLRPPRC1) is a specific substrate of ClpXP. Depletion or introduction of catalytically inactive mutation of ClpP increases DmLRPPRC1 and causes non-uniform increases of mitochondrial mRNAs, accumulation of some unprocessed mitochondrial transcripts, and modest repression of mitochondrial translation in Drosophila Schneider S2 cells. Moreover, DmLRPPRC1 over-expression induces the phenotypes similar to those observed when ClpP is depleted. Taken together, ClpXP regulates mitochondrial gene expression by changing the protein level of DmLRPPRC1 in Drosophila Schneider S2 cells.

Peptidylarginine Deiminases-Roles in Cancer and Neurodegeneration and Possible Avenues for Therapeutic Intervention via Modulation of Exosome and Microvesicle (EMV) Release?

Exosomes and microvesicles (EMVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures released from cells and participate in cell-to-cell communication via transport of biological molecules. EMVs play important roles in various pathologies, including cancer and neurodegeneration. The regulation of EMV biogenesis is thus of great importance and novel ways for manipulating their release from cells have recently been highlighted. One of the pathways involved in EMV shedding is driven by peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) mediated post-translational protein deimination, which is calcium-dependent and affects cytoskeletal rearrangement amongst other things. Increased PAD expression is observed in various cancers and neurodegeneration and may contribute to increased EMV shedding and disease progression. Here, we review the roles of PADs and EMVs in cancer and neurodegeneration.

Loss of ppr3, ppr4, ppr6, or ppr10 perturbs iron homeostasis and leads to apoptotic cell death in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins characterized by tandem arrays of a degenerate 35-amino-acid repeat belong to a large family of RNA-binding proteins that are involved in post-transcriptional control of organelle gene expression. PPR proteins are ubiquitous in eukaryotes, and particularly prevalent in higher plants. Schizosaccharomyces pombe has 10 PPR proteins. Among them, ppr3, ppr4, ppr6, and ppr10 participate in mitochondrial post-transcriptional processes and are required for mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) function. In the present work, we showed that deletion of ppr3, ppr4, ppr6, or ppr10 led to apoptotic cell death, as revealed by DAPI and Annexin V-FITC staining. These mutants also exhibited elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that deletion of ppr10 affected critical biological processes. In particular, a core set of genes involved in iron uptake and/or iron homeostasis was elevated in the Δppr10 mutant, suggesting an elevated level of intracellular iron in the mutant. Consistent with this notion, Δppr3, Δppr4, Δppr6, and Δppr10 mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to iron. Furthermore, the iron chelator, bathophenanthroline disulfonic acid, but not the calcium chelator EGTA, nearly restored the viabilities of Δppr3, Δppr4, Δppr6, and Δppr10 mutants, and reduced ROS levels in the mutants. These results show for the first time that deletion of a ppr gene leads to perturbation of iron homeostasis. Our results also suggest that disrupted iron homeostasis in Δppr3, Δppr4, Δppr6, and Δppr10 mutants may lead to an increase in the level of ROS and induction of apoptotic cell death in S. pombe.

DATABASE

The RNA-seq data have been deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) BioProject database (accession number SRP091623) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (accession number GSE90144).

Pentatricopeptide Motifs in the N-Terminal Extension Domain of Yeast Mitochondrial RNA Polymerase Rpo41p Are Not Essential for Its Function

The core mitochondrial RNA polymerase is a single-subunit enzyme that in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is encoded by the nuclear RPO41 gene. It is an evolutionary descendant of the bacteriophage RNA polymerases, but it includes an additional unconserved N-terminal extension (NTE) domain that is unique to the organellar enzymes. This domain mediates interactions between the polymerase and accessory regulatory factors, such as yeast Sls1p and Nam1p. Previous studies demonstrated that deletion of the entire NTE domain results only in a temperature-dependent respiratory deficiency. Several sequences related to the pentatricopeptide (PPR) motifs were identified in silico in Rpo41p, three of which are located in the NTE domain. PPR repeat proteins are a large family of organellar RNA-binding factors, mostly involved in posttranscriptional gene expression mechanisms. To study their function, we analyzed the phenotype of strains bearing Rpo41p variants where each of these motifs was deleted. We found that deletion of any of the three PPR motifs in the NTE domain does not affect respiratory growth at normal temperature, and it results in a moderate decrease in mtDNA stability. Steady-state levels of COX1 and COX2 mRNAs are also moderately affected. Only the deletion of the second motif results in a partial respiratory deficiency, manifested only at elevated temperature. Our results thus indicate that the PPR motifs do not play an essential role in the function of the NTE domain of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase.

The Unexpected Diversity of Plant Organelle RNA Editosomes

Flowering plants convert many hundreds of organelle cytidines (Cs) to uridines (Us) during post-transcriptional RNA editing. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins dictate specificity by recognizing RNA sequences near C targets. However, the complete mechanism of the editing machinery is not yet understood. Recently, non-PPR editing factors [RNA editing factor interacting proteins (RIPs)/multiple organellar RNA editing factors (MORFs), organelle RNA recognition motif (ORRM) proteins, organelle zinc-finger (OZ) proteins, and protoporphyrinogen oxidase 1 (PPO1)] have been identified as components of the plant RNA editosome, which is a small RNA-protein complex. Surprisingly, plant editosomes are highly diverse not only with regard to the PPR proteins they contain but also in the non-PPR components that are present. Here we review the most recent progress in the field and discuss the implications of the diversity of plant editosomes for the evolution of RNA editing and for possible future applications.

Dynamics of Human Mitochondrial Complex I Assembly: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurons are extremely energy demanding cells and highly dependent on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. Mitochondria generate the energetic potential via the respiratory complexes I to IV, which constitute the electron transport chain (ETC), together with complex V. These redox reactions release energy in the form of ATP and also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are involved in cell signaling but can eventually lead to oxidative stress. Complex I (CI or NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is the largest ETC enzyme, containing 44 subunits and the main contributor to ROS production. In recent years, the structure of the CI has become available and has provided new insights into CI assembly. A number of chaperones have been identified in the assembly and stability of the mature holo-CI, although they are not part of its final structure. Interestingly, CI dysfunction is the most common OXPHOS disorder in humans and defects in the CI assembly process are often observed. However, the dynamics of the events leading to CI biogenesis remain elusive, which precludes our understanding of how ETC malfunctioning affects neuronal integrity. Here, we review the current knowledge of the structural features of CI and its assembly factors and the potential role of CI misassembly in human disorders such as Complex I Deficiencies or Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

The Cardiomyocyte RNA-Binding Proteome: Links to Intermediary Metabolism and Heart Disease

RNA functions through the dynamic formation of complexes with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in all clades of life. We determined the RBP repertoire of beating cardiomyocytic HL-1 cells by jointly employing two in vivo proteomic methods, mRNA interactome capture and RBDmap. Together, these yielded 1,148 RBPs, 391 of which are shared with all other available mammalian RBP repertoires, while 393 are thus far unique to cardiomyocytes. RBDmap further identified 568 regions of RNA contact within 368 RBPs. The cardiomyocyte mRNA interactome composition reflects their unique biology. Proteins with roles in cardiovascular physiology or disease, mitochondrial function, and intermediary metabolism are all highly represented. Notably, we identified 73 metabolic enzymes as RBPs. RNA-enzyme contacts frequently involve Rossmann fold domains with examples in evidence of both, mutual exclusivity of, or compatibility between RNA binding and enzymatic function. Our findings raise the prospect of previously hidden RNA-mediated regulatory interactions among cardiomyocyte gene expression, physiology, and metabolism.

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mRNA interactome capture and RBDmap reveal the cardiomyocyte RNA-binding proteome

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1,148 RBPs are identified, 393 of which are thus far unique to cardiomyocytes

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Many cardiac RBPs have links to heart disease and mitochondrial metabolism

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Contacts of metabolic enzymes with RNA frequently involve Rossmann fold domains

The process of mammalian mitochondrial protein synthesis

Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is the mechanism whereby ATP, the major energy source for the cell, is produced by harnessing cellular respiration in the mitochondrion. This is facilitated by five multi-subunit complexes housed within the inner mitochondrial membrane. These complexes, with the exception of complex II, are of a dual genetic origin, requiring expression from nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Mitochondrially encoded mRNA is translated on the mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome) and the recent release of the near atomic resolution structure of the mammalian mitoribosome has highlighted its peculiar features. However, whereas some aspects of mitochondrial translation are understood, much is to be learnt about the presentation of mitochondrial mRNA to the mitoribosome, the biogenesis of the machinery, the exact role of the membrane, the constitution of the translocon/insertion machinery and the regulation of translation in the mitochondrion. This review addresses our current knowledge of mammalian mitochondrial gene expression, highlights key questions and indicates how defects in this process can result in profound mitochondrial disease.

The proteome of higher plant mitochondria

Plant mitochondria perform a wide range of functions in the plant cell ranging from providing energy and metabolic intermediates, via coenzyme biosynthesis and their own biogenesis to retrograde signaling and programmed cell death. To perform these functions, they contain a proteome of >2000 different proteins expressed in some cells under some conditions. The vast majority of these proteins are imported, in many cases by a dedicated protein import machinery. Recent proteomic studies have identified about 1000 different proteins in both Arabidopsis and potato mitochondria, but even for energy-related proteins, the most well-studied functional protein group in mitochondria, <75% of the proteins are recognized as mitochondrial by even one of six of the most widely used prediction algorithms. The mitochondrial proteomes contain proteins representing a wide range of different functions. Some protein groups, like energy-related proteins, membrane transporters, and de novo fatty acid synthesis, appear to be well covered by the proteome, while others like RNA metabolism appear to be poorly covered possibly because of low abundance. The proteomic studies have improved our understanding of basic mitochondrial functions, have led to the discovery of new mitochondrial metabolic pathways and are helping us towards appreciating the dynamic role of the mitochondria in the responses of the plant cell to biotic and abiotic stress.

The origin of the supernumerary subunits and assembly factors of complex I: A treasure trove of pathway evolution

We review and document the evolutionary origin of all complex I assembly factors and nine supernumerary subunits from protein families. Based on experimental data and the conservation of critical residues we identify a spectrum of protein function conservation between the complex I representatives and their non-complex I homologs. This spectrum ranges from proteins that have retained their molecular function but in which the substrate specificity may have changed or have become more specific, like NDUFAF5, to proteins that have lost their original molecular function and critical catalytic residues like NDUFAF6. In between are proteins that have retained their molecular function, which however appears unrelated to complex I, like ACAD9, or proteins in which amino acids of the active site are conserved but for which no enzymatic activity has been reported, like NDUFA10. We interpret complex I evolution against the background of molecular evolution theory. Complex I supernumerary subunits and assembly factors appear to have been recruited from proteins that are mitochondrial and/or that are expressed when complex I is active. Within the evolution of complex I and its assembly there are many cases of neofunctionalization after gene duplication, like ACAD9 and TMEM126B, one case of subfunctionalization: ACPM1 and ACPM2 in Yarrowia lipolytica, and one case in which a complex I protein itself appears to have been the source of a new protein from another complex: NDUFS6 gave rise to cytochrome c oxidase subunit COX4/COX5b. Complex I and its assembly can therewith be regarded as a treasure trove for pathway evolution. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Respiratory complex I, edited by Volker Zickermann and Ulrich Brandt.

LRPPRC mutations cause early-onset multisystem mitochondrial disease outside of the French-Canadian population

The French-Canadian variant of COX-deficient Leigh syndrome (LSFC) is unique to Québec and caused by a founder mutation in the LRPPRC gene. Using whole exome sequencing, Oláhová et al. identify mutations in this gene associated with multisystem mitochondrial disease and early-onset neurodevelopmental problems in ten patients from different ethnic backgrounds.

Mitochondrial Complex IV [cytochrome c oxidase (COX)] deficiency is one of the most common respiratory chain defects in humans. The clinical phenotypes associated with COX deficiency include liver disease, cardiomyopathy and Leigh syndrome, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by bilateral high signal lesions in the brainstem and basal ganglia. COX deficiency can result from mutations affecting many different mitochondrial proteins. The French-Canadian variant of COX-deficient Leigh syndrome is unique to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Québec and is caused by a founder mutation in the LRPPRC gene. This encodes the leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat domain protein (LRPPRC), which is involved in post-transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial gene expression. Here, we present the clinical and molecular characterization of novel, recessive LRPPRC gene mutations, identified using whole exome and candidate gene sequencing. The 10 patients come from seven unrelated families of UK-Caucasian, UK-Pakistani, UK-Indian, Turkish and Iraqi origin. They resemble the French-Canadian Leigh syndrome patients in having intermittent severe lactic acidosis and early-onset neurodevelopmental problems with episodes of deterioration. In addition, many of our patients have had neonatal cardiomyopathy or congenital malformations, most commonly affecting the heart and the brain. All patients who were tested had isolated COX deficiency in skeletal muscle. Functional characterization of patients’ fibroblasts and skeletal muscle homogenates showed decreased levels of mutant LRPPRC protein and impaired Complex IV enzyme activity, associated with abnormal COX assembly and reduced steady-state levels of numerous oxidative phosphorylation subunits. We also identified a Complex I assembly defect in skeletal muscle, indicating different roles for LRPPRC in post-transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial mRNAs between tissues. Patient fibroblasts showed decreased steady-state levels of mitochondrial mRNAs, although the length of poly(A) tails of mitochondrial transcripts were unaffected. Our study identifies LRPPRC as an important disease-causing gene in an early-onset, multisystem and neurological mitochondrial disease, which should be considered as a cause of COX deficiency even in patients originating outside of the French-Canadian population.

The transcriptome of Candida albicans mitochondria and the evolution of organellar transcription units in yeasts

Background

Yeasts show remarkable variation in the organization of their mitochondrial genomes, yet there is little experimental data on organellar gene expression outside few model species. Candida albicans is interesting as a human pathogen, and as a representative of a clade that is distant from the model yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Unlike them, it encodes seven Complex I subunits in its mtDNA. No experimental data regarding organellar expression were available prior to this study.

Methods

We used high-throughput RNA sequencing and traditional RNA biology techniques to study the mitochondrial transcriptome of C. albicans strains BWP17 and SN148.

Results

The 14 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and 24 tRNA genes are expressed as eight primary polycistronic transcription units. We also found transcriptional activity in the noncoding regions, and antisense transcripts that could be a part of a regulatory mechanism. The promoter sequence is a variant of the nonanucleotide identified in other yeast mtDNAs, but some of the active promoters show significant departures from the consensus. The primary transcripts are processed by a tRNA punctuation mechanism into the monocistronic and bicistronic mature RNAs. The steady state levels of various mature transcripts exhibit large differences that are a result of posttranscriptional regulation. Transcriptome analysis allowed to precisely annotate the positions of introns in the RNL (2), COB (2) and COX1 (4) genes, as well as to refine the annotation of tRNAs and rRNAs. Comparative study of the mitochondrial genome organization in various Candida species indicates that they undergo shuffling in blocks usually containing 2–3 genes, and that their arrangement in primary transcripts is not conserved. tRNA genes with their associated promoters, as well as GC-rich sequence elements play an important role in these evolutionary events.

Conclusions

The main evolutionary force shaping the mitochondrial genomes of yeasts is the frequent recombination, constantly breaking apart and joining genes into novel primary transcription units. The mitochondrial transcription units are constantly rearranged in evolution shaping the features of gene expression, such as the presence of secondary promoter sites that are inactive, or act as “booster” promoters, simplified transcriptional regulation and reliance on posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2078-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Drosophila melanogaster LRPPRC2 is involved in coordination of mitochondrial translation

Members of the pentatricopeptide repeat domain (PPR) protein family bind RNA and are important for post-transcriptional control of organelle gene expression in unicellular eukaryotes, metazoans and plants. They also have a role in human pathology, as mutations in the leucine-rich PPR-containing (LRPPRC) gene cause severe neurodegeneration. We have previously shown that the mammalian LRPPRC protein and its Drosophila melanogaster homolog DmLRPPRC1 (also known as bicoid stability factor) are necessary for mitochondrial translation by controlling stability and polyadenylation of mRNAs. We here report characterization of DmLRPPRC2, a second fruit fly homolog of LRPPRC, and show that it has a predominant mitochondrial localization and interacts with a stem-loop interacting RNA binding protein (DmSLIRP2). Ubiquitous downregulation of DmLrpprc2 expression causes respiratory chain dysfunction, developmental delay and shortened lifespan. Unexpectedly, decreased DmLRPPRC2 expression does not globally affect steady-state levels or polyadenylation of mitochondrial transcripts. However, some mitochondrial transcripts abnormally associate with the mitochondrial ribosomes and some products are dramatically overproduced and other ones decreased, which, in turn, results in severe deficiency of respiratory chain complexes. The function of DmLRPPRC2 thus seems to be to ensure that mitochondrial transcripts are presented to the mitochondrial ribosomes in an orderly fashion to avoid poorly coordinated translation.

Small kernel 1 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat protein required for mitochondrial nad7 transcript editing and seed development in maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa)

RNA editing modifies cytidines (C) to uridines (U) at specific sites in the transcripts of mitochondria and plastids, altering the amino acid specified by the DNA sequence. Here we report the identification of a critical editing factor of mitochondrial nad7 transcript via molecular characterization of a small kernel 1 (smk1) mutant in Zea mays (maize). Mutations in Smk1 arrest both the embryo and endosperm development. Cloning of Smk1 indicates that it encodes an E-subclass pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein that is targeted to mitochondria. Loss of SMK1 function abolishes the C → U editing at the nad7-836 site, leading to the retention of a proline codon that is edited to encode leucine in the wild type. The smk1 mutant showed dramatically reduced complex-I assembly and NADH dehydrogenase activity, and abnormal biogenesis of the mitochondria. Analysis of the ortholog in Oryza sativa (rice) reveals that rice SMK1 has a conserved function in C → U editing of the mitochondrial nad7-836 site. T-DNA knock-out mutants showed abnormal embryo and endosperm development, resulting in embryo or seedling lethality. The leucine at NAD7-279 is highly conserved from bacteria to flowering plants, and analysis of genome sequences from many plants revealed a molecular coevolution between the requirement for C → U editing at this site and the existence of an SMK1 homolog. These results demonstrate that Smk1 encodes a PPR-E protein that is required for nad7-836 editing, and this editing is critical to NAD7 function in complex-I assembly in mitochondria, and hence to embryo and endosperm development in maize and rice.