PEX11ß and FIS1 cooperate in peroxisome division independently of mitochondrial fission factor.

Peroxisome membrane dynamics and division are essential to adapt the peroxisomal compartment to cellular needs. The peroxisomal membrane protein PEX11ß (also known as PEX11B) and the tail-anchored adaptor proteins FIS1 (mitochondrial fission protein 1) and MFF (mitochondrial fission factor), which recruit the fission GTPase DRP1 (dynamin-related protein 1, also known as DNML1) to both peroxisomes and mitochondria, are key factors of peroxisomal division. The current model suggests that MFF is essential for peroxisome division, whereas the role of FIS1 is unclear. Here, we reveal that PEX11ß can promote peroxisome division in the absence of MFF in a DRP1- and FIS1-dependent manner. We also demonstrate that MFF permits peroxisome division independently of PEX11ß and restores peroxisome morphology in PEX11ß-deficient patient cells. Moreover, targeting of PEX11ß to mitochondria induces mitochondrial division, indicating the potential for PEX11ß to modulate mitochondrial dynamics. Our findings suggest the existence of an alternative, MFF-independent pathway in peroxisome division and report a function for FIS1 in the division of peroxisomes. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first authors of the paper.

The SUMO protease SENP3 regulates mitochondrial autophagy mediated by Fis1.

Mitochondria are unavoidably subject to organellar stress resulting from exposure to a range of reactive molecular species. Consequently, cells operate a poorly understood quality control programme of mitophagy to facilitate elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria. Here, we used a model stressor, deferiprone (DFP), to investigate the molecular basis for stress-induced mitophagy. We show that mitochondrial fission 1 protein (Fis1) is required for DFP-induced mitophagy and that Fis1 is SUMOylated at K149, an amino acid residue critical for Fis1 mitochondrial localization. We find that DFP treatment leads to the stabilization of the SUMO protease SENP3, which is mediated by downregulation of the E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase CHIP. SENP3 is responsible for Fis1 deSUMOylation and depletion of SENP3 abolishes DFP-induced mitophagy. Furthermore, preventing Fis1 SUMOylation by conservative K149R mutation enhances Fis1 mitochondrial localization. Critically, expressing a Fis1 K149R mutant restores DFP-induced mitophagy in SENP3-depleted cells. Thus, we propose a model in which SENP3-mediated deSUMOylation facilitates Fis1 mitochondrial localization to underpin stress-induced mitophagy.

Transcriptional and post-translational regulation of Arc in synaptic plasticity.

One of the most interesting features of Arc-dependent synaptic plasticity is how multiple types of synaptic activity can converge to alter Arc transcription and then diverge to induce different plasticity outcomes, ranging from AMPA receptor internalisation that promotes long-term depression (LTD), to actin stabilisation that promotes long-term potentiation (LTP). This diversity suggests that there must be numerous levels of control to ensure the temporal profile, abundance, localisation and function of Arc are appropriately regulated to effect learning and memory in the correct contexts. The activity-dependent transcription and post-translational modification of Arc are crucial regulators of synaptic plasticity, fine-tuning the function of this key protein depending on the specific situation. The extensive cross-talk between signalling pathways and the numerous routes of Arc regulation provide a complex interplay of processes in which Arc-mediated plasticity can be broadly induced, but specifically tailored to synaptic activity. Here we provide an overview what is currently known about these processes and potential future directions.

The transcription factor MEF2A plays a key role in the differentiation/maturation of rat neural stem cells into neurons.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are self-renewing multipotent stem cells that can be proliferated in vitro and differentiated into neuronal and/or glial lineages, making them an ideal model to study the processes involved in neuronal differentiation. Here we have used NSCs to investigate the role of the transcription factor MEF2A in neuronal differentiation and development in vitro. We show that although MEF2A is present in undifferentiated NSCs, following differentiation it is expressed at significantly higher levels in a subset of neuronal compared to non-neuronal cells. Furthermore, shRNA-mediated knockdown of MEF2A reduces the number of NSC-derived neurons compared to non-neuronal cells after differentiation. Together, these data indicate that MEF2A participates in neuronal differentiation/maturation from NSCs.

Immunolabeling for Detection of Endogenous and Overexpressed Peroxisomal Proteins in Mammalian Cells.

Peroxisomes are dynamic subcellular organelles in mammals, playing essential roles in cellular lipid metabolism and redox homeostasis. They perform a wide spectrum of functions in human health and disease, with new roles, mechanisms, and regulatory pathways still being discovered. Recently elucidated biological roles of peroxisomes include as antiviral defense hubs, intracellular signaling platforms, immunomodulators, and protective organelles in sensory cells. Furthermore, peroxisomes are part of a complex inter-organelle interaction network, which involves metabolic cooperation and cross talk via membrane contacts. The detection of endogenous and/or overexpressed proteins within a cell by immunolabelling informs us about the organellar and even sub-organellar localization of both known and putative peroxisomal proteins. In turn, this can be exploited to characterize the effects of experimental manipulations on the morphology, distribution, and/or number of peroxisomes in a cell, which are key properties controlling peroxisome function. Here, we present a protocol used successfully in our laboratory for the immunolabelling of peroxisomal proteins in cultured mammalian cells. We present immunofluorescence and transfection techniques as well as reagents to determine the localization of endogenous and overexpressed peroxisomal proteins.

Organelle Membrane Extensions in Mammalian Cells.

Organelles within eukaryotic cells are not isolated static compartments, instead being morphologically diverse and highly dynamic in order to respond to cellular needs and carry out their diverse and cooperative functions. One phenomenon exemplifying this plasticity, and increasingly gaining attention, is the extension and retraction of thin tubules from organelle membranes. While these protrusions have been observed in morphological studies for decades, their formation, properties and functions are only beginning to be understood. In this review, we provide an overview of what is known and still to be discovered about organelle membrane protrusions in mammalian cells, focusing on the best-characterised examples of these membrane extensions arising from peroxisomes (ubiquitous organelles involved in lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species homeostasis) and mitochondria. We summarise the current knowledge on the diversity of peroxisomal/mitochondrial membrane extensions, as well as the molecular mechanisms by which they extend and retract, necessitating dynamic membrane remodelling, pulling forces and lipid flow. We also propose broad cellular functions for these membrane extensions in inter-organelle communication, organelle biogenesis, metabolism and protection, and finally present a mathematical model that suggests that extending protrusions is the most efficient way for an organelle to explore its surroundings.

Generation of Reporter Cell Lines for Endogenous Expression Analysis of Peroxisomal Proteins.

Peroxisomes are multifunctional, ubiquitous, and dynamic organelles. They are responsible for diverse metabolic and physiological functions and communicate with other organelles, including the ER, mitochondria, lipid droplets, and lysosomes, through membrane contact sites. However, despite their importance for healthy cell function, remarkably, little is known about how peroxisomes and peroxisomal proteins are regulated under physiological conditions in human cells. Here, we present a method to generate reporter cell lines to measure endogenous expression of peroxisomal proteins of interest. By CRISPR-mediated knock-in of an easily detectable protein-coding tag in-frame into the relevant genomic loci, endogenous levels of the protein of interest in a cell population can be quantified in a high-throughput manner under different conditions. This has important implications for the fundamental understanding of how peroxisomal proteins are regulated and may reveal the therapeutic potential of modulating peroxisomal protein expression to improve cell performance.

Determinants of Peroxisome Membrane Dynamics.

Organelles within the cell are highly dynamic entities, requiring dramatic morphological changes to support their function and maintenance. As a result, organelle membranes are also highly dynamic, adapting to a range of topologies as the organelle changes shape. In particular, peroxisomes-small, ubiquitous organelles involved in lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species homeostasis-display a striking plasticity, for example, during the growth and division process by which they proliferate. During this process, the membrane of an existing peroxisome elongates to form a tubule, which then constricts and ultimately undergoes scission to generate new peroxisomes. Dysfunction of this plasticity leads to diseases with developmental and neurological phenotypes, highlighting the importance of peroxisome dynamics for healthy cell function. What controls the dynamics of peroxisomal membranes, and how this influences the dynamics of the peroxisomes themselves, is just beginning to be understood. In this review, we consider how the composition, biophysical properties, and protein-lipid interactions of peroxisomal membranes impacts on their dynamics, and in turn on the biogenesis and function of peroxisomes. In particular, we focus on the effect of the peroxin PEX11 on the peroxisome membrane, and its function as a major regulator of growth and division. Understanding the roles and regulation of peroxisomal membrane dynamics necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing knowledge across a range of model species and a number of fields including lipid biochemistry, biophysics and computational biology. Here, we present an integrated overview of our current understanding of the determinants of peroxisome membrane dynamics, and reflect on the outstanding questions still remaining to be solved.

Fission Impossible (?)-New Insights into Disorders of Peroxisome Dynamics.

Peroxisomes are highly dynamic and responsive organelles, which can adjust their morphology, number, intracellular position, and metabolic functions according to cellular needs. Peroxisome multiplication in mammalian cells involves the concerted action of the membrane-shaping protein PEX11ß and division proteins, such as the membrane adaptors FIS1 and MFF, which recruit the fission GTPase DRP1 to the peroxisomal membrane. The latter proteins are also involved in mitochondrial division. Patients with loss of DRP1, MFF or PEX11ß function have been identified, showing abnormalities in peroxisomal (and, for the shared proteins, mitochondrial) dynamics as well as developmental and neurological defects, whereas the metabolic functions of the organelles are often unaffected. Here, we provide a timely update on peroxisomal membrane dynamics with a particular focus on peroxisome formation by membrane growth and division. We address the function of PEX11ß in these processes, as well as the role of peroxisome-ER contacts in lipid transfer for peroxisomal membrane expansion. Furthermore, we summarize the clinical phenotypes and pathophysiology of patients with defects in the key division proteins DRP1, MFF, and PEX11ß as well as in the peroxisome-ER tether ACBD5. Potential therapeutic strategies for these rare disorders with limited treatment options are discussed.

Effects of amyloid-ß on protein SUMOylation and levels of mitochondrial proteins in primary cortical neurons.

Defining the molecular changes that underlie Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an important question in neuroscience. Here, we examined changes in protein SUMOylation, and proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics, in an in vitro model of AD induced by application of amyloid-ß 1-42 (Aß1-42) to cultured neurons. We observed Aß1-42-induced decreases in global SUMOylation and in levels of the SUMO pathway enzymes SENP3, PIAS1/2, and SAE2. Aß exposure also decreased levels of the mitochondrial fission proteins Drp1 and Mff and increased activation of caspase-3. To examine whether loss of SENP3 is cytoprotective we knocked down SENP3, which partially prevented the Aß1-42-induced increase in caspase-3 activation. Together, these data support the hypothesis that altered SUMOylation may play a role in the mechanisms underlying AD.

Sorting nexin-27 regulates AMPA receptor trafficking through the synaptic adhesion protein LRFN2.

The endosome-associated cargo adaptor sorting nexin-27 (SNX27) is linked to various neuropathologies through sorting of integral proteins to the synaptic surface, most notably AMPA receptors. To provide a broader view of SNX27-associated pathologies, we performed proteomics in rat primary neurons to identify SNX27-dependent cargoes, and identified proteins linked to excitotoxicity, epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, and working memory deficits. Focusing on the synaptic adhesion molecule LRFN2, we established that SNX27 binds to LRFN2 and regulates its endosomal sorting. Furthermore, LRFN2 associates with AMPA receptors and knockdown of LRFN2 results in decreased surface AMPA receptor expression, reduced synaptic activity, and attenuated hippocampal long-term potentiation. Overall, our study provides an additional mechanism by which SNX27 can control AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission and plasticity indirectly through the sorting of LRFN2 and offers molecular insight into the perturbed function of SNX27 and LRFN2 in a range of neurological conditions.

Maintaining social contacts: The physiological relevance of organelle interactions.

Membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells form an interactive network to coordinate and facilitate cellular functions. The formation of close contacts, termed "membrane contact sites" (MCSs), represents an intriguing strategy for organelle interaction and coordinated interplay. Emerging research is rapidly revealing new details of MCSs. They represent ubiquitous and diverse structures, which are important for many aspects of cell physiology and homeostasis. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the physiological relevance of organelle contacts. We focus on mitochondria, peroxisomes, the Golgi complex and the plasma membrane, and discuss the most recent findings on their interactions with other subcellular organelles and their multiple functions, including membrane contacts with the ER, lipid droplets and the endosomal/lysosomal compartment.

A Functional SMAD2/3 Binding Site in the PEX11ß Promoter Identifies a Role for TGFß in Peroxisome Proliferation in Humans.

In mammals, peroxisomes perform crucial functions in cellular metabolism, signaling and viral defense which are essential to the viability of the organism. Molecular cues triggered by changes in the cellular environment induce a dynamic response in peroxisomes, which manifests itself as a change in peroxisome number, altered enzyme levels and adaptations to the peroxisomal morphology. How the regulation of this process is integrated into the cell's response to different stimuli, including the signaling pathways and factors involved, remains unclear. Here, a cell-based peroxisome proliferation assay has been applied to investigate the ability of different stimuli to induce peroxisome proliferation. We determined that serum stimulation, long-chain fatty acid supplementation and TGFß application all increase peroxisome elongation, a prerequisite for proliferation. Time-resolved mRNA expression during the peroxisome proliferation cycle revealed a number of peroxins whose expression correlated with peroxisome elongation, including the ß isoform of PEX11, but not the α or γ isoforms. An initial map of putative regulatory motif sites in the respective promoters showed a difference between binding sites in PEX11α and PEX11ß, suggesting that these genes may be regulated by distinct pathways. A functional SMAD2/3 binding site in PEX11ß points to the involvement of the TGFß signaling pathway in expression of this gene and thus peroxisome proliferation/dynamics in humans.

Mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) is a critical regulator of peroxisome maturation.

Peroxisomes are highly dynamic subcellular compartments with important functions in lipid and ROS metabolism. Impaired peroxisomal function can lead to severe metabolic disorders with developmental defects and neurological abnormalities. Recently, a new group of disorders has been identified, characterised by defects in the membrane dynamics and division of peroxisomes rather than by loss of metabolic functions. However, the contribution of impaired peroxisome plasticity to the pathophysiology of those disorders is not well understood. Mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) is a key component of both the peroxisomal and mitochondrial division machinery. Patients with MFF deficiency present with developmental and neurological abnormalities. Peroxisomes (and mitochondria) in patient fibroblasts are highly elongated as a result of impaired organelle division. The majority of studies into MFF-deficiency have focused on mitochondrial dysfunction, but the contribution of peroxisomal alterations to the pathophysiology is largely unknown. Here, we show that MFF deficiency does not cause alterations to overall peroxisomal biochemical function. However, loss of MFF results in reduced import-competency of the peroxisomal compartment and leads to the accumulation of pre-peroxisomal membrane structures. We show that peroxisomes in MFF-deficient cells display alterations in peroxisomal redox state and intra-peroxisomal pH. Removal of elongated peroxisomes through induction of autophagic processes is not impaired. A mathematical model describing key processes involved in peroxisome dynamics sheds further light into the physical processes disturbed in MFF-deficient cells. The consequences of our findings for the pathophysiology of MFF-deficiency and related disorders with impaired peroxisome plasticity are discussed.

Protein SUMOylation regulates insulin secretion at multiple stages.

Type-II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is one of the fastest growing public health issues of modern times, consuming 12% of worldwide health budgets and affecting an estimated 400 million people. A key pathological trait associated with this disease is the failure of normal glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from pancreatic beta cells. Several lines of evidence suggest that vesicle trafficking events such as insulin secretion are regulated by the post-translational modification, SUMOylation, and indeed SUMOylation has been proposed to act as a 'brake' on insulin exocytosis. Here, we show that diabetic stimuli which inhibit GSIS are correlated with an increase in cellular protein SUMOylation, and that inhibition of deSUMOylation reduces GSIS. We demonstrate that manipulation of cellular protein SUMOylation levels, by overexpression of several different components of the SUMOylation pathway, have varied and complex effects on GSIS, indicating that SUMOylation regulates this process at multiple stages. We further demonstrate that inhibition of syntaxin1A SUMOylation, via a knockdown-rescue strategy, greatly enhances GSIS. Our data are therefore consistent with the model that SUMOylation acts as a brake on GSIS, and we have identified SUMOylation of syntaxin 1 A as a potential component of this brake. However, our data also demonstrate that the role of SUMOylation in GSIS is complex and may involve many substrates.

Insulin-dependent GLUT4 trafficking is not regulated by protein SUMOylation in L6 myocytes.

Type-II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is one of the fastest growing public health issues today, consuming 12% of worldwide health budgets and affecting an estimated 400 million people. One of the key pathological traits of this disease is insulin resistance at 'glucose sink' tissues (mostly skeletal muscle), and this remains one of the features of this disease most intractable to therapeutic intervention. Several lines of evidence have implicated the post-translational modification, SUMOylation, in insulin signalling and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. In this study, we examined this possibility by manipulation of cellular SUMOylation levels using multiple different tools, and assaying the effect on insulin-stimulated GLUT4 surface expression in differentiated L6 rat myocytes. Although insulin stimulation of L6 myocytes produced a robust decrease in total cellular SUMO1-ylation levels, manipulating cellular SUMOylation had no effect on insulin-responsive GLUT4 surface trafficking using any of the tools we employed. Whilst we cannot totally exclude the possibility that SUMOylation plays a role in the insulin signalling pathway in human health and disease, our data strongly argue that GLUT4 trafficking in response to insulin is not regulated by protein SUMOylation, and that SUMOylation does not therefore represent a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of insulin resistance.

Extranuclear SUMOylation in Neurons.

Post-translational modification of substrate proteins by SUMO conjugation regulates a diverse array of cellular processes. While predominantly a nuclear protein modification, there is a growing appreciation that SUMOylation of proteins outside the nucleus plays direct roles in controlling synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and adaptive responses to cell stress. Furthermore, alterations in protein SUMOylation are observed in a wide range of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, and several extranuclear disease-associated proteins have been shown to be directly SUMOylated. Here, focusing mainly on SUMOylation of synaptic and mitochondrial proteins, we outline recent developments and discoveries, and present our opinion as to the most exciting avenues for future research to define how SUMOylation of extranuclear proteins regulates neuronal and synaptic function.

MEF2A regulates mGluR-dependent AMPA receptor trafficking independently of Arc/Arg3.1.

Differential trafficking of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) to and from the postsynaptic membrane is a key determinant of the strength of excitatory neurotransmission, and is thought to underlie learning and memory. The transcription factor MEF2 is a negative regulator of memory in vivo, in part by regulating trafficking of the AMPAR subunit GluA2, but the molecular mechanisms behind this have not been established. Here we show, via knockdown of endogenous MEF2A in primary neuronal culture, that MEF2A is specifically required for Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-mediated GluA2 internalisation, but does not regulate AMPAR expression or trafficking under basal conditions. Furthermore, this process occurs independently of changes in expression of Arc/Arg3.1, a previously characterised MEF2 transcriptional target and mediator of mGluR-dependent long-term depression. These data demonstrate a novel MEF2A-dependent mechanism for the regulation of activity-dependent AMPAR trafficking.

Receptor trafficking and the regulation of synaptic plasticity by SUMO.

Timely and efficient information transfer at synapses is fundamental to brain function. Synapses are highly dynamic structures that exhibit long-lasting activity-dependent alterations to their structure and transmission efficiency, a phenomenon termed synaptic plasticity. These changes, which occur through alterations in presynaptic release or in the trafficking of postsynaptic receptor proteins, underpin the formation and stabilisation of neural circuits during brain development, and encode, process and store information essential for learning, memory and cognition. In recent years, it has emerged that the ubiquitin-like posttranslational modification SUMOylation is an important mediator of several aspects of neuronal and synaptic function. Through orchestrating synapse formation, presynaptic release and the trafficking of postsynaptic receptor proteins during forms of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation, long-term depression and homeostatic scaling, SUMOylation is being increasingly appreciated to play a central role in neurotransmission. In this review, we outline key discoveries in this relatively new field, provide an update on recent progress regarding the targets and consequences of protein SUMOylation in synaptic function and plasticity, and highlight key outstanding questions regarding the roles of protein SUMOylation in the brain.