Crosstalk between Mitochondrial Protein Import and Lipids.

Mitochondria import about 1000 precursor proteins from the cytosol. The translocase of the outer membrane (TOM complex) forms the major entry site for precursor proteins. Subsequently, membrane-bound protein translocases sort the precursor proteins into the outer and inner membrane, the intermembrane space, and the matrix. The phospholipid composition of mitochondrial membranes is critical for protein import. Structural and biochemical data revealed that phospholipids affect the stability and activity of mitochondrial protein translocases. Integration of proteins into the target membrane involves rearrangement of phospholipids and distortion of the lipid bilayer. Phospholipids are present in the interface between subunits of protein translocases and affect the dynamic coupling of partner proteins. Phospholipids are required for full activity of the respiratory chain to generate membrane potential, which in turn drives protein import across and into the inner membrane. Finally, outer membrane protein translocases are closely linked to organellar contact sites that mediate lipid trafficking. Altogether, intensive crosstalk between mitochondrial protein import and lipid biogenesis controls mitochondrial biogenesis.

Degradation of the low-calorie sugar substitute 5-ketofructose by different bacteria.

There is an increasing public awareness about the danger of dietary sugars with respect to their caloric contribution to the diet and the rise of overweight throughout the world. Therefore, low-calorie sugar substitutes are of high interest to replace sugar in foods and beverages. A promising alternative to natural sugars and artificial sweeteners is the fructose derivative 5-keto-D-fructose (5-KF), which is produced by several Gluconobacter species. A prerequisite before 5-KF can be used as a sweetener is to test whether the compound is degradable by microorganisms and whether it is metabolized by the human microbiota. We identified different environmental bacteria (Tatumella morbirosei, Gluconobacter japonicus LMG 26773, Gluconobacter japonicus LMG 1281, and Clostridium pasteurianum) that were able to grow with 5-KF as a substrate. Furthermore, Gluconobacter oxydans 621H could use 5-KF as a carbon and energy source in the stationary growth phase. The enzymes involved in the utilization of 5-KF were heterologously overproduced in Escherichia coli, purified and characterized. The enzymes were referred to as 5-KF reductases and belong to three unrelated enzymatic classes with highly different amino acid sequences, activities, and structural properties. Furthermore, we could show that 15 members of the most common and abundant intestinal bacteria cannot degrade 5-KF, indicating that this sugar derivative is not a suitable growth substrate for prokaryotes in the human intestine. KEY POINTS: • Some environmental bacteria are able to use 5-KF as an energy and carbon source. • Four 5-KF reductases were identified, belonging to three different protein families. • Many gut bacteria cannot degrade 5-KF.

COX17 acetylation via MOF-KANSL complex promotes mitochondrial integrity and function.

Reversible acetylation of mitochondrial proteins is a regulatory mechanism central to adaptive metabolic responses. Yet, how such functionally relevant protein acetylation is achieved remains unexplored. Here we reveal an unprecedented role of the MYST family lysine acetyltransferase MOF in energy metabolism via mitochondrial protein acetylation. Loss of MOF-KANSL complex members leads to mitochondrial defects including fragmentation, reduced cristae density and impaired mitochondrial electron transport chain complex IV integrity in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. We demonstrate COX17, a complex IV assembly factor, as a bona fide acetylation target of MOF. Loss of COX17 or expression of its non-acetylatable mutant phenocopies the mitochondrial defects observed upon MOF depletion. The acetylation-mimetic COX17 rescues these defects and maintains complex IV activity even in the absence of MOF, suggesting an activatory role of mitochondrial electron transport chain protein acetylation. Fibroblasts from patients with MOF syndrome who have intellectual disability also revealed respiratory defects that could be restored by alternative oxidase, acetylation-mimetic COX17 or mitochondrially targeted MOF. Overall, our findings highlight the critical role of MOF-KANSL complex in mitochondrial physiology and provide new insights into MOF syndrome.

Synthesis of the alternative sweetener 5-ketofructose from sucrose by fructose dehydrogenase and invertase producing Gluconobacter strains.

A promising alternative to high-calorie sugars and artificial sweeteners is the microbially produced fructose derivative 5-ketofructose (5-KF). The key enzyme for biotransformation, fructose dehydrogenase (Fdh), was overproduced in Gluconobacter (G.) oxydans and G. japonicus LMG 26773. Furthermore, the fdh genes were integrated into the chromosome of G. oxydans (G. oxydans Δmgdh::fdh). All mutants showed high fructose oxidation rates forming 5-KF. G. japonicus LMG 26773 fdh was selected for 5-KF production from the cost-efficient and renewable feedstock sucrose because the organism possessed both, a highly active Fdh and an enzyme able to cleave sucrose. However, 5-KF yield was low because the strain formed levan and consumed 5-KF in the second growth phase. Several Gluconobacter strains were screened for sucrose-hydrolyzing enzymes. One of these proteins (Inv1417) was characterized and it was found that the enzyme showed the highest specific activity compared to all mesophilic invertases described so far (Vmax = 2295 ± 243 U mg protein-1). The corresponding gene was expressed in G. oxydans Δmgdh::fdh. The results clearly indicated that both heterologously produced enzymes Fdh and Inv1417 were active in this single-strain system for 5-KF synthesis. Overall 84 ± 2% of the available fructose units of sucrose were converted to 5-KF.