Building momentum through networks: Bioimaging across the Americas.

In September 2023, the two largest bioimaging networks in the Americas, Latin America Bioimaging (LABI) and BioImaging North America (BINA), came together during a 1-week meeting in Mexico. This meeting provided opportunities for participants to interact closely with decision-makers from imaging core facilities across the Americas. The meeting was held in a hybrid format and attended in-person by imaging scientists from across the Americas, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. The aims of the meeting were to discuss progress achieved over the past year, to foster networking and collaborative efforts among members of both communities, to bring together key members of the international imaging community to promote the exchange of experience and expertise, to engage with industry partners, and to establish future directions within each individual network, as well as common goals. This meeting report summarises the discussions exchanged, the achievements shared, and the goals set during the LABIxBINA2023: Bioimaging across the Americas meeting.

The ER-mitochondria Ca2+ signaling in cancer progression: Fueling the monster.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. All major tumor suppressors and oncogenes are now recognized to have fundamental connections with metabolic pathways. A hallmark feature of cancer cells is a reprogramming of their metabolism even when nutrients are available. Increasing evidence indicates that most cancer cells rely on mitochondrial metabolism to sustain their energetic and biosynthetic demands. Mitochondria are functionally and physically coupled to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the major calcium (Ca2+) storage organelle in mammalian cells, through special domains known as mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCS). In this domain, the release of Ca2+ from the ER is mainly regulated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors (IP3Rs), a family of Ca2+ release channels activated by the ligand IP3. IP3R mediated Ca2+ release is transferred to mitochondria through the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU). Once in the mitochondrial matrix, Ca2+ activates several proteins that stimulate mitochondrial performance. The role of IP3R and MCU in cancer, as well as the other proteins that enable the Ca2+ communication between these two organelles is just beginning to be understood. Here, we describe the function of the main players of the ER mitochondrial Ca2+ communication and discuss how this particular signal may contribute to the rise and development of cancer traits.

Keeping zombies alive: The ER-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer in cellular senescence.

Cellular senescence generates a permanent cell cycle arrest, characterized by apoptosis resistance and a pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Physiologically, senescent cells promote tissue remodeling during development and after injury. However, when accumulated over a certain threshold as happens during aging or after cellular stress, senescent cells contribute to the functional decline of tissues, participating in the generation of several diseases. Cellular senescence is accompanied by increased mitochondrial metabolism. How mitochondrial function is regulated and what role it plays in senescent cell homeostasis is poorly understood. Mitochondria are functionally and physically coupled to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the major calcium (Ca2+) storage organelle in mammalian cells, through special domains known as mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs). In this domain, the release of Ca2+ from the ER is mainly regulated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), a family of three Ca2+ release channels activated by a ligand (IP3). IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release is transferred to mitochondria through the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), where it modulates the activity of several enzymes and transporters impacting its bioenergetic and biosynthetic function. Here, we review the possible connection between ER to mitochondria Ca2+ transfer and senescence. Understanding the pathways that contribute to senescence is essential to reveal new therapeutic targets that allow either delaying senescent cell accumulation or reduce senescent cell burden to alleviate multiple diseases.

LFA-1 and kindlin-3 enable the collaborative transport of SLP-76 microclusters by myosin and dynein motors.

Integrin engagement within the immune synapse enhances T cell activation, but our understanding of this process is incomplete. In response to T cell receptor (TCR) ligation, SLP-76 (LCP2), ADAP (FYB1) and SKAP55 (SKAP1) are recruited into microclusters and activate integrins via the effectors talin-1 and kindlin-3 (FERMT3). We postulated that integrins influence the centripetal transport and signaling of SLP-76 microclusters via these linkages. We show that contractile myosin filaments surround and are co-transported with SLP-76 microclusters, and that TCR ligand density governs the centripetal movement of both structures. Centripetal transport requires formin activity, actomyosin contraction, microtubule integrity and dynein motor function. Although immobilized VLA-4 (α4ß1 integrin) and LFA-1 (αLß2 integrin) ligands arrest the centripetal movement of SLP-76 microclusters and myosin filaments, VLA-4 acts distally, while LFA-1 acts in the lamellum. Integrin ß2, kindlin-3 and zyxin are required for complete centripetal transport, while integrin ß1 and talin-1 are not. CD69 upregulation is similarly dependent on integrin ß2, kindlin-3 and zyxin, but not talin-1. These findings highlight the integration of cytoskeletal systems within the immune synapse and reveal extracellular ligand-independent roles for LFA-1 and kindlin-3. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Scalable Total Synthesis, IP3R Inhibitory Activity of Desmethylxestospongin†B, and Effect on Mitochondrial Function and Cancer Cell Survival.

The scalable synthesis of the oxaquinolizidine marine natural product desmethylxestospongin B is based on the early application of Ireland-Claisen rearrangement, macrolactamization, and a late-stage installation of the oxaquinolizidine units by lactam reduction. The synthesis serves as the source of material to investigate calcium signaling and its effect on mitochondrial metabolism in various cell types, including cancer cells.

In the Right Place at the Right Time: Regulation of Cell Metabolism by IP3R-Mediated Inter-Organelle Ca2+ Fluxes.

In the last few years, metabolism has been shown to be controlled by cross-organelle communication. The relationship between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria/lysosomes is the most studied; here, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor (IP3R)-mediated calcium (Ca2+) release plays a central role. Recent evidence suggests that IP3R isoforms participate in synthesis and degradation pathways. This minireview will summarize the current findings in this area, emphasizing the critical role of Ca2+ communication on organelle function as well as catabolism and anabolism, particularly in cancer.

Ca2+ transfer to mitochondria: a spark of life in unexpected conditions.

The inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (InsP3R)-mediated calcium (Ca2+) transfer to mitochondria is important to maintain mitochondrial respiration and bioenergetics in normal and cancer cells, even though cancer cells have defective oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Here, we discuss how tumor mitochondria could become a feasible therapeutic target to treat tumors that depend on reductive carboxylation.

Inhibition of InsP3R with Xestospongin B Reduces Mitochondrial Respiration and Induces Selective Cell Death in T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological malignancy whose chemoresistance and relapse persist as a problem despite significant advances in its chemotherapeutic treatments. Mitochondrial metabolism has emerged as an interesting therapeutic target given its essential role in maintaining bioenergetic and metabolic homeostasis. T-ALL cells are characterized by high levels of mitochondrial respiration, making them suitable for this type of intervention. Mitochondrial function is sustained by a constitutive transfer of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria through the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R), making T-ALL cells vulnerable to its inhibition. Here, we determine the bioenergetic profile of the T-ALL cell lines CCRF-CEM and Jurkat and evaluate their sensitivity to InsP3R inhibition with the specific inhibitor, Xestospongin B (XeB). Our results show that T-ALL cell lines exhibit higher mitochondrial respiration than non-malignant cells, which is blunted by the inhibition of the InsP3R. Prolonged treatment with XeB causes T-ALL cell death without affecting the normal counterpart. Moreover, the combination of XeB and glucocorticoids significantly enhanced cell death in the CCRF-CEM cells. The inhibition of InsP3R with XeB rises as a potential therapeutic alternative for the treatment of T-ALL.

Cancer cells with defective oxidative phosphorylation require endoplasmic reticulum-to-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer for survival.

Spontaneous Ca2+ signaling from the InsP3R intracellular Ca2+ release channel to mitochondria is essential for optimal oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ATP production. In cells with defective OXPHOS, reductive carboxylation replaces oxidative metabolism to maintain amounts of reducing equivalents and metabolic precursors. To investigate the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in regulating bioenergetics in these cells, we used OXPHOS-competent and OXPHOS-defective cells. Inhibition of InsP3R activity or mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake increased α-ketoglutarate (αKG) abundance and the NAD+/NADH ratio, indicating that constitutive endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer promoted optimal αKG dehydrogenase (αKGDH) activity. Reducing mitochondrial Ca2+ inhibited αKGDH activity and increased NAD+, which induced SIRT1-dependent autophagy in both OXPHOS-competent and OXPHOS-defective cells. Whereas autophagic flux in OXPHOS-competent cells promoted cell survival, it was impaired in OXPHOS-defective cells because of inhibition of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Inhibition of αKGDH and impaired autophagic flux in OXPHOS-defective cells resulted in pronounced cell death in response to interruption of constitutive flux of Ca2+ from ER to mitochondria. These results demonstrate that mitochondria play a fundamental role in maintaining bioenergetic homeostasis of both OXPHOS-competent and OXPHOS-defective cells, with Ca2+ regulation of αKGDH activity playing a pivotal role. Inhibition of ER-to-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer may represent a general therapeutic strategy against cancer cells regardless of their OXPHOS status.

Concerted Action of AMPK and Sirtuin-1 Induces Mitochondrial Fragmentation Upon Inhibition of Ca2+ Transfer to Mitochondria.

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles constantly undergoing fusion and fission. Ca2+ regulates many aspects of mitochondrial physiology by modulating the activity of several mitochondrial proteins. We previously showed that inhibition of constitutive IP3R-mediated Ca2+ transfer to the mitochondria leads to a metabolic cellular stress and eventually cell death. Here, we show that the decline of mitochondrial function generated by a lack of Ca2+ transfer induces a DRP-1 independent mitochondrial fragmentation that at an early time is mediated by an increase in the NAD+/NADH ratio and activation of SIRT1. Subsequently, AMPK predominates and drives the fragmentation. SIRT1 activation leads to the deacetylation of cortactin, favoring actin polymerization, and mitochondrial fragmentation. Knockdown of cortactin or inhibition of actin polymerization prevents fragmentation. These data reveal SIRT1 as a new player in the regulation of mitochondrial fragmentation induced by metabolic/bioenergetic stress through regulating the actin cytoskeleton.

Complex I and II are required for normal mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis.

Cytosolic calcium (cCa2+) entry into mitochondria is facilitated by the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), an electrochemical gradient generated by the electron transport chain (ETC). Is has been assumed that as long as mutations that affect the ETC do not affect the ΔΨm, the mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+) homeostasis remains normal. We show that knockdown of NDUFAF3 and SDHB reduce ETC activity altering mCa2+ efflux and influx rates while ΔΨm remains intact. Shifting the equilibrium toward lower [Ca2+]m accumulation renders cells resistant to death. Our findings reveal an unexpected relationship between complex I and II with the mCa2+ homeostasis independent of ΔΨm.

MTOR-independent autophagy induced by interrupted endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial Ca2+ communication: a dead end in cancer cells.

The interruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial Ca2+ communication induces a bioenergetic crisis characterized by an increase of MTOR-independent AMPK-dependent macroautophagic/autophagic flux, which is not sufficient to reestablish the metabolic and energetic homeostasis in cancer cells. Here, we propose that upon ER-mitochondrial Ca2+ transfer inhibition, AMPK present at the mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) activate localized autophagy via BECN1 (beclin 1). This local response could prevent the proper interorganelle communication that would allow the autophagy-derived metabolites to reach the necessary anabolic pathways to maintain mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis. Abbreviations: 3MA: 3-methyladenine; ADP: adenosine diphosphate; AMP: adenosine monophosphate; ATG13: autophagy related 13; ATG14: autophagy related 14; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; BECN1: beclin 1; Ca2+: calcium; DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; GEF: guanine nucleotide exchange factor; ITPR: inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor; MAMs: mitochondria-associated membranes; MCU: mitochondrial calcium uniporter; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; MTORC1: MTOR complex 1; OCR: oxygen consumption rate; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; RB1CC1/FIP200: RB1 inducible coiled-coil 1; RPTOR: regulatory associated protein of MTOR complex 1; RYRs: ryanodine receptors; STK11/LKB1: serine/threonine kinase 11; TCA: tricarboxylic acid; TSC2: TSC complex subunit 2; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; V-ATPase: vacuolar-type H+-ATPase; VDAC: voltage dependent anion channel; XeB: xestospongin B.

Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Calcium Communication and the Regulation of Mitochondrial Metabolism in Cancer: A Novel Potential Target.

Cancer is characterized by an uncontrolled cell proliferation rate even under low nutrient availability, which is sustained by a metabolic reprograming now recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Warburg was the first to establish the relationship between cancer and mitochondria; however, he interpreted enhanced aerobic glycolysis as mitochondrial dysfunction. Today it is accepted that many cancer cell types need fully functional mitochondria to maintain their homeostasis. Calcium (Ca2+)-a key regulator of several cellular processes-has proven to be essential for mitochondrial metabolism. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R)-mediated Ca2+ transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum to the mitochondria through the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) proves to be essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial function and cellular energy balance. Both IP3R and MCU are overexpressed in several cancer cell types, and the inhibition of the Ca2+ communication between these two organelles causes proliferation arrest, migration decrease, and cell death through mechanisms that are not fully understood. In this review, we summarize and analyze the current findings in this area, emphasizing the critical role of Ca2+ and mitochondrial metabolism in cancer and its potential as a novel therapeutic target.

The Mitochondrial Complex(I)ty of Cancer.

Recent evidence highlights that the cancer cell energy requirements vary greatly from normal cells and that cancer cells exhibit different metabolic phenotypes with variable participation of both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) is the largest complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and contributes about 40% of the proton motive force required for mitochondrial ATP synthesis. In addition, Complex I plays an essential role in biosynthesis and redox control during proliferation, resistance to cell death, and metastasis of cancer cells. Although knowledge about the structure and assembly of Complex I is increasing, information about the role of Complex I subunits in tumorigenesis is scarce and contradictory. Several small molecule inhibitors of Complex I have been described as selective anticancer agents; however, pharmacologic and genetic interventions on Complex I have also shown pro-tumorigenic actions, involving different cellular signaling. Here, we discuss the role of Complex I in tumorigenesis, focusing on the specific participation of Complex I subunits in proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells.

InsP3R, the calcium whisperer: Maintaining mitochondrial function in cancer.

Mitochondrial metabolism is essential to fulfill the large demand for macromolecule biosynthesis in cancer. We recently identified low-level InsP3R-mediated Ca(2+) transfer to mitochondria as an unexpected requirement for mitochondrial function. Here we reveal that its absence specifically targets cancer cells and causes necrosis at daughter cell separation during ongoing proliferation.

Selective Vulnerability of Cancer Cells by Inhibition of Ca(2+) Transfer from Endoplasmic Reticulum to Mitochondria.

In the absence of low-level ER-to-mitochondrial Ca(2+) transfer, ATP levels fall, and AMPK-dependent, mTOR-independent autophagy is induced as an essential survival mechanism in many cell types. Here, we demonstrate that tumorigenic cancer cell lines, transformed primary human fibroblasts, and tumors in vivo respond similarly but that autophagy is insufficient for survival, and cancer cells die while their normal counterparts are spared. Cancer cell death is due to compromised bioenergetics that can be rescued with metabolic substrates or nucleotides and caused by necrosis associated with mitotic catastrophe during their proliferation. Our findings reveal an unexpected dependency on constitutive Ca(2+) transfer to mitochondria for viability of tumorigenic cells and suggest that mitochondrial Ca(2+) addiction is a feature of cancer cells.

A faster, high resolution, mtPA-GFP-based mitochondrial fusion assay acquiring kinetic data of multiple cells in parallel using confocal microscopy.

Mitochondrial fusion plays an essential role in mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, bioenergetics, autophagy and quality control. Fusion is quantified in living cells by photo-conversion of matrix targeted photoactivatable GFP (mtPAGFP) in a subset of mitochondria. The rate at which the photoconverted molecules equilibrate across the entire mitochondrial population is used as a measure of fusion activity. Thus far measurements were performed using a single cell time lapse approach, quantifying the equilibration in one cell over an hour. Here, we scale up and automate a previously published live cell method based on using mtPAGFP and a low concentration of TMRE (15 nm). This method involves photoactivating a small portion of the mitochondrial network, collecting highly resolved stacks of confocal sections every 15 min for 1 hour, and quantifying the change in signal intensity. Depending on several factors such as ease of finding PAGFP expressing cells, and the signal of the photoactivated regions, it is possible to collect around 10 cells within the 15 min intervals. This provides a significant improvement in the time efficiency of this assay while maintaining the highly resolved subcellular quantification as well as the kinetic parameters necessary to capture the detail of mitochondrial behavior in its native cytoarchitectural environment. Mitochondrial dynamics play a role in many cellular processes including respiration, calcium regulation, and apoptosis. The structure of the mitochondrial network affects the function of mitochondria, and the way they interact with the rest of the cell. Undergoing constant division and fusion, mitochondrial networks attain various shapes ranging from highly fused networks, to being more fragmented. Interestingly, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Charcot Marie Tooth 2A, and dominant optic atrophy have been correlated with altered mitochondrial morphology, namely fragmented networks. Often times, upon fragmentation, mitochondria become depolarized, and upon accumulation this leads to impaired cell function. Mitochondrial fission has been shown to signal a cell to progress toward apoptosis. It can also provide a mechanism by which to separate depolarized and inactive mitochondria to keep the bulk of the network robust. Fusion of mitochondria, on the other hand, leads to sharing of matrix proteins, solutes, mtDNA and the electrochemical gradient, and also seems to prevent progression to apoptosis. How fission and fusion of mitochondria affects cell homeostasis and ultimately the functioning of the organism needs further understanding, and therefore the continuous development and optimization of how to gather information on these phenomena is necessary. Existing mitochondrial fusion assays have revealed various insights into mitochondrial physiology, each having its own advantages. The hybrid PEG fusion assay, mixes two populations of differently labeled cells (mtRFP and mtYFP), and analyzes the amount of mixing and colocalization of fluorophores in fused, multinucleated, cells. Although this method has yielded valuable information, not all cell types can fuse, and the conditions under which fusion is stimulated involves the use of toxic drugs that likely affect the normal fusion process. More recently, a cell free technique has been devised, using isolated mitochondria to observe fusion events based on a luciferase assay. Two human cell lines are targeted with either the amino or a carboxy terminal part of Renilla luciferase along with a leucine zipper to ensure dimerization upon mixing. Mitochondria are isolated from each cell line, and fused. The fusion reaction can occur without the cytosol under physiological conditions in the presence of energy, appropriate temperature and inner mitochondrial membrane potential. Interestingly, the cytosol was found to modulate the extent of fusion, demonstrating that cell signaling regulates the fusion process. This assay will be very useful for high throughput screening to identify components of the fusion machinery and also pharmacological compounds that may affect mitochondrial dynamics. However, more detailed whole cell mitochondrial assays will be needed to complement this in vitro assay to observe these events within a cellular environment. A technique for monitoring whole-cell mitochondrial dynamics has been in use for some time and is based on a mitochondrially-targeted photoactivatable GFP (mtPAGFP). Upon expression of the mtPAGFP, a small portion of the mitochondrial network is photoactivated (10-20%), and the spread of the signal to the rest of the mitochondrial network is recorded every 15 minutes for 1 hour using time lapse confocal imaging. Each fusion event leads to a dilution of signal intensity, enabling quantification of the fusion rate. Although fusion and fission are continuously occurring in cells, this technique only monitors fusion as fission does not lead to a dilution of the PAGFP signal. Co-labeling with low levels of TMRE (7-15 nM in INS1 cells) allows quantification of the membrane potential of mitochondria. When mitochondria are hyperpolarized they uptake more TMRE, and when they depolarize they lose the TMRE dye. Mitochondria that depolarize no longer have a sufficient membrane potential and tend not to fuse as efficiently if at all. Therefore, active fusing mitochondria can be tracked with these low levels of TMRE. Accumulation of depolarized mitochondria that lack a TMRE signal may be a sign of phototoxicity or cell death. Higher concentrations of TMRE render mitochondria very sensitive to laser light, and therefore great care must be taken to avoid overlabeling with TMRE. If the effect of depolarization of mitochondria is the topic of interest, a technique using slightly higher levels of TMRE and more intense laser light can be used to depolarize mitochondria in a controlled fashion (Mitra and Lippincott-Schwartz, 2010). To ensure that toxicity due to TMRE is not an issue, we suggest exposing loaded cells (3-15 nM TMRE) to the imaging parameters that will be used in the assay (perhaps 7 stacks of 6 optical sections in a row), and assessing cell health after 2 hours. If the mitochondria appear too fragmented and cells are dying, other mitochondrial markers, such as dsRED or Mitotracker red could be used instead of TMRE. The mtPAGFP method has revealed details about mitochondrial network behavior that could not be visualized using other methods. For example, we now know that mitochondrial fusion can be full or transient, where matrix content can mix without changing the overall network morphology. Additionally, we know that the probability of fusion is independent of contact duration and organelle dimension, is influenced by organelle motility, membrane potential and history of previous fusion activity. In this manuscript, we describe a methodology for scaling up the previously published protocol using mtPAGFP and 15 nM TMRE in order to examine multiple cells at a time and improve the time efficiency of data collection without sacrificing the subcellular resolution. This has been made possible by the use of an automated microscope stage, and programmable image acquisition software. Zen software from Zeiss allows the user to mark and track several designated cells expressing mtPAGFP. Each of these cells can be photoactivated in a particular region of interest, and stacks of confocal slices can be monitored for mtPAGFP signal as well as TMRE at specified intervals. Other confocal systems could be used to perform this protocol provided there is an automated stage that is programmable, an incubator with CO2, and a means by which to photoactivate the PAGFP; either a multiphoton laser, or a 405 nm diode laser.