RESUMO
The loss of Surf1 protein leads to a severe COX deficiency manifested as a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, the Leigh syndrome (LS(COX)). Surf1 appears to be involved in the early step of COX assembly but its function remains unknown. The aim of the study was to find out how SURF1 gene mutations influence expression of OXPHOS and other pro-mitochondrial genes and to further characterize the altered COX assembly. Analysis of fibroblast cell lines from 9 patients with SURF1 mutations revealed a 70% decrease of the COX complex content to be associated with 32-54% upregulation of respiratory chain complexes I, III and V and accumulation of Cox5a subunit. Whole genome expression profiling showed a general decrease of transcriptional activity in LS(COX) cells and indicated that the adaptive changes in OXPHOS complexes are due to a posttranscriptional compensatory mechanism. Electrophoretic and WB analysis showed that in mitochondria of LS(COX) cells compared to controls, the assembled COX is present entirely in a supercomplex form, as I-III2-IV supercomplex but not as larger supercomplexes. The lack of COX also caused an accumulation of I-III2 supercomplex. The accumulated Cox5a was mainly present as a free subunit. We have found out that the major COX assembly subcomplexes accumulated due to SURF1 mutations range in size between approximately 85-140kDa. In addition to the originally proposed S2 intermediate they might also represent Cox1-containing complexes lacking other COX subunits. Unlike the assembled COX, subcomplexes are unable to associate with complexes I and III.
Assuntos
Deficiência de Citocromo-c Oxidase/genética , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Transporte de Elétrons/fisiologia , Doença de Leigh/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas Mitocondriais/genética , Mutação/genética , Extratos Celulares , Linhagem Celular , Ciclo-Oxigenase 1/genética , Ciclo-Oxigenase 1/metabolismo , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/genética , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/metabolismo , Deficiência de Citocromo-c Oxidase/metabolismo , Complexo I de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Complexo I de Transporte de Elétrons/metabolismo , Complexo III da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Complexo III da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/metabolismo , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/metabolismo , Feminino , Fibroblastos/citologia , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Humanos , Doença de Leigh/metabolismo , Masculino , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/genética , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Fosforilação Oxidativa , Subunidades Proteicas/genética , Subunidades Proteicas/metabolismoRESUMO
Early onset mitochondrial encephalo-cardiomyopathy due to isolated deficiency of ATP synthase is frequently caused by mutations in TMEM70 gene encoding enzyme-specific ancillary factor. Diminished ATP synthase results in low ATP production, elevated mitochondrial membrane potential and increased ROS production. To test whether the patient cells may react to metabolic disbalance by changes in oxidative phosphorylation system, we performed a quantitative analysis of respiratory chain complexes and intramitochondrial proteases involved in their turnover. SDS- and BN-PAGE Western blot analysis of fibroblasts from 10 patients with TMEM70 317-2A>G homozygous mutation showed a significant 82-89% decrease of ATP synthase and 50-162% increase of respiratory chain complex IV and 22-53% increase of complex III. The content of Lon protease, paraplegin and prohibitins 1 and 2 was not significantly changed. Whole genome expression profiling revealed a generalized upregulation of transcriptional activity, but did not show any consistent changes in mRNA levels of structural subunits, specific assembly factors of respiratory chain complexes, or in regulatory genes of mitochondrial biogenesis which would parallel the protein data. The mtDNA content in patient cells was also not changed. The results indicate involvement of posttranscriptional events in the adaptive regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis that allows for the compensatory increase of respiratory chain complexes III and IV in response to deficiency of ATP synthase.
