Nonstop mRNAs generate a ground state of mitochondrial gene expression noise.

A stop codon within the mRNA facilitates coordinated termination of protein synthesis, releasing the nascent polypeptide from the ribosome. This essential step in gene expression is impeded with transcripts lacking a stop codon, generating nonstop ribosome complexes. Here, we use deep sequencing to investigate sources of nonstop mRNAs generated from the human mitochondrial genome. We identify diverse types of nonstop mRNAs on mitochondrial ribosomes that are resistant to translation termination by canonical release factors. Failure to resolve these aberrations by the mitochondrial release factor in rescue (MTRFR) imparts a negative regulatory effect on protein synthesis that is associated with human disease. Our findings reveal a source of underlying noise in mitochondrial gene expression and the importance of responsive ribosome quality control mechanisms for cell fitness and human health.

Translation of MT-ATP6 pathogenic variants reveals distinct regulatory consequences from the co-translational quality control of mitochondrial protein synthesis.

Pathogenic variants that disrupt human mitochondrial protein synthesis are associated with a clinically heterogeneous group of diseases. Despite an impairment in oxidative phosphorylation being a common phenotype, the underlying molecular pathogenesis is more complex than simply a bioenergetic deficiency. Currently, we have limited mechanistic understanding on the scope by which a primary defect in mitochondrial protein synthesis contributes to organelle dysfunction. Since the proteins encoded in the mitochondrial genome are hydrophobic and need co-translational insertion into a lipid bilayer, responsive quality control mechanisms are required to resolve aberrations that arise with the synthesis of truncated and misfolded proteins. Here, we show that defects in the OXA1L-mediated insertion of MT-ATP6 nascent chains into the mitochondrial inner membrane are rapidly resolved by the AFG3L2 protease complex. Using pathogenic MT-ATP6 variants, we then reveal discrete steps in this quality control mechanism and the differential functional consequences to mitochondrial gene expression. The inherent ability of a given cell type to recognize and resolve impairments in mitochondrial protein synthesis may in part contribute at the molecular level to the wide clinical spectrum of these disorders.

Mechanism of membrane-tethered mitochondrial protein synthesis.

Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) are tethered to the mitochondrial inner membrane to facilitate the cotranslational membrane insertion of the synthesized proteins. We report cryo-electron microscopy structures of human mitoribosomes with nascent polypeptide, bound to the insertase oxidase assembly 1-like (OXA1L) through three distinct contact sites. OXA1L binding is correlated with a series of conformational changes in the mitoribosomal large subunit that catalyze the delivery of newly synthesized polypeptides. The mechanism relies on the folding of mL45 inside the exit tunnel, forming two specific constriction sites that would limit helix formation of the nascent chain. A gap is formed between the exit and the membrane, making the newly synthesized proteins accessible. Our data elucidate the basis by which mitoribosomes interact with the OXA1L insertase to couple protein synthesis and membrane delivery.

The molecular pathology of pathogenic mitochondrial tRNA variants.

Mitochondrial diseases are clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders, caused by pathogenic variants in either the nuclear or mitochondrial genome. This heterogeneity is particularly striking for disease caused by variants in mitochondrial DNA-encoded tRNA (mt-tRNA) genes, posing challenges for both the treatment of patients and understanding the molecular pathology. In this review, we consider disease caused by the two most common pathogenic mt-tRNA variants: m.3243A>G (within MT-TL1, encoding mt-tRNALeu(UUR) ) and m.8344A>G (within MT-TK, encoding mt-tRNALys ), which together account for the vast majority of all mt-tRNA-related disease. We compare and contrast the clinical disease they are associated with, as well as their molecular pathologies, and consider what is known about the likely molecular mechanisms of disease. Finally, we discuss the role of mitochondrial-nuclear crosstalk in the manifestation of mt-tRNA-associated disease and how research in this area not only has the potential to uncover molecular mechanisms responsible for the vast clinical heterogeneity associated with these variants but also pave the way to develop treatment options for these devastating diseases.

Coibamide A Targets Sec61 to Prevent Biogenesis of Secretory and Membrane Proteins.

Coibamide A (CbA) is a marine natural product with potent antiproliferative activity against human cancer cells and a unique selectivity profile. Despite promising antitumor activity, the mechanism of cytotoxicity and specific cellular target of CbA remain unknown. Here, we develop an optimized synthetic CbA photoaffinity probe (photo-CbA) and use it to demonstrate that CbA directly targets the Sec61α subunit of the Sec61 protein translocon. CbA binding to Sec61 results in broad substrate-nonselective inhibition of ER protein import and potent cytotoxicity against specific cancer cell lines. CbA targets a lumenal cavity of Sec61 that is partially shared with known Sec61 inhibitors, yet profiling against resistance conferring Sec61α mutations identified from human HCT116 cells suggests a distinct binding mode for CbA. Specifically, despite conferring strong resistance to all previously known Sec61 inhibitors, the Sec61α mutant R66I remains sensitive to CbA. A further unbiased screen for Sec61α resistance mutations identified the CbA-resistant mutation S71P, which confirms nonidentical binding sites for CbA and apratoxin A and supports the susceptibility of the Sec61 plug region for channel inhibition. Remarkably, CbA, apratoxin A, and ipomoeassin F do not display comparable patterns of potency and selectivity in the NCI60 panel of human cancer cell lines. Our work connecting CbA activity with selective prevention of secretory and membrane protein biogenesis by inhibition of Sec61 opens up possibilities for developing new Sec61 inhibitors with improved drug-like properties that are based on the coibamide pharmacophore.

Some aspects on the uncertainty calculation in Mueller ellipsometry.

In this paper, we focus on the metrological aspects of spectroscopic Mueller ellipsometry-i.e. on the uncertainty estimation of the measurement results. With the help of simulated Mueller matrices, we demonstrate that the commonly used merit functions do not return the correct uncertainty for the measurand under consideration (here shown for the relatively simple case of the geometrical parameter layer thickness for the example system of a SiO2 layer on a Si substrate). We identify the non-optimal treatment of measured and sample- induced depolarization as a reason of this discrepancy. Since depolarization results from sample properties in combination with experimental parameters, it must not be minimized during the parameter fit. Therefore, we propose a new merit function treating this issue differently: It implicitly uses the measured depolarization as a weighting parameter. It is very simple and computationally cheap. It compares for each wavelength the measured Jones matrix elements to Cloude's covariance matrix: ∼∑λ jsim,λ†Hmeas,λ + j sim,λ . Moreover, an extension will be presented which allows us to include the measurement noise into this merit function. With this, reliable statistical uncertainties can be calculated. Except for some pre-processing of the raw data, there is no additional computational cost.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Drives Dynamics of Local and Systemic Stress Responses in Mitochondrial Myopathy with mtDNA Deletions.

Mitochondrial dysfunction elicits stress responses that safeguard cellular homeostasis against metabolic insults. Mitochondrial integrated stress response (ISRmt) is a major response to mitochondrial (mt)DNA expression stress (mtDNA maintenance, translation defects), but the knowledge of dynamics or interdependence of components is lacking. We report that in mitochondrial myopathy, ISRmt progresses in temporal stages and development from early to chronic and is regulated by autocrine and endocrine effects of FGF21, a metabolic hormone with pleiotropic effects. Initial disease signs induce transcriptional ISRmt (ATF5, mitochondrial one-carbon cycle, FGF21, and GDF15). The local progression to 2nd metabolic ISRmt stage (ATF3, ATF4, glucose uptake, serine biosynthesis, and transsulfuration) is FGF21 dependent. Mitochondrial unfolded protein response marks the 3rd ISRmt stage of failing tissue. Systemically, FGF21 drives weight loss and glucose preference, and modifies metabolism and respiratory chain deficiency in a specific hippocampal brain region. Our evidence indicates that FGF21 is a local and systemic messenger of mtDNA stress in mice and humans with mitochondrial disease.

Mitochondrial Nascent Chain Quality Control Determines Organelle Form and Function.

Proteotoxicity has long been considered a key factor in mitochondrial dysfunction and human disease. The origin of the endogenous offending toxic substrates and the regulatory pathways to deal with these insults, however, have remained unclear. Mitochondria maintain a compartmentalized gene expression system that in animals is only responsible for synthesis of 1% of the organelle proteome. Because of the relatively small contribution of the mitochondrial genome to the overall proteome, the synthesis and quality control of these nascent chains to maintain organelle proteostasis has long been overlooked. However, recent research has uncovered mechanisms by which defects to the quality control of mitochondrial gene expression are linked to a novel cellular stress response that impinges upon organelle form and function and cell fitness. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms for a key event in the response: activation of the metalloprotease OMA1. This severs the membrane tether of the dynamin-related GTPase OPA1, which is a critical determinant for mitochondrial morphology and function. We also highlight the evolutionary conservation from bacteria of these quality-control mechanisms to maintain membrane integrity, gene expression, and cell fitness.

Acoustic, Pitfall Trap, and Visual Surveys of Stored Product Insect Pests in Kenyan Warehouses.

Grain production is an important component of food security in Kenya but due to environmental conditions that favor rapid growth of insect populations, farmers and other agricultural stakeholders face ongoing and novel challenges from crop and stored product pest insects. To assist development of methods to reduce economic losses from stored product insect pests in Kenya, acoustic, visual, and pitfall trap surveys were conducted in five grain storage warehouses. Two commercially available acoustic systems successfully detected the pests of greatest economic importance, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) and Prostephanus truncatus (Horn). Other insects of lesser economic importance also were observed in the visual surveys, including Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). This study demonstrated that the use of acoustic technology with visual surveys and pitfall traps can help managers to identify and target infestations within their warehouses, enabling them to reduce postharvest losses. With most warehouses being located in relatively noisy urban or peri-urban areas, background noise considerations are being incorporated into the design of future acoustic detectors for stored pest infestations. Kenya must import grain yearly to meet consumption needs; however, if the current yearly postharvest losses of 20-30% in warehouses decreased, import costs could be reduced considerably.

Mitochondrial stress response triggered by defects in protein synthesis quality control.

Mitochondria have a compartmentalized gene expression system dedicated to the synthesis of membrane proteins essential for oxidative phosphorylation. Responsive quality control mechanisms are needed to ensure that aberrant protein synthesis does not disrupt mitochondrial function. Pathogenic mutations that impede the function of the mitochondrial matrix quality control protease complex composed of AFG3L2 and paraplegin cause a multifaceted clinical syndrome. At the cell and molecular level, defects to this quality control complex are defined by impairment to mitochondrial form and function. Here, we establish the etiology of these phenotypes. We show how disruptions to the quality control of mitochondrial protein synthesis trigger a sequential stress response characterized first by OMA1 activation followed by loss of mitochondrial ribosomes and by remodelling of mitochondrial inner membrane ultrastructure. Inhibiting mitochondrial protein synthesis with chloramphenicol completely blocks this stress response. Together, our data establish a mechanism linking major cell biological phenotypes of AFG3L2 pathogenesis and show how modulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis can exert a beneficial effect on organelle homeostasis.

Mice harbouring a SCA28 patient mutation in AFG3L2 develop late-onset ataxia associated with enhanced mitochondrial proteotoxicity.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 28 is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by missense mutations affecting the proteolytic domain of AFG3L2, a major component of the mitochondrial m-AAA protease. However, little is known of the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms or how to treat patients with SCA28. Currently available Afg3l2 mutant mice harbour deletions that lead to severe, early-onset neurological phenotypes that do not faithfully reproduce the late-onset and slowly progressing SCA28 phenotype. Here we describe production and detailed analysis of a new knock-in murine model harbouring an Afg3l2 allele carrying the p.Met665Arg patient-derived mutation. Heterozygous mutant mice developed normally but adult mice showed signs of cerebellar ataxia detectable by beam test. Although cerebellar pathology was negative, electrophysiological analysis showed a trend towards increased spontaneous firing in Purkinje cells from heterozygous mutants with respect to wild-type controls. As homozygous mutants died perinatally with evidence of cardiac atrophy, for each genotype we generated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to investigate mitochondrial function. MEFs from mutant mice showed altered mitochondrial bioenergetics, with decreased basal oxygen consumption rate, ATP synthesis and mitochondrial membrane potential. Mitochondrial network formation and morphology was altered, with greatly reduced expression of fusogenic Opa1 isoforms. Mitochondrial alterations were also detected in cerebella of 18-month-old heterozygous mutants and may be a hallmark of disease. Pharmacological inhibition of de novo mitochondrial protein translation with chloramphenicol caused reversal of mitochondrial morphology in homozygous mutant MEFs, supporting the relevance of mitochondrial proteotoxicity for SCA28 pathogenesis and therapy development.

A variant in MRPS14 (uS14m) causes perinatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with neonatal lactic acidosis, growth retardation, dysmorphic features and neurological involvement.

Dysfunction of mitochondrial translation is an increasingly important molecular cause of human disease, but structural defects of mitochondrial ribosomal subunits are rare. We used next-generation sequencing to identify a homozygous variant in the mitochondrial small ribosomal protein 14 (MRPS14, uS14m) in a patient manifesting with perinatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, growth retardation, muscle hypotonia, elevated lactate, dysmorphy and mental retardation. In skeletal muscle and fibroblasts from the patient, there was biochemical deficiency in complex IV of the respiratory chain. In fibroblasts, mitochondrial translation was impaired, and ectopic expression of a wild-type MRPS14 cDNA functionally complemented this defect. Surprisingly, the mutant uS14m was stable and did not affect assembly of the small ribosomal subunit. Instead, structural modeling of the uS14m mutation predicted a disruption to the ribosomal mRNA channel.Collectively, our data demonstrate pathogenic mutations in MRPS14 can manifest as a perinatal-onset mitochondrial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with a novel molecular pathogenic mechanism that impairs the function of mitochondrial ribosomes during translation elongation or mitochondrial mRNA recruitment rather than assembly.

RNA modification landscape of the human mitochondrial tRNALys regulates protein synthesis.

Post-transcriptional RNA modifications play a critical role in the pathogenesis of human mitochondrial disorders, but the mechanisms by which specific modifications affect mitochondrial protein synthesis remain poorly understood. Here we used a quantitative RNA sequencing approach to investigate, at nucleotide resolution, the stoichiometry and methyl modifications of the entire mitochondrial tRNA pool, and establish the relevance to human disease. We discovered that a N1-methyladenosine (m1A) modification is missing at position 58 in the mitochondrial tRNALys of patients with the mitochondrial DNA mutation m.8344 A > G associated with MERRF (myoclonus epilepsy, ragged-red fibers). By restoring the modification on the mitochondrial tRNALys, we demonstrated the importance of the m1A58 to translation elongation and the stability of selected nascent chains. Our data indicates regulation of post-transcriptional modifications on mitochondrial tRNAs is finely tuned for the control of mitochondrial gene expression. Collectively, our findings provide novel insight into the regulation of mitochondrial tRNAs and reveal greater complexity to the molecular pathogenesis of MERRF.

Defective mitochondrial RNA processing due to PNPT1 variants causes Leigh syndrome.

Leigh syndrome is a severe infantile encephalopathy with an exceptionally variable genetic background. We studied the exome of a child manifesting with Leigh syndrome at one month of age and progressing to death by the age of 2.4 years, and identified novel compound heterozygous variants in PNPT1, encoding the polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). Expression of the wild type PNPT1 in the subject's myoblasts functionally complemented the defects, and the pathogenicity was further supported by structural predictions and protein and RNA analyses. PNPase is a key enzyme in mitochondrial RNA metabolism, with suggested roles in mitochondrial RNA import and degradation. The variants were predicted to locate in the PNPase active site and disturb the RNA processing activity of the enzyme. The PNPase trimer formation was not affected, but specific RNA processing intermediates derived from mitochondrial transcripts of the ND6 subunit of Complex I, as well as small mRNA fragments, accumulated in the subject's myoblasts. Mitochondrial RNA processing mediated by the degradosome consisting of hSUV3 and PNPase is poorly characterized, and controversy on the role and location of PNPase within human mitochondria exists. Our evidence indicates that PNPase activity is essential for the correct maturation of the ND6 transcripts, and likely for the efficient removal of degradation intermediates. Loss of its activity will result in combined respiratory chain deficiency, and a classic respiratory chain-deficiency-associated disease, Leigh syndrome, indicating an essential role for the enzyme for normal function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

A novel mitochondrial ATP6 frameshift mutation causing isolated complex V deficiency, ataxia and encephalomyopathy.

We describe a novel frameshift mutation in the mitochondrial ATP6 gene in a 4-year-old girl associated with ataxia, microcephaly, developmental delay and intellectual disability. A heteroplasmic frameshift mutation in the MT-ATP6 gene was confirmed in the patient's skeletal muscle and blood. The mutation was not detectable in the mother's DNA extracted from blood or buccal cells. Enzymatic and oxymetric analysis of the mitochondrial respiratory system in the patients' skeletal muscle and skin fibroblasts demonstrated an isolated complex V deficiency. Native PAGE with subsequent immunoblotting for complex V revealed impaired complex V assembly and accumulation of ATPase subcomplexes. Whilst northern blotting confirmed equal presence of ATP8/6 mRNA, metabolic 35S-labelling of mitochondrial translation products showed a severe depletion of the ATP6 protein together with aberrant translation product accumulation. In conclusion, this novel isolated complex V defect expands the clinical and genetic spectrum of mitochondrial defects of complex V deficiency. Furthermore, this work confirms the benefit of native PAGE as an additional diagnostic method for the identification of OXPHOS defects, as the presence of complex V subcomplexes is associated with pathogenic mutations of mtDNA.

Splicing Defect in Mitochondrial Seryl-tRNA Synthetase Gene Causes Progressive Spastic Paresis Instead of HUPRA Syndrome.

Mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are an important group of disease genes typically underlying either a disorder affecting an isolated tissue or a distinct syndrome. Missense mutations in the mitochondrial seryl-tRNA synthetase gene, SARS2, have been identified in HUPRA syndrome (hyperuricemia, pulmonary hypertension, renal failure in infancy, and alkalosis). We report here a homozygous splicing mutation in SARS2 in a patient with progressive spastic paresis. We show that the mutation leads to diminished levels of the synthetase in patient's fibroblasts. This has a destabilizing effect on the tRNASer(AGY) isoacceptor, but to a lesser degree than in HUPRA syndrome patients. tRNASer(UCN) is largely unaffected in both phenotypes. In conclusion, the level of tRNASer(AGY) instability may be a factor in determining tissue manifestation in patients with SARS2 mutations. This finding exemplifies the sensitivity of the nervous system to partially reduced aminoacylation, which is sufficient in other tissues to maintain respiratory chain function.

Quality control of mitochondrial protein synthesis is required for membrane integrity and cell fitness.

Mitochondrial ribosomes synthesize a subset of hydrophobic proteins required for assembly of the oxidative phosphorylation complexes. This process requires temporal and spatial coordination and regulation, so quality control of mitochondrial protein synthesis is paramount to maintain proteostasis. We show how impaired turnover of de novo mitochondrial proteins leads to aberrant protein accumulation in the mitochondrial inner membrane. This creates a stress in the inner membrane that progressively dissipates the mitochondrial membrane potential, which in turn stalls mitochondrial protein synthesis and fragments the mitochondrial network. The mitochondrial m-AAA protease subunit AFG3L2 is critical to this surveillance mechanism that we propose acts as a sensor to couple the synthesis of mitochondrial proteins with organelle fitness, thus ensuring coordinated assembly of the oxidative phosphorylation complexes from two sets of ribosomes.

Interpretation of azimuthal angle dependence of periodic gratings in Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry.

Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry becomes increasingly important for determining structural parameters of periodic line gratings. Because of the anisotropic character of gratings, the measured Mueller matrix elements are highly azimuthal angle dependent. Measurement results are interpreted by basic principles of diffraction on gratings. The spectral and azimuthal angle dependent intensity changes are correlated to so-called Rayleigh singularities, i.e., wavelengths where the number of diffraction orders changes. The positions of the Rayleigh singularities are calculated analytically and overlapped with measured spectra of two different types of photomasks with transparent and reflecting substrates. For both types of gratings, the Rayleigh singularities reproduce the contours of the spectra. Increasing grating periods result in a shift of these contours to longer wavelengths. Characteristic differences between the two photomasks are explained by the influence of the transmission orders, which are determined by the substrate transparency.

[Conversion to tapentadol PR improves analgesia and quality of life in patients with severe and chronic pain despite using tramadol > 300 mg/d]. / Konsekutive Umstellung auf Tapentadol PR verbessert Analgesie und Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit starken und chronischen Schmerzen unter Tramadol > 300 mg/d.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This subgroup analysis of a non-interventional study involving general practitioners and internists investigated the administration of tapentadol PR (prolonged release) in patients with widely-utilized tramadol pretreatment in routine clinical practice in Germany. METHODS: Data of all patients in the study cohort who had tramadol as the only opioid in their previous therapy were included in the analysis (n = 685); among them especially the 99 patients with tramadol dosages exceeding 300 mg/d were focused. Data collection during the 3-month observation period included previous and concomitant analgesic treatment, tapentadol PR dosage, pain intensity, sleep and quality of life parameters, and tolerability of tapentadol PR. RESULTS: Back pain was the most common cause of pain (n = 86/99), other pain diagnoses were (partly additionally) recorded in 68 cases. A mixed type of pain dominated. The previous tramadol therapy was usually combined with non-opioids (n = 74), co-analgesics (n = 44) and analgesic rescue medication (n = 35). Tapentadol PR therapy reduced the mean initial pain intensity of 7.3 ± 1.5 to 3.1 ± 1.8 points (NRS-11, 11-point pain scale, n = 96) at the end of observation, using an average dosage of 218.7 mg/d. Tapentadol PR was finally applied as the sole analgesic in 32/95 patients. 69/96 patients achieved a clinically meaningful pain relief of at least 50 %, while 63 patients gained a pain reduction of ≥ 4 NRS-points. 89/95 patients reached or exceeded their additional individual treatment goal. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in pain-related impairments of daily activities and an improvement in quality of life with an overall good tolerability of tapentadol PR. Treatment with tapentadol PR was assessed positively by physicians and patients. CONCLUSIONS: Data analysis shows a clinically relevant benefit in patients unsuccessfully pretreated with tramadol by consecutive conversion to the potent analgesic tapentadol PR.