Structural basis for the interaction of the chaperone Cbp3 with newly synthesized cytochrome b during mitochondrial respiratory chain assembly

Assembly of the mitochondrial respiratory chain requires the coordinated synthesis of mitochondrial and nuclear encoded subunits, redox co-factor acquisition, and correct joining of the subunits to form functional complexes. The conserved Cbp3-Cbp6 chaperone complex binds newly synthesized cytochrome b and supports the ordered acquisition of the heme co-factors. Moreover, it functions as a translational activator by interacting with the mitoribosome. Cbp3 consists of two distinct domains, an N-terminal domain present in mitochondrial Cbp3 homologs, and a highly conserved C-terminal domain comprising a ubiquinol-cytochrome c chaperone region. Here, we solved the crystal structure of this C-terminal domain from a bacterial homolog at 1.4 Å resolution, revealing a unique all-helical fold. This structure allowed mapping of the interaction sites of yeast Cbp3 with Cbp6 and cytochrome b via site-specific photo-crosslinking. We propose that mitochondrial Cbp3 homologs carry an N-terminal extension that positions the conserved C-terminal domain at the ribosomal tunnel exit for an efficient interaction with its substrate, the newly synthesized cytochrome b protein

Mechanistic Insights in the Biogenesis and Function of the Respiratory Chain

Mitochondria fulfill a plethora of functions, including harboring metabolic pathways and converting energy stored in metabolites into ATP, the common energy source of the cell. This last function is performed by the oxidative phosphorylation system, consisting of the respiratory chain and the ATP synthase. Electrons are channeled through the complexes of the respiratory chain, while protons are translocated across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This process establishes an electrochemical gradient, which is used by the ATP synthase to generate ATP. The subunits of two of the respiratory chain complexes, the bc1 complex and the cytochrome c oxidase, are encoded by two genetic origins, the nuclear and the mitochondrial genome. Therefore, the assembly of these complexes needs to be coordinated and highly regulated. Several proteins are involved in the biogenesis of the bc1 complex. Amongst these proteins, the Cbp3-Cbp6 complex was shown to regulate translation and assembly of the bc1 complex subunit cytochrome b. In this work, we established a homology model of yeast Cbp3. Using a site-specific crosslink approach, we identified binding sites of Cbp3 to its obligate binding partner Cbp6 and its client, cytochrome b, enabling a deeper insight in the molecular mechanisms of bc1 complex biogenesis.  The bc1 complex and the cytochrome c oxidase form macromolecular structures, called supercomplexes. The detailed assembly mechanisms and functions of these structures remain to be solved. Two proteins, Rcf1 and Rcf2, were identified associating with supercomplexes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our studies demonstrate that, while Rcf1 has a minor effect on supercomplex assembly, its main function is to modulate cytochrome c oxidase activity. We show that cytochrome c oxidase is present in three structurally different populations. Rcf1 is needed to maintain the dominant population in a functionally active state. In absence of Rcf1, the abundance of a population with an altered active site is increased. We propose that Rcf1 is needed, especially under a high work load of the respiratory chain, to maintain the function of cytochrome c oxidase. This thesis aims to unravel molecular mechanisms of proteins involved in biogenesis and functionality of respiratory chain complexes to enable a deeper understanding. Dysfunctional respiratory chain complexes lead to severe disease, emphasizing the importance of this work.At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript.</p

Membrane-tethering of cytochrome c accelerates regulated cell death in yeast

Intrinsic apoptosis as a modality of regulated cell death is intimately linked to permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane and subsequent release of the protein cytochrome c into the cytosol, where it can participate in caspase activation via apoptosome formation. Interestingly, cytochrome c release is an ancient feature of regulated cell death even in unicellular eukaryotes that do not contain an apoptosome. Therefore, it was speculated that cytochrome c release might have an additional, more fundamental role for cell death signalling, because its absence from mitochondria disrupts oxidative phosphorylation. Here, we permanently anchored cytochrome c with a transmembrane segment to the inner mitochondrial membrane of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, thereby inhibiting its release from mitochondria during regulated cell death. This cytochrome c retains respiratory growth and correct assembly of mitochondrial respiratory chain supercomplexes. However, membrane anchoring leads to a sensitisation to acetic acid-induced cell death and increased oxidative stress, a compensatory elevation of cellular oxygen-consumption in aged cells and a decreased chronological lifespan. We therefore conclude that loss of cytochrome c from mitochondria during regulated cell death and the subsequent disruption of oxidative phosphorylation is not required for efficient execution of cell death in yeast, and that mobility of cytochrome c within the mitochondrial intermembrane space confers a fitness advantage that overcomes a potential role in regulated cell death signalling in the absence of an apoptosome

The [PSI+] prion and HSP104 modulate cytochrome c oxidase deficiency caused by deletion of COX12

ABSTRACT Cytochrome c oxidase is a pivotal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which sustains bioenergetics of eukaryotic cells. Cox12, a peripheral subunit of cytochrome c oxidase, is required for full activity of the enzyme, but its exact function is unknown. Here, experimental evolution of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Δ cox12 strain for ~300 generations allowed to restore the activity of cytochrome c oxidase. In one population, the enhanced bioenergetics was caused by a A375V mutation in the AAA+ disaggregase Hsp104. Deletion or overexpression of Hsp104 also increased respiration of the Δ cox12 ancestor strain. This beneficial effect of Hsp104 was related to the loss of the [ PSI + ] prion, which forms cytosolic amyloid aggregates of the Sup35 protein. Overall, our data demonstrate that cytosolic aggregation of a prion impairs the mitochondrial metabolism of cells defective for Cox12. These findings identify a new functional connection between cytosolic proteostasis and biogenesis of the mitochondrial respiratory chain

The [PSI + ] prion modulates cytochrome c oxidase deficiency caused by deletion of COX12

International audienceCytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is a pivotal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which sustains bioenergetics of eukaryotic cells. Cox12, a peripheral subunit of CcO oxidase, is required for full activity of the enzyme, but its exact function is unknown. Here experimental evolution of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Δcox12 strain for ∼300 generations allowed to restore the activity of CcO oxidase. In one population, the enhanced bioenergetics was caused by a A375V mutation in the cytosolic AAA+ disaggregase Hsp104. Deletion or overexpression of HSP104 also increased respiration of the Δcox12 ancestor strain. This beneficial effect of Hsp104 was related to the loss of the [PSI + ] prion, which forms cytosolic amyloid aggregates of the Sup35 protein. Overall, our data demonstrate that cytosolic aggregation of a prion impairs the mitochondrial metabolism of cells defective for Cox12. These findings identify a new functional connection between cytosolic proteostasis and biogenesis of the mitochondrial respiratory chain

The [PSI+] prion and HSP104 modulate cytochrome c oxidase deficiency caused by deletion of COX12

Cytochrome c oxidase is a pivotal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which sustains bioenergetics of eukaryotic cells. Cox12, a peripheral subunit of cytochrome c oxidase, is required for full activity of the enzyme, but its exact function is unknown. Here, experimental evolution of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Δcox12 strain for ~300 generations allowed to restore the activity of cytochrome c oxidase. In one population, the enhanced bioenergetics was caused by a A375V mutation in the AAA+ disaggregase Hsp104. Deletion or overexpression of Hsp104 also increased respiration of the Δcox12 ancestor strain. This beneficial effect of Hsp104 was related to the loss of the [PSI+] prion, which forms cytosolic amyloid aggregates of the Sup35 protein. Overall, our data demonstrate that cytosolic aggregation of a prion impairs the mitochondrial metabolism of cells defective for Cox12. These findings identify a new functional connection between cytosolic proteostasis and biogenesis of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest

Respiratory supercomplexes enhance electron transport by decreasing cytochrome c diffusion distance

Respiratory chains are crucial for cellular energy conversion and consist of multi-subunit complexes that can assemble into supercomplexes. These structures have been intensively characterized in various organisms, but their physiological roles remain unclear. Here, we elucidate their function by leveraging a high-resolution structural model of yeast respiratory supercomplexes that allowed us to inhibit supercomplex formation by mutation of key residues in the interaction interface. Analyses of a mutant defective in supercomplex formation, which still contains fully functional individual complexes, show that the lack of supercomplex assembly delays the diffusion of cytochrome c between the separated complexes, thus reducing electron transfer efficiency. Consequently, competitive cellular fitness is severely reduced in the absence of supercomplex formation and can be restored by overexpression of cytochrome c. In sum, our results establish how respiratory supercomplexes increase the efficiency of cellular energy conversion, thereby providing an evolutionary advantage for aerobic organisms