Reduced Basal Autophagy and Impaired Mitochondrial Dynamics Due to Loss of Parkinson's Disease-Associated Protein DJ-1

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction and degradation takes a central role in current paradigms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Loss of DJ-1 function is a rare cause of familial PD. Although a critical role of DJ-1 in oxidative stress response and mitochondrial function has been recognized, the effects on mitochondrial dynamics and downstream consequences remain to be determined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using DJ-1 loss of function cellular models from knockout (KO) mice and human carriers of the E64D mutation in the DJ-1 gene we define a novel role of DJ-1 in the integrity of both cellular organelles, mitochondria and lysosomes. We show that loss of DJ-1 caused impaired mitochondrial respiration, increased intramitochondrial reactive oxygen species, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and characteristic alterations of mitochondrial shape as shown by quantitative morphology. Importantly, ultrastructural imaging and subsequent detailed lysosomal activity analyses revealed reduced basal autophagic degradation and the accumulation of defective mitochondria in DJ-1 KO cells, that was linked with decreased levels of phospho-activated ERK2. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We show that loss of DJ-1 leads to impaired autophagy and accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria that under physiological conditions would be compensated via lysosomal clearance. Our study provides evidence for a critical role of DJ-1 in mitochondrial homeostasis by connecting basal autophagy and mitochondrial integrity in Parkinson's disease

Systems-level organization of yeast methylotrophic lifestyle

BACKGROUND: Some yeasts have evolved a methylotrophic lifestyle enabling them to utilize the single carbon compound methanol as a carbon and energy source. Among them, Pichia pastoris (syn. Komagataella sp.) is frequently used for the production of heterologous proteins and also serves as a model organism for organelle research. Our current knowledge of methylotrophic lifestyle mainly derives from sophisticated biochemical studies which identified many key methanol utilization enzymes such as alcohol oxidase and dihydroxyacetone synthase and their localization to the peroxisomes. C1 assimilation is supposed to involve the pentose phosphate pathway, but details of these reactions are not known to date. RESULTS: In this work we analyzed the regulation patterns of 5,354 genes, 575 proteins, 141 metabolites, and fluxes through 39 reactions of P. pastoris comparing growth on glucose and on a methanol/glycerol mixed medium, respectively. Contrary to previous assumptions, we found that the entire methanol assimilation pathway is localized to peroxisomes rather than employing part of the cytosolic pentose phosphate pathway for xylulose-5-phosphate regeneration. For this purpose, P. pastoris (and presumably also other methylotrophic yeasts) have evolved a duplicated methanol inducible enzyme set targeted to peroxisomes. This compartmentalized cyclic C1 assimilation process termed xylose-monophosphate cycle resembles the principle of the Calvin cycle and uses sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate as intermediate. The strong induction of alcohol oxidase, dihydroxyacetone synthase, formaldehyde and formate dehydrogenase, and catalase leads to high demand of their cofactors riboflavin, thiamine, nicotinamide, and heme, respectively, which is reflected in strong up-regulation of the respective synthesis pathways on methanol. Methanol-grown cells have a higher protein but lower free amino acid content, which can be attributed to the high drain towards methanol metabolic enzymes and their cofactors. In context with up-regulation of many amino acid biosynthesis genes or proteins, this visualizes an increased flux towards amino acid and protein synthesis which is reflected also in increased levels of transcripts and/or proteins related to ribosome biogenesis and translation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our work illustrates how concerted interpretation of multiple levels of systems biology data can contribute to elucidation of yet unknown cellular pathways and revolutionize our understanding of cellular biology. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-015-0186-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Analysis of relevant signalling pathways of radiation induced COX-2 Expression in tumorcells

Zusammenfassung: Krebserkrankungen sind weltweit ein Problem und die Zahl der Neuerkrankungen steigt stetig. Chirurgische Eingriffe, Strahlentherapie und Chemotherapie sind die maßgeblichen Behandlungsformen bei Tumorerkrankungen. Neue Entwicklungen in der Strahlentherapie machen Bestrahlung alleine oder in Kombination mit Chemotherapie zu einer wichtigen Behandlungsmethode, die mehr und mehr an Bedeutung gewinnt. Der Erfolg einer Behandlung ist oftmals Abhängig vom genetischen Profil eines Tumors. Damit wird die Untersuchung der molekularen Abläufe in Zellen nach Bestrahlung zu einem wichtigen Aspekt der Strahlentherapie um effektive Strategien zur Tumorbehandlung zu entwickeln. COX-2 ist in vielen Tumoren überexprimiert und korreliert mit einem schlechten Verlauf der Krankheit. Zudem kann COX-2 durch ionisierende Strahlung induziert werden. Das macht COX-2 zu einem interessanten molekularen ?Target? für die Strahlentherapie und die Tumortherapie im Allgemeinen. Studien mit spezifischen COX-2 Inhibitoren haben in verschiedenen Zelllinien zu unterschiedlichen Ergebnissen geführt. Die Untersuchungen in der hier vorliegenden Arbeit bezogen sich hauptsächlich auf das Überleben und das Wachstum von Prostatakarzinomzelllinien nach Bestrahlung alleine und in Kombination mit dem spezifischen COX-2 Inhibitor Celecoxib sowie die Analyse von Signalwegen über welche die strahleninduzierte COX-2 Expression verläuft. Dies sind die wichtigsten Resultate: 1. Die Behandlung mit Celecoxib hat keinen Einfluss auf die Strahlensensitivität der untersuchten Prostatakarzinomzelllinien. 2. Die Proliferation der untersuchten Zelllinien wurde durch die Behandlung mit Celecoxib gehemmt. 3. Die Inhibition der Proliferation durch Celecoxib scheint unabhängig vom COX-2 Niveau. 4. Apoptose kann in den untersuchten Zelllinien durch Behandlung mit Celecoxib in klinisch relevanten Dosen nicht induziert werden. 5. Die Induktion der COX-2 Expression durch ionisierende Strahlung ist abhängig von der Zelllinie. 6. Bei der Induktion der COX-2 Expression spielen die Signalwege der MAPK-Signalwegfamilie eine maßgebliche Rolle. Die erzielten Ergebnisse führen zu dem Schluss, dass COX-2 ein wichtiges molekulares ?Target? in der Strahlentherapie sein kann. Dies ist jedoch abhängig von der betrachteten Zelllinie. Ebenso sind die Signalwege die zu einer strahleninduzierten COX-2 Expression führen für jede Zelllinien individuell verschieden. So kann auch die Anwendung von Celecoxib in der Strahlentherapie für Behandlung bestimmter Tumore positiv sein.Summary: Cancer is a health problem worldwide and the number of new cases is rising. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the major treatment modalities. New developments in radiotherapy make radiation alone and in combination with chemotherapy to an important therapy becoming more and more mattering. The success of a therapy often depends on the genetic profile of a tumor. This makes analysis of molecular processes in cells after radiation an important aspect in radiotherapy developing an effective strategy for tumor treatment. COX-2 is overexpressed in a lot of tumors and correlates with a poor prognosis. Moreover COX-2 can be induced by ionizing radiation. This makes COX-2 an interesting molecular target in radiation therapy and in cancer therapy in general. Studies with specific COX-2 inhibitors came to different results in different cell lines. The aim of the presented study was to investigate the survival and the proliferation of prostate cancer cells after treatment with ionizing radiation alone and in combination with specific COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib and the analysis of signaling pathways leading to radiation induced COX-2 expression. The following major results were obtained: 1. Treatment with Celecoxib had no influence on the radiosensitivity of the prostate cancer cell lines investigated. 2. The proliferation of different cell lines was inhibited by the treatment with Celecoxib. 3. The inhibition of the proliferation seems to be independent of the level of COX-2 of the cell lines. 4. Apoptosis can not be induced by Celecoxib in clinical relevant doses in the cell lines investigated. 5. Induction of COX-2 expression by ionizing radiation depends on the cell line investigated. 6. The MAPK-signaling pathways play a major role at COX-2 expression. In conclusion the results of the presented study indicate that COX-2 can be an important molecular target in radiation therapy. Although this depends on the cell line investigated. As well, the signaling pathways leading to a radiation induced expression of COX-2 are individual for each cell line. Thus the application of Celecoxib during radiation therapy can be positive on the treatment of different tumors

Balance is the challenge--the impact of mitochondrial dynamics in Parkinson's disease.

Impaired mitochondrial function has been implicated in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) based on biochemical and pathoanatomical studies in brains of PD patients. This observation was further substantiated by the identification of exogenic toxins, i.e. complex I inhibitors that directly affect mitochondrial energy metabolism and cause Parkinsonism in humans and various animal models. Recently, insights into the underlying molecular signalling pathways leading to alterations in mitochondrial homeostasis were gained based on the functional characterization of mitoprotective genes identified in rare forms of inherited PD. Using in vitro and in vivo loss of function models of the Parkin, PINK1, DJ-1 and Omi/HtrA2 gene, the emerging field of mitochondrial dynamics in PD was established as being critical for the maintenance of mitochondrial function in neurons. This underscored the concept that mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles, which are tightly regulated to continuously adapt shape to functional and anatomical requirements during axonal transport, synaptic signalling, organelle degradation and cellular energy supply. The dissection of pathways involved in mitochondrial quality control clearly established the PINK1/Parkin-pathway in the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria by autophagy and hints to a complex interplay between PD-associated proteins acting at the mitochondrial interface. The elucidation of this mitoprotective signalling network may help to define novel therapeutic targets for PD via molecular modelling of mitochondria and/or pharmacological modulation of mitochondrial dynamics

A comprehensive genetic study of the proteasomal subunit S6 ATPase in German Parkinson's disease patients.

Dysfunction of proteasomal protein degradation is involved in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently we identified the regulatory proteasomal subunit S6 ATPase as a novel interactor of synphilin-1, which is a substrate of the ubiquitin-ligase Parkin (PARK2) and an interacting protein of alpha-synuclein (PARK1). To further investigate a potential role in the pathogenesis of PD, we performed a detailed mutation analysis of the S6 ATPase gene in a large sample of 486 German sporadic and familial PD patients. Direct sequencing revealed two novel intronic variants. An insertion/deletion variant in intron 5 of the S6 ATPase gene was more frequent in patients compared to controls. Moreover, this variant was significantly more frequent in early-onset compared to late-onset PD patients. The identification of a genetic link between a regulatory proteasomal subunit and PD further underscores the relevance of disturbed protein degradation in PD

Mitochondrial Morphology, Function and Homeostasis Are Impaired by Expression of an N-terminal Calpain Cleavage Fragment of Ataxin-3.

Alterations in mitochondrial morphology and function have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease and Huntington disease. Metabolic defects, resulting from dysfunctional mitochondria, have been reported in patients and respective animal models of all those diseases. Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3), another neurodegenerative disorder, also presents with metabolic defects and loss of body weight in early disease stages although the possible role of mitochondrial dysfunction in SCA3 pathology is still to be determined. Interestingly, the SCA3 disease protein ataxin-3, which is predominantly localized in cytoplasm and nucleus, has also been associated with mitochondria in both its mutant and wildtype form. This observation provides an interesting link to a potential mitochondrial involvement of mutant ataxin-3 in SCA3 pathogenesis. Furthermore, proteolytic cleavage of ataxin-3 has been shown to produce toxic fragments and even overexpression of artificially truncated forms of ataxin-3 resulted in mitochondria deficits. Therefore, we analyzed the repercussions of expressing a naturally occurring N-terminal cleavage fragment of ataxin-3 and the influence of an endogenous expression of the S256 cleavage fragment in vitro and in vivo. In our study, expression of a fragment derived from calpain cleavage induced mitochondrial fragmentation and cristae alterations leading to a significantly decreased capacity of mitochondrial respiration and contributing to an increased susceptibility to apoptosis. Furthermore, analyzing mitophagy revealed activation of autophagy in the early pathogenesis with reduced lysosomal activity. In conclusion, our findings indicate that cleavage of ataxin-3 by calpains results in fragments which interfere with mitochondrial function and mitochondrial degradation processes

Additional file 3: of Systems-level organization of yeast methylotrophic lifestyle

Enrichment of the peroxisomal marker protein Pex3p in the peroxisomal fraction. (PDF 271 kb