Photoactivated release of membrane impermeant sulfonates inside cells.

Photouncaging delivers compounds with high spatial and temporal control to induce or inhibit biological processes but the released compounds may diffuse out. We here demonstrate that sulfonate anions can be photocaged so that a membrane impermeable compound can enter cells, be uncaged by photoirradiation and trapped within the cell

Nrf2 is activated by disruption of mitochondrial thiol homeostasis but not by enhanced mitochondrial superoxide production

The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the expression of genes involved in antioxidant defenses to modulate fundamental cellular processes such as mitochondrial function and glutathione metabolism. Previous reports proposed that mitochondrial ROS production and disruption of the glutathione pool activate the Nrf2 pathway, suggesting that Nrf2 senses mitochondrial redox signals and/or oxidative damage and signals to the nucleus to respond appropriately. However, until now it has not been possible to disentangle the overlapping effects of mitochondrial superoxide/ hydrogen peroxide production as a redox signal from changes to mitochondrial thiol homeostasis on Nrf2. Recently, we developed mitochondria-targeted reagents that can independently induce mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production (MitoPQ), or selectively disrupt mitochondrial thiol homeostasis (MitoCDNB). Using these reagents, here we have determined how enhanced generation of mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, or disruption of mitochondrial thiol homeostasis affect activation of the Nrf2 system in cells, which was assessed by Nrf2 protein level, nuclear translocation and expression of its target genes. We found that selective disruption of the mitochondrial glutathione pool and inhibition of its thioredoxin system by MitoCDNB led to Nrf2 activation, while using MitoPQ to enhance production of mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide alone did not. We further showed that Nrf2 activation by MitoCDNB requires cysteine sensors of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). These findings provide important information on how disruption to mitochondrial redox homeostasis is sensed in the cytoplasm and signaled to the nucleus

Tetra-arylborate lipophilic anions as targeting groups

Tetraphenylborate (TPB) anions traverse membranes but are excluded from mitochondria by the membrane potential (Δψ). TPB-conjugates also distributed across membranes in response to Δψ, but surprisingly, they rapidly entered cells. They accumulated within lysosomes following endocystosis. This pH-independent targeting of lysosomes makes possible new classes of probe and bioactive molecules

Selective Disruption of Mitochondrial Thiol Redox State in Cells and In Vivo.

Mitochondrial glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (Trx) systems function independently of the rest of the cell. While maintenance of mitochondrial thiol redox state is thought vital for cell survival, this was not testable due to the difficulty of manipulating the organelle's thiol systems independently of those in other cell compartments. To overcome this constraint we modified the glutathione S-transferase substrate and Trx reductase (TrxR) inhibitor, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) by conjugation to the mitochondria-targeting triphenylphosphonium cation. The result, MitoCDNB, is taken up by mitochondria where it selectively depletes the mitochondrial GSH pool, catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases, and directly inhibits mitochondrial TrxR2 and peroxiredoxin 3, a peroxidase. Importantly, MitoCDNB inactivates mitochondrial thiol redox homeostasis in isolated cells and in vivo, without affecting that of the cytosol. Consequently, MitoCDNB enables assessment of the biomedical importance of mitochondrial thiol homeostasis in reactive oxygen species production, organelle dynamics, redox signaling, and cell death in cells and in vivo.We acknowledge the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/I012826/1), the Wellcome Trust (WT110158/Z/15/Z, 110159/Z/15/Z and RG88195), the University of Glasgow (JMG Studentship), and the Medical Research Council (MC_U105663142 and MC_ UU_00015/7)

Disruption of mitochondrial redox homeostasis as a cellular signal.

Mitochondria are crucial components of eukaryotic cells and exchange signalling molecules, metabolites, proteins and lipids with the rest of the cell. The organelle is key for energy metabolism as they provide most of the cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation and regulate intermediate metabolism. Mitochondria are also a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are by-products of aerobic respiration and recently recognised as important signalling molecules that control various cellular functions. To avoid the potential damaging effects of ROS, mitochondria contain protein antioxidant systems to help maintain thiol homeostasis. Mitochondria are emerging as an important redox signalling node and are involved in a myriad of signalling pathways, which have a redox component, either through a response to a particular ROS or the shift of the redox state of a responsive group. It is not surprising that mitochondria are therefore heavily regulated by retrograde signalling of the master regulator of cellular antioxidant defence, nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Until now it has not been possible to disentangle the overlapping effects of mitochondrial ROS signalling compared to a redox signal stemming from disruption of mitochondrial thiol homeostasis. Furthermore, it is important to distinguish between disturbing the cytosolic and mitochondrial protein antioxidant systems. I characterised the effects of mitochondrial thiol homeostasis disruption on mitochondrial physiology with MitoCDNB, showing mitochondrial fission. I found that selective disruption of the mitochondrial glutathione pool and inhibition of its thioredoxin system led to Nrf2 activation, while using MitoPQ to enhance production of mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide alone did not. To further our understanding of how mitochondrial redox homeostasis is sensed in the cytoplasm and signalled to the nucleus I used an RNAseq approach to investigate the intricacies of early mitochondrial retrograde signalling

Selective Disruption of Mitochondrial Thiol Redox State in Cells and In Vivo.

Mitochondrial glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (Trx) systems function independently of the rest of the cell. While maintenance of mitochondrial thiol redox state is thought vital for cell survival, this was not testable due to the difficulty of manipulating the organelle's thiol systems independently of those in other cell compartments. To overcome this constraint we modified the glutathione S-transferase substrate and Trx reductase (TrxR) inhibitor, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) by conjugation to the mitochondria-targeting triphenylphosphonium cation. The result, MitoCDNB, is taken up by mitochondria where it selectively depletes the mitochondrial GSH pool, catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases, and directly inhibits mitochondrial TrxR2 and peroxiredoxin 3, a peroxidase. Importantly, MitoCDNB inactivates mitochondrial thiol redox homeostasis in isolated cells and in vivo, without affecting that of the cytosol. Consequently, MitoCDNB enables assessment of the biomedical importance of mitochondrial thiol homeostasis in reactive oxygen species production, organelle dynamics, redox signaling, and cell death in cells and in vivo.We acknowledge the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/I012826/1), the Wellcome Trust (WT110158/Z/15/Z, 110159/Z/15/Z and RG88195), the University of Glasgow (JMG Studentship), and the Medical Research Council (MC_U105663142 and MC_ UU_00015/7)