Mitochondrial autophagy in cells with mtDNA mutations results from synergistic loss of transmembrane potential and mTORC1 inhibition

Hum Mol Genet. 2012 Mar 1;21(5):978-90. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddr529. Epub 2011 Nov 11.

Abstract

Autophagy has emerged as a key cellular process for organellar quality control, yet this pathway apparently fails to eliminate mitochondria containing pathogenic mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in patients with a variety of human diseases. In order to explore how mtDNA-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction interacts with endogenous autophagic pathways, we examined autophagic status in a panel of human cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cell lines carrying a variety of pathogenic mtDNA mutations. We found that both genetic- and chemically induced loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψ(m)) caused recruitment of the pro-mitophagic factor Parkin to mitochondria. Strikingly, however, the loss of Δψ(m) alone was insufficient to prompt delivery of mitochondria to the autophagosome (mitophagy). We found that mitophagy could be induced following treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin in cybrids carrying either large-scale partial deletions of mtDNA or complete depletion of mtDNA. Further, we found that the level of endogenous Parkin is a crucial determinant of mitophagy. These results suggest a two-hit model, in which the synergistic induction of both (i) mitochondrial recruitment of Parkin following the loss of Δψ(m) and (ii) mTORC1-controlled general macroautophagy is required for mitophagy. It appears that mitophagy can be accomplished by the endogenous autophagic machinery, but requires the full engagement of both of these pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial*
  • Mitochondria / physiology*
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Mutation
  • Phagosomes / physiology
  • Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • parkin protein
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sirolimus