scholarly journals Mitochondrial gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Proteolysis of nascent chains in isolated yeast mitochondria optimized for protein synthesis

1991 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
C L Black-Schaefer ◽  
J D McCourt ◽  
R O Poyton ◽  
E E McKee

We demonstrate here that mitochondrial translation products synthesized by isolated yeast mitochondria are subject to rapid proteolysis. The loss of label from mitochondrial peptides synthesized in vitro comes from two distinct pools of peptides: one that is rapidly degraded (t1/2 of minutes) and one that is much more resistant to proteolysis (t1/2 of hours). As the length of the incubation period increases, the percentage of labelled peptides in the rapidly-turning-over pool decreases and cannot be detected after 60 min of incubation. This proteolysis is inhibited by chloramphenicol and is dependent on the presence of ATP. The loss of label during the chase occurs from fully completed translation products. The proteolysis observed here markedly affects measurements of rates of mitochondrial protein synthesis in isolated yeast mitochondria. In earlier work, in which proteolysis was not considered, mitochondrial translation was thought to stop after 20-30 min of incubation. In the present study, by taking proteolysis into account, we demonstrate that the rate of translation in isolated mitochondria is actually constant for nearly 60 min and then decreases to near zero by 80 min of incorporation. These findings have allowed us to devise a procedure for measuring the ‘true’ rate of translation in isolated mitochondria. In addition, they suggest that mitochondrial translation products which normally assemble with nuclear-encoded gene products into multimeric enzyme complexes are unstable without their nuclear-encoded counterparts.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Xin Tang ◽  
Kyle Thompson ◽  
Robert W. Taylor ◽  
Monika Oláhová

The assembly of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes is an intricate process, which—given their dual-genetic control—requires tight co-regulation of two evolutionarily distinct gene expression machineries. Moreover, fine-tuning protein synthesis to the nascent assembly of OXPHOS complexes requires regulatory mechanisms such as translational plasticity and translational activators that can coordinate mitochondrial translation with the import of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins. The intricacy of OXPHOS complex biogenesis is further evidenced by the requirement of many tightly orchestrated steps and ancillary factors. Early-stage ancillary chaperones have essential roles in coordinating OXPHOS assembly, whilst late-stage assembly factors—also known as the LYRM (leucine–tyrosine–arginine motif) proteins—together with the mitochondrial acyl carrier protein (ACP)—regulate the incorporation and activation of late-incorporating OXPHOS subunits and/or co-factors. In this review, we describe recent discoveries providing insights into the mechanisms required for optimal OXPHOS biogenesis, including the coordination of mitochondrial gene expression with the availability of nuclear-encoded factors entering via mitochondrial protein import systems.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (3) ◽  
pp. E492-E502 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. McKee ◽  
B. L. Grier ◽  
G. S. Thompson ◽  
J. D. McCourt

Although much is now known with regard to the processes of mammalian mitochondrial gene expression, relatively little is known concerning the quantitative regulation of this pathway in response to hormones or other physiological stimuli. This has been caused, in large part, by the lack of adequate assay systems in which such processes can be meaningfully measured. The purpose of this and the companion paper [E. E. McKee, B. L. Grier, G. S. Thompson, A. C. F. Leung, and J. D. McCourt. Am. J. Physiol. 258 [Endocrinol. Metab. 21):E503-E510, 1990] is to describe a system in which the quantitative regulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis in rat heart can be investigated. In this report the conditions for mitochondrial isolation and labeling are described, and the importance of isolating intact, tightly coupled mitochondria in obtaining high and reliable rates of protein synthesis is demonstrated. The highest levels of protein synthesis are obtained in mitochondria isolated from hearts perfused and homogenized in the presence of subtilisin, conditions in which the fastest rates of state 3 respiration and the highest respiratory control ratios are also observed. Analysis of the free amino acid pools indicates that isolated heart mitochondria have a negligible level of endogenous methionine as well as other amino acids. As a result, the concentration and specific radioactivity of the [35S]methionine pool serving protein synthesis could be easily determined. Optimal translation occurred at 30 degrees C at a pH of 7.0-7.2 and required the addition of methionine (20 microM), the other 19 amino acids (0.1 mM each), K+ (60-90 mM), Cl- (30-90 mM), Mg2+ (0.5-5 mM), and bovine serum albumin (1 mg/ml). As shown in the companion paper, adenine nucleotide (0.5-4.0 mM) and oxidizable substrate (10-20 mM glutamate) are also required for isolated heart mitochondrial protein synthesis. Analysis of labeled mitochondrial translation products demonstrated that bona fide mitochondrial peptides were synthesized.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (6) ◽  
pp. R1238-R1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Kwast ◽  
S. C. Hand

Optimal conditions were developed for measuring rates of protein synthesis in isolated mitochondria from encysted embryos of Artemia franciscana to 1) identify the required chemical constituents, 2) assess the influence of extramitochondrial pH on protein synthesis, and 3) investigate potential mechanisms coordinating nuclear and mitochondrial gene expression. Isolation procedures resulted in intact, highly coupled mitochondria [respiratory control ratio = 6.48 +/- 0.43 (SE), n = 21]. Requirements for maximal rates of protein synthesis, measured as incorporation of [3H]leucine (60 microM), included an oxidizable carbon source (10 mM succinate), adenine nucleotides (1.5 mM ADP), phosphate (10 mM), K+ (125 mM), Mg2+ (10 mM), amino acids (0.3 mM of each), sucrose or trehalose (500 mM), EGTA (1 mM), and bovine serum albumin (1 mg/ml). Rates were linear for 60 min at 25 degrees C (r = 0.99). Fluorography of translated products revealed 13 peptides. Previous research has shown that anoxia-induced acidification of intracellular pH (pHi) results in suppression of protein biosynthesis, as judged by cytochrome-c oxidase synthesis. In the present study, mitochondrial protein synthesis was acutely sensitive to external pH, with 80% inhibition observed by lowering pH from 7.5 to 6.8. Thus acidification of pHi may serve as one intracellular signal contributing to a coordinated suppression of both cytoplasmic and mitochondrial protein synthesis during transitions from active to anoxia-induced quiescent states.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (3) ◽  
pp. E503-E510 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. McKee ◽  
B. L. Grier ◽  
G. S. Thompson ◽  
A. C. Leung ◽  
J. D. McCourt

Although much is now known with regard to the processes of mammalian mitochondrial gene expression, relatively little is known concerning the quantitative regulation of this pathway in response to hormones or other physiological stimuli. In this paper the potential coupling of mitochondrial metabolism to mitochondrial protein synthesis was investigated and the concentration of nucleotides and substrates for optimal translation in isolated rat heart mitochondria was determined. It was demonstrated that optimal isolated heart mitochondrial protein synthesis required the presence of an oxidizable substrate. Of the substrates tested, glutamate (20 mM) supported translation best followed by malate, succinate, and alpha-ketoglutarate, whereas pyruvate supported synthesis poorly. Unlike other recent mammalian mitochondrial systems, the presence of an oxidizable substrate was required for translation even in the presence of medium ATP and an exogenous energy-generating system. Mitochondrial translation also required the presence of adenine nucleotide that could be added as ADP or ATP; however, ATP added above 0.5 mM became progressively inhibitory. As a result, synthesis was supported significantly better by ATP synthesized by the system from added ADP, than by ATP added directly to the system. However, if the phosphorylation of ADP was prevented by limiting the phosphate concentration, ADP itself strongly inhibited mitochondrial protein synthesis. This inhibition appeared to be closely related to the energy charge of the system rather than to absolute levels of ADP, indicating for the first time that mitochondrial translation, like its cytoplasmic counterpart is regulated by energy charge. Last, this system did not require the inhibition of guanine nucleotide or exogenous energy-generating systems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 674
Author(s):  
Francesco Capriglia ◽  
Francesca Rizzo ◽  
Giuseppe Petrosillo ◽  
Veronica Morea ◽  
Giulia d’Amati ◽  
...  

The m.3243A>G mutation within the mitochondrial mt-tRNALeu(UUR) gene is the most prevalent variant linked to mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome. This pathogenic mutation causes severe impairment of mitochondrial protein synthesis due to alterations of the mutated tRNA, such as reduced aminoacylation and a lack of post-transcriptional modification. In transmitochondrial cybrids, overexpression of human mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS2) has proven effective in rescuing the phenotype associated with m.3243A>G substitution. The rescuing activity resides in the carboxy-terminal domain (Cterm) of the enzyme; however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated. To deepen our knowledge on the rescuing mechanisms, we demonstrated the interactions of the Cterm with mutated mt-tRNALeu(UUR) and its precursor in MELAS cybrids. Further, the effect of Cterm expression on mitochondrial functions was evaluated. We found that Cterm ameliorates de novo mitochondrial protein synthesis, whilst it has no effect on mt-tRNALeu(UUR) steady-state levels and aminoacylation. Despite the complete recovery of cell viability and the increase in mitochondrial translation, Cterm-overexpressing cybrids were not able to recover bioenergetic competence. These data suggest that, in our MELAS cell model, the beneficial effect of Cterm may be mediated by factors that are independent of the mitochondrial bioenergetics.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Fei Gao ◽  
Maria Wesolowska ◽  
Reuven Agami ◽  
Koos Rooijers ◽  
Fabricio Loayza-Puch ◽  
...  

Background: Gene expression in human mitochondria has various idiosyncratic features. One of these was recently revealed as the unprecedented recruitment of a mitochondrially-encoded tRNA as a structural component of the large mitoribosomal subunit. In porcine particles this is mt-tRNAPhe whilst in humans it is mt-tRNAVal. We have previously shown that when a mutation in mt-tRNAVal causes very low steady state levels, there is preferential recruitment of mt-tRNAPhe. We have investigated whether this altered mitoribosome affects intra-organellar protein synthesis. Methods: By using mitoribosomal profiling we have revealed aspects of mitoribosome behaviour with its template mt-mRNA under both normal conditions as well as those where the mitoribosome has incorporated mt-tRNAPhe. Results: Analysis of the mitoribosome residency on transcripts under control conditions reveals that although mitochondria employ only 22 mt-tRNAs for protein synthesis, the use of non-canonical wobble base pairs at codon position 3 does not cause any measurable difference in mitoribosome occupancy irrespective of the codon. Comparison of the profile of aberrant mt-tRNAPhe containing mitoribosomes with those of controls that integrate mt-tRNAVal revealed that the impaired translation seen in the latter was not due to stalling on triplets encoding either of these amino acids. The alterations in mitoribosome interactions with start codons was not directly attributable to the either the use of non-cognate initiation codons or the presence or absence of 5’ leader sequences, except in the two bicistronic RNA units, RNA7 and RNA14 where the initiation sites are internal. Conclusions: These data report the power of mitoribosomal profiling in helping to understand the subtleties of mammalian mitochondrial protein synthesis. Analysis of profiles from the mutant mt-tRNAVal cell line suggest that despite mt-tRNAPhe being preferred in the porcine mitoribosome, its integration into the human counterpart results in a suboptimal structure that modifies its interaction with mt-mRNAs.


Genetics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Haffter ◽  
T W McMullin ◽  
T D Fox

Abstract Translation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial mRNA encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (coxIII) specifically requires the products of at least three nuclear genes, PET122, PET494 and PET54. pet122 mutations that remove 24-67 amino acid residues from the carboxyterminus of the gene product were found to be suppressed by unlinked nuclear mutations. These unlinked suppressors fail to suppress both a pet122 missense mutation and a complete pet122 deletion. One of the suppressor mutations causes a heat-sensitive nonrespiratory growth phenotype in an otherwise wild-type strain and reduces translation of all mitochondrial gene products in cells grown at high temperature. This suppressor maps to a newly identified gene on chromosome XV termed PET123. The sequence of a DNA fragment carrying PET123 contains one major open reading frame encoding a basic protein of 318 amino acids. Inactivation of the chromosomal copy of PET123 by interruption of this open reading frame causes cells to become rho- (sustain large deletions in their mtDNA). This phenotype is characteristic for null alleles of genes whose products are essential for general mitochondrial protein synthesis. Thus our data strongly suggest that the PET123 protein is a component of the mitochondrial translation apparatus that interacts directly with the coxIII-mRNA-specific translational activator PET122.


1996 ◽  
Vol 313 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt E. KWAST ◽  
Steven C. HAND

To identify factors responsible for the down-regulation of mitochondrial biosynthetic processes during anoxia in encysted Artemia franciscana embryos, the effects of oxygen limitation and pH on protein synthesis were investigated in isolated mitochondria. At the optimal pH of 7.5, exposure of mitochondria to anoxia decreases the protein synthesis rate by 79%. Rates were suppressed by a further 10% at pH 6.8, the intracellular pH (pHi) measured under anoxia in vivo. Matrix pH, measured under identical conditions, was 8.43±0.01 at an extramitochondrial pH of 7.9 (mean±S.E.M., n = 3), 8.05±0.01 at pH 7.5, and 7.10±0.01 at pH 6.8. The matrix pH did not vary (P ≥0.20) as a function of oxygen availability during the 1 h assays. Intramitochondrial purine nucleotides varied little as a function of pH. In contrast, after 1 h of protein synthesis under anoxia, ATP levels decreased by up to 40%,. whereas AMP, ADP and GDP concentrations increased, and GTP and GMP concentrations remained relatively constant. The addition of 1 mM ATP at the onset of anoxia maintained the ATP/ADP ratio at the aerobic value, but did not stabilize the GTP/GDP ratio or rescue rates of protein synthesis. Thus, at present, we cannot eliminate the possibility that the decrease in the GTP/GDP ratio during anoxia may contribute to the suppression of protein synthesis. The effect of anoxia was reversible; the rate of protein synthesis upon reoxygenation after a 30 min bout of anoxia was comparable (P = 0.14) with the pre-anoxic rate (193±17 and 174±6 pmol of leucine per mg of protein respectively; mean±S.E.M., n = 3). The array of mitochondrial translation products did not differ qualitatively as a function of either oxygen availability or pH. Finally, similar pH profiles for protein synthesis were obtained with either [3H]leucine or [3H]histidine (known to use different transporters). Consequently, it is improbable that the pH-sensitivity of protein synthesis can be explained by a specific protein effect on the import of the radiolabelled amino acid used. In summary, both oxygen limitation and acidic pH suppress rates of mitochondrial protein synthesis and are likely to contribute to the arrest of mitochondrial anabolic processes during anoxia-induced quiescence in A. franciscana embryos.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (3) ◽  
pp. E413
Author(s):  
E E McKee ◽  
B L Grier

The rates of synthesis of mitochondrial proteins by both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial protein synthetic systems, as well as parameters of respiration, were measured and compared in mitochondria isolated from fresh, control perfused, and insulin-perfused rat hearts. The respiratory control ratio (RCR) in mitochondria from fresh hearts was 8.1 +/- 0.4 and decreased to 6.0 +/- 0.2 (P less than 0.001 vs. fresh) in mitochondria from control perfused hearts and to 6.7 +/- 0.2 (P less than 0.005 vs. fresh and P less than 0.02 vs. control perfused) for mitochondria from hearts perfused in the presence of insulin. A positive correlation between the RCR and the rate of mitochondrial translation was demonstrated in mitochondria from fresh hearts. In mitochondria isolated from control perfused hearts, the rate of protein synthesis decreased to 84 +/- 3% of the fresh rate after 30 min of perfusion and fell further to 64 +/- 3% after 3 h of perfusion. The inclusion of insulin in the perfusion buffer stimulated mitochondrial protein synthesis 1.2-fold by 1 h (P less than 0.005) and 1.34-fold by 3 h of perfusion (P less than 0.001). The addition of insulin to 1-h control perfused hearts shifted the rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis from the control level to the insulin-perfused level within 30 min of additional perfusion, whereas 1 h was required to shift the RCR values of these mitochondria from control levels to insulin-perfused levels. Thus, whereas RCR was a useful predictor of mitochondrial translation rates, it did not account for the effects of insulin on mitochondrial translation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


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