scholarly journals AMPK: keeping the (power)house in order?

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Mitochondrial Matrix ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Cellular Energy ◽  
Power Stations ◽  
Power House ◽  
Reliable Source ◽  
Amp Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
The Brain

Metabolically energetic organs, such as the brain, require a reliable source of ATP, the majority of which is provided by oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondrial matrix. Maintaining mitochondrial integrity is therefore of paramount importance in highly specialized cells such as neurons. Beyond acting as cellular ‘power stations’ and initiators of apoptosis, neuronal mitochondria are highly mobile, transported to pre- and post-synaptic sites for rapid, localized ATP production, serve to buffer physiological and pathological calcium and contribute to dendritic arborization. Given such roles, it is perhaps unsurprising that recent studies implicate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular energy-sensitive metabolic regulator, in triggering mitochondrial fission, potentially balancing mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis and mitophagy.

scholarly journals Repeated hypoglycemia blunts the responsiveness of glucose-inhibited GHRH neurons by remodeling neural inputs and disrupting mitochondrial structure and function

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bayne ◽  
A Alvarsson ◽  
K Devarakonda ◽  
R Li ◽  
M Jimenez-Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Glucose Sensing ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Hypoglycemia Unawareness ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Low Glucose

AbstractHypoglycemia is a frequent complication of diabetes, limiting therapy and increasing morbidity and mortality. With recurrent hypoglycemia, the counter-regulatory response (CRR) to decreased blood glucose is blunted, resulting in hypoglycemia unawareness. The mechanisms leading to these blunted effects remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify, with in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and the tissue clearing capability of iDisco, that GHRH neurons represent a unique population of arcuate nucleus neurons activated by glucose deprivation in vivo. Repeated glucose deprivation reduces GHRH neuron activation and remodels excitatory and inhibitory inputs to GHRH neurons. We show low glucose sensing is coupled to GHRH neuron depolarization, decreased ATP production and mitochondrial fusion. Repeated hypoglycemia attenuates these responses during low glucose. By maintaining mitochondrial length with the small molecule, mdivi-1, we preserved hypoglycemia sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Our findings present possible mechanisms for the blunting of the CRR, broaden significantly our understanding of the structure of GHRH neurons and for the fist time, propose that mitochondrial dynamics play an important role in hypoglycemia unawareness. We conclude that interventions targeting mitochondrial fission in GHRH neurons may offer a new pathway to prevent hypoglycemia unawareness in diabetic patients.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial morphology provides a mechanism for energy buffering at synapses

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guadalupe C. Garcia ◽  
Thomas M. Bartol ◽  
Sébastien Phan ◽  
Eric A. Bushong ◽  
Guy Perkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Qualitative Difference ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Cellular Energy ◽  
Metabolic Conditions ◽  
Space Dependence ◽  
The Brain

AbstractMitochondria as the main energy suppliers of eukaryotic cells are highly dynamic organelles that fuse, divide and are transported along the cytoskeleton to ensure cellular energy homeostasis. While these processes are well established, substantial evidence indicates that the internal structure is also highly variable in dependence on metabolic conditions. However, a quantitative mechanistic understanding of how mitochondrial morphology affects energetic states is still elusive. To address this question, we here present an agent-based dynamic model using three-dimensional morphologies from electron microscopy tomography which considers the molecular dynamics of the main ATP production components. We apply our modeling approach to mitochondria at the synapse which is the largest energy consumer within the brain. Interestingly, comparing the spatiotemporal simulations with a corresponding space-independent approach, we find minor space dependence when the system relaxes toward equilibrium but a qualitative difference in fluctuating environments. These results suggest that internal mitochondrial morphology is not only optimized for ATP production but also provides a mechanism for energy buffering and may represent a mechanism for cellular robustness.

Abstract 568: Deletion of AMP-activated Protein Kinase-alpha Triggers Mitochondrial Fission and Endothelial Dysfunction

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qqilong Wang ◽  
Zhonglin Xie ◽  
Huaiping Zhu ◽  
Ye Ding ◽  
Ming-Hui Zou
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Chronic Administration ◽  
Mitochondrial Fragmentation ◽  
Aortic Endothelium ◽  
Amp Activated Protein Kinase

Introduction: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been reported to regulate mitochondrial biogenesis, function, and turnover. However, the molecular mechanisms by which AMPK regulates mitochondrial dynamics remain poorly characterized. We hypothesized that AMPK deficiency regulates mitochondrial fission that will result in endothelial dysfunction. Methods/Results: Deletion of AMPKα2 resulted in defective autophagy, dynamin-related protein (Drp1) accumulation, and aberrant mitochondrial fragmentation in the aortic endothelium of mice. Furthermore, autophagy inhibition by chloroquine treatment or Atg7 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection upregulated Drp1 expression and triggered Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation. In contrast, autophagy activation by overexpression of Atg7 or chronic administration of rapamycin, the mammalian target of rapamycin kinase inhibitor, promoted Drp1 degradation and attenuated mitochondrial fission in AMPKα2 -/- mice, suggesting that defective autophagy contributes to enhanced Drp1 expression and mitochondrial fragmentation. Interesting, the genetic (Drp1 siRNA) or pharmacological (mdivi-1) inhibition of Drp1 ablated mitochondrial fragmentation in the mouse aortic endothelium and prevented the acetylcholine-induced relaxation of isolated mouse aortas from AMPKα2 -/- mice. This suggests that aberrant Drp1 is responsible for enhanced mitochondrial fission and endothelial dysfunction in AMPKα knockout mice. Conclusions: Our results show that AMPKα deletion promoted mitochondrial fission in vascular endothelial cells by inhibiting the autophagy-dependent degradation of Drp1.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial Dynamics and VMP1-Related Selective Mitophagy in Experimental Acute Pancreatitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Vanasco ◽  
Alejandro Ropolo ◽  
Daniel Grasso ◽  
Diego S. Ojeda ◽  
María Noé García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Mitochondrial Function ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Pancreatic Acinar Cells ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Selective Autophagy ◽  
Mild Disease

Mitophagy and zymophagy are selective autophagy pathways early induced in acute pancreatitis that may explain the mild, auto limited, and more frequent clinical presentation of this disease. Adequate mitochondrial bioenergetics is necessary for cellular restoration mechanisms that are triggered during the mild disease. However, mitochondria and zymogen contents are direct targets of damage in acute pancreatitis. Cellular survival depends on the recovering possibility of mitochondrial function and efficient clearance of damaged mitochondria. This work aimed to analyze mitochondrial dynamics and function during selective autophagy in pancreatic acinar cells during mild experimental pancreatitis in rats. Also, using a cell model under the hyperstimulation of the G-coupled receptor for CCK (CCK-R), we aimed to investigate the mechanisms involved in these processes in the context of zymophagy. We found that during acute pancreatitis, mitochondrial O2consumption and ATP production significantly decreased early after induction of acute pancreatitis, with a consequent decrease in the ATP/O ratio. Mitochondrial dysfunction was accompanied by changes in mitochondrial dynamics evidenced by optic atrophy 1 (OPA-1) and dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP-1) differential expression and ultrastructural features of mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial elongation, and mitophagy during the acute phase of experimental mild pancreatitis in rats. Mitophagy was also evaluated by confocal assay after transfection with the pMITO-RFP-GFP plasmid that specifically labels autophagic degradation of mitochondria and the expression and redistribution of the ubiquitin ligase Parkin1. Moreover, we report for the first time that vacuole membrane protein-1 (VMP1) is involved and required in the mitophagy process during acute pancreatitis, observable not only by repositioning around specific mitochondrial populations, but also by detection of mitochondria in autophagosomes specifically isolated with anti-VMP1 antibodies as well. Also, VMP1 downregulation avoided mitochondrial degradation confirming that VMP1 expression is required for mitophagy during acute pancreatitis. In conclusion, we identified a novel DRP1-Parkin1-VMP1 selective autophagy pathway, which mediates the selective degradation of damaged mitochondria by mitophagy in acute pancreatitis. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved to restore mitochondrial function, such as mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, could be relevant in the development of novel therapeutic strategies in acute pancreatitis.

scholarly journals Melatonin Affects Mitochondrial Fission/Fusion Dynamics in the Diabetic Retina

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Ya-An Chang ◽  
Fei Yu ◽  
Liheng Shi ◽  
Michael L. Ko ◽  
Gladys Y.-P. Ko
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Neural Retina ◽  
Mitochondrial Fusion ◽  
Protein Marker ◽  
Mitofusin 2 ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Diabetic Retina ◽  
Retinal Microvasculature

Mitochondrial fission and fusion are dependent on cellular nutritional states, and maintaining this dynamics is critical for the health of cells. Starvation triggers mitochondrial fusion to maintain bioenergetic efficiency, but during nutrient overloads (as with hyperglycemic conditions), fragmenting mitochondria is a way to store nutrients to avoid waste of energy. In addition to ATP production, mitochondria play an important role in buffering intracellular calcium (Ca2+). We found that in cultured 661W cells, a photoreceptor-derived cell line, hyperglycemic conditions triggered an increase of the expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), a protein marker of mitochondrial fission, and a decrease of mitofusin 2 (MFN2), a protein for mitochondrial fusion. Further, these hyperglycemic cells also had decreased mitochondrial Ca2+ but increased cytosolic Ca2+. Treating these hyperglycemic cells with melatonin, a multifaceted antioxidant, averted hyperglycemia-altered mitochondrial fission-and-fusion dynamics and mitochondrial Ca2+ levels. To mimic how people most commonly take melatonin supplements, we gave melatonin to streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced type 1 diabetic mice by daily oral gavage and determined the effects of melatonin on diabetic eyes. We found that melatonin was not able to reverse the STZ-induced systemic hyperglycemic condition, but it prevented STZ-induced damage to the neural retina and retinal microvasculature. The beneficial effects of melatonin in the neural retina in part were through alleviating STZ-caused changes in mitochondrial dynamics and Ca2+ buffering.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial Dynamics Markers and Related Signaling Molecules Are Important Regulators of Spermatozoa Number and Functionality

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5693
Author(s):  
Isidora M. Starovlah ◽  
Sava M. Radovic Pletikosic ◽  
Tatjana S. Kostic ◽  
Silvana A. Andric
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Signaling Molecules ◽  
Transcriptional Profile ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Adaptive Mechanisms

Here, we study possible mechanisms of (in/sub)fertility related to the acute or repeated psychological stresses (the most common stresses in human society) by following the transcriptional profile of 22 mitochondrial dynamics/function markers and 22 signaling molecules regulating both mitochondrial dynamics and spermatozoa number/functionality. An in vivo study mimicking acute (once for 3 h) and repeated (3 h for 10 consecutive days) psychophysical stress was performed on adult rats. The analysis of hormones, the number/functionality of spermatozoa, and 44 transcriptional markers were performed on individual samples from up to 12 animals per group. Results showed that both types of stress reduced spermatozoa functionality (acute by 4.4-fold, repeated by 3.3-fold) and ATP production (acute by 2.3-fold, repeated by 14.5-fold), while only repeated stress reduces the number of spermatozoa (1.9-fold). Stress significantly disturbed transcription of 34-out-of-44 markers (77%). Mitochondrial dynamics and functionality markers: 18-out-of-22 =>82% (mitochondrial-biogenesis-markers –>6-out-of-8 =>75%; mitochondrial-fusion-markers –>3-out-of-3 =>100%; mitochondrial-fission-markers –>1-out-of-2 =>50%; mitochondrial-autophagy-markers –>3-out-of-3 =>100%; mitochondrial-functionality-markers –>5-out-of-6 =>83%). Markers of signaling pathways regulating both mitochondrial dynamics/functionality and spermatozoa number/functionality important for male (in/sub)fertility –>16-out-of-22 =>73% (cAMP-signaling-markers –>8-out-of-12 =>67%; MAPK-signaling-markers –>8-out-of-10 =>80%). Accordingly, stress-triggered changes of transcriptional profile of mitochondrial dynamics/functionality markers as well as signaling molecules regulating both mitochondrial dynamics and spermatozoa number and functionality represent adaptive mechanisms.

scholarly journals NR4A1 Promotes Diabetic Nephropathy by Activating Mff-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission and Suppressing Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1675-1693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junqin Sheng ◽  
Hongyan Li ◽  
Qin Dai ◽  
Chang Lu ◽  
Min Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Nephropathy ◽  
Western Blotting ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Metabolism Disorder ◽  
P53 Signaling ◽  
Mptp Opening

Background/Aims: Disrupted mitochondrial dynamics, including excessive mitochondrial fission and mitophagy arrest, has been identified as a pathogenic factor in diabetic nephropathy (DN), although the upstream regulatory signal for mitochondrial fission activation and mitophagy arrest in the setting of DN remains unknown. Methods: Wild-type (WT) mice and NR4A1 knockout (NR4A1-KO) mice were used to establish a DN model. Mitochondrial fission and mitophagy were evaluated by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Mitochondrial function was assessed by JC-1 staining, the mPTP opening assay, immunofluorescence and western blotting. Renal histopathology and morphometric analyses were conducted via H&E, Masson and PASM staining. Kidney function was evaluated via ELISA, western blotting and qPCR. Results: In the present study, we found that nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) was actually activated by a chronic hyperglycemic stimulus. Higher NR4A1 expression was associated with glucose metabolism disorder, renal dysfunction, kidney hypertrophy, renal fibrosis, and glomerular apoptosis. At the molecular level, increased NR4A1 expression activated p53, and the latter selectively stimulated mitochondrial fission and inhibited mitophagy by modulating Mff and Parkin transcription. Excessive Mff-related mitochondrial fission caused mitochondrial oxidative stress, promoted mPTP opening, exacerbated proapoptotic protein leakage into the cytoplasm, and finally initiated mitochondria-dependent cellular apoptosis in the setting of diabetes. In addition, defective Parkin-mediated mitophagy repressed cellular ATP production and failed to correct the uncontrolled mitochondrial fission. However, NR4A1 knockdown interrupted the Mff-related mitochondrial fission and recused Parkin-mediated mitophagy, reducing the hyperglycemia-mediated mitochondrial damage and thus improving renal function. Conclusion: Overall, we have shown that NR4A1 functions as a novel malefactor in diabetic renal damage and operates by synchronously enhancing Mff-related mitochondrial fission and repressing Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Thus, finding strategies to regulate the balance of the NR4A1-p53 signaling pathway and mitochondrial homeostasis may be a therapeutic option for treating diabetic nephropathy in clinical practice.

scholarly journals Neuronal TORC1 modulates longevity via AMPK and cell nonautonomous regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in C. elegans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Anne Lanjuin ◽  
Suvagata Roy Chowdhury ◽  
Meeta Mistry ◽  
Carlos G. Silva Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Lifespan Extension ◽  
Ampk Activation ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Amp Activated Protein Kinase

AbstractTarget of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) antagonistically modulate metabolism and aging. However, how they coordinate to determine longevity and if they act via separable mechanisms is unclear. Here, we show that neuronal AMPK is essential for lifespan extension from TORC1 inhibition, and that TORC1 suppression increases lifespan cell non autonomously via distinct mechanisms from global AMPK activation. Lifespan extension by null mutations in genes encoding raga-1 (RagA) or rsks-1 (S6K) is fully suppressed by neuronal-specific rescues. Loss of RAGA-1 increases lifespan via maintaining mitochondrial fusion. Neuronal RAGA-1 abrogation of raga-1 mutant longevity requires UNC-64/syntaxin, and promotes mitochondrial fission cell nonautonomously. Finally, deleting the mitochondrial fission factor DRP-1 renders the animal refractory to the pro-aging effects of neuronal RAGA-1. Our results highlight a new role for neuronal TORC1 in cell nonautonomous regulation of longevity, and suggest TORC1 in the central nervous system might be targeted to promote healthy aging.

scholarly journals Neuronal TORC1 modulates longevity via AMPK and cell nonautonomous regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in C. elegans

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Anne Lanjuin ◽  
Suvagata Roy Chowdhury ◽  
Meeta Mistry ◽  
Carlos G Silva-García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Mitochondrial Fission ◽  
Lifespan Extension ◽  
Ampk Activation ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Amp Activated Protein Kinase

Target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) antagonistically modulate metabolism and aging. However, how they coordinate to determine longevity and if they act via separable mechanisms is unclear. Here, we show that neuronal AMPK is essential for lifespan extension from TORC1 inhibition, and that TORC1 suppression increases lifespan cell non autonomously via distinct mechanisms from global AMPK activation. Lifespan extension by null mutations in genes encoding raga-1 (RagA) or rsks-1 (S6K) is fully suppressed by neuronal-specific rescues. Loss of RAGA-1 increases lifespan via maintaining mitochondrial fusion. Neuronal RAGA-1 abrogation of raga-1 mutant longevity requires UNC-64/syntaxin, and promotes mitochondrial fission cell nonautonomously. Finally, deleting the mitochondrial fission factor DRP-1 renders the animal refractory to the pro-aging effects of neuronal RAGA-1. Our results highlight a new role for neuronal TORC1 in cell nonautonomous regulation of longevity, and suggest TORC1 in the central nervous system might be targeted to promote healthy aging.

scholarly journals AMPK–mTOR Signaling and Cellular Adaptations in Hypoxia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 9765
Author(s):  
Yoomi Chun ◽  
Joungmok Kim
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Electron Flow ◽  
Oxidative Degradation ◽  
Chain Complex ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Nutrient Sensing ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Cellular Energy ◽  
Nutrient Signaling ◽  
Amp Activated Protein Kinase

Cellular energy is primarily provided by the oxidative degradation of nutrients coupled with mitochondrial respiration, in which oxygen participates in the mitochondrial electron transport chain to enable electron flow through the chain complex (I–IV), leading to ATP production. Therefore, oxygen supply is an indispensable chapter in intracellular bioenergetics. In mammals, oxygen is delivered by the bloodstream. Accordingly, the decrease in cellular oxygen level (hypoxia) is accompanied by nutrient starvation, thereby integrating hypoxic signaling and nutrient signaling at the cellular level. Importantly, hypoxia profoundly affects cellular metabolism and many relevant physiological reactions induce cellular adaptations of hypoxia-inducible gene expression, metabolism, reactive oxygen species, and autophagy. Here, we introduce the current knowledge of hypoxia signaling with two-well known cellular energy and nutrient sensing pathways, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Additionally, the molecular crosstalk between hypoxic signaling and AMPK/mTOR pathways in various hypoxic cellular adaptions is discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document