A small molecule inhibitor of redox-regulated protein translocation into mitochondria

Dev Cell. 2013 Apr 15;25(1):81-92. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.03.006.

Abstract

The mitochondrial disulfide relay system of Mia40 and Erv1/ALR facilitates import of the small translocase of the inner membrane (Tim) proteins and cysteine-rich proteins. A chemical screen identified small molecules that inhibit Erv1 oxidase activity, thereby facilitating dissection of the disulfide relay system in yeast and vertebrate mitochondria. One molecule, mitochondrial protein import blockers from the Carla Koehler laboratory (MitoBloCK-6), attenuated the import of Erv1 substrates into yeast mitochondria and inhibited oxidation of Tim13 and Cmc1 in in vitro reconstitution assays. In addition, MitoBloCK-6 revealed an unexpected role for Erv1 in the carrier import pathway, namely transferring substrates from the translocase of the outer membrane complex onto the small Tim complexes. Cardiac development was impaired in MitoBloCK-6-exposed zebrafish embryos. Finally, MitoBloCK-6 induced apoptosis via cytochrome c release in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) but not in differentiated cells, suggesting an important role for ALR in hESC homeostasis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Respiration
  • Cell Survival
  • Cytochrome Reductases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cytochrome Reductases / genetics
  • Cytochrome Reductases / metabolism
  • Cytochromes c / genetics
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • Edema, Cardiac / chemically induced
  • Edema, Cardiac / genetics
  • Edema, Cardiac / pathology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / embryology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / pathology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
  • Morpholinos / pharmacology
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Yeasts / drug effects
  • Yeasts / genetics
  • Yeasts / metabolism
  • Zebrafish / growth & development
  • Zebrafish / metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Morpholinos
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • Cytochromes c
  • Cytochrome Reductases
  • Oxygen