FBXL4 ubiquitin ligase deficiency promotes mitophagy by elevating NIX adaptor levels
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Selective autophagy of mitochondria, mitophagy, is linked to mitochondrial quality control and as such critical to a healthy organism. We have used a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to screen human E3 ubiquitin ligases for influence on mitophagy under both basal cell culture conditions and upon acute mitochondrial depolarisation. We identify two cullin-RING ligase substrate receptors, VHL and FBXL4, as the most profound negative regulators of basal mitophagy. We show that these converge, albeit via different mechanisms, on control of the mitophagy adaptors BNIP3 and BNIP3L/NIX. FBXL4 restricts BNIP3 and NIX levels via direct interaction and protein destabilisation, while VHL acts through suppression of HIF1a-mediated transcription of BNIP3 and NIX. Depletion of NIX but not BNIP3 is sufficient to restore mitophagy levels. Our study contributes to understanding of the aetiology of early-onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathy that is supported by analysis of a disease associated mutation. We further show that the compound MLN4924, which globally interferes with cullin-RING ligase activity, is a strong inducer of mitophagy, thus providing a research tool in this context and a candidate therapeutic agent for conditions linked to mitochondrial dysfunction.
SUBMITTER: Dr. Hannah Elcocks
PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_15252-EMBJ_2022112799 | biostudies-other |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
ACCESS DATA