Prostate Cancer-Specific Lysine 53 Acetylation of Cytochrome c Drives Metabolic Reprogramming and Protects from Apoptosis in Intact Cells.

Cytochrome c (Cytc) is important for both mitochondrial respiration and apoptosis, both of which are altered in cancer cells that switch to Warburg metabolism and manage to evade apoptosis. We earlier reported that lysine 53 (K53) of Cytc is acetylated in prostate cancer. K53 is conserved in mammals that is known to be essential for binding to cytochrome c oxidase and apoptosis protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1). Here we report the effects of this acetylation on the main functions of cytochrome c by expressing acetylmimetic K53Q in cytochrome c double knockout cells. Other cytochrome c variants analyzed were wild-type, K53R as a control that maintains the positive charge, and K53I, which is present in some non-mammalian species. Intact cells expressing K53Q cytochrome c showed 49% decreased mitochondrial respiration and a concomitant increase in glycolytic activity (Warburg effect). Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased, correlating with notably reduced basal mitochondrial superoxide levels and decreased cell death upon challenge with H2O2 or staurosporine. To test for markers of cancer aggressiveness and invasiveness, cells were grown in 3D spheroid culture. K53Q cytochrome c-expressing cells showed profoundly increased protrusions compared to WT, suggesting increased invasiveness. We propose that K53 acetylation of cytochrome c is an adaptive response that mediates prostate cancer metabolic reprogramming and evasion of apoptosis, which are two hallmarks of cancer, to better promote tumor survival and metastasis.

Cytochrome c lysine acetylation regulates cellular respiration and cell death in ischemic skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle is more resilient to ischemia-reperfusion injury than other organs. Tissue specific post-translational modifications of cytochrome c (Cytc) are involved in ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating mitochondrial respiration and apoptosis. Here, we describe an acetylation site of Cytc, lysine 39 (K39), which was mapped in ischemic porcine skeletal muscle and removed by sirtuin5 in vitro. Using purified protein and cellular double knockout models, we show that K39 acetylation and acetylmimetic K39Q replacement increases cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity and ROS scavenging while inhibiting apoptosis via decreased binding to Apaf-1, caspase cleavage and activity, and cardiolipin peroxidase activity. These results are discussed with X-ray crystallography structures of K39 acetylated (1.50 Å) and acetylmimetic K39Q Cytc (1.36 Å) and NMR dynamics. We propose that K39 acetylation is an adaptive response that controls electron transport chain flux, allowing skeletal muscle to meet heightened energy demand while simultaneously providing the tissue with robust resilience to ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Co-targeting of HDAC, PI3K, and Bcl-2 results in metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming and decreased mitochondrial function in acute myeloid leukemia.

Despite the recently approved new therapies, the clinical outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients remain disappointing, highlighting the need for novel therapies. Our lab has previously demonstrated the promising outlook for CUDC-907, a dual inhibitor of PI3K and HDAC, in combination with venetoclax (VEN), against AML both in vitro and in vivo at least partially through suppression of c-Myc. In this study, we further elucidated the mechanism of action of the combination in preclinical models of AML. We demonstrated that the combination significantly reduced primary AML cell engraftment in immunocompromised mice. RNA sequencing and metabolomics analyses revealed that the combination reduced the levels for mRNAs of key TCA cycle genes and metabolites in the TCA cycle, respectively. This was accompanied by a reduced oxygen consumption rate (OCR), demonstrating that the combination suppressed oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Metabolomics analyses revealed that a large number of metabolites upregulated in AraC-resistant AML cells could be downregulated by the combination. CUDC-907 synergized with VEN in inducing apoptosis in the AraC-resistant AML cells. In conclusion, the CUDC-907 and VEN combination induces metabolic and transcriptomic reprograming and suppression of OXPHOS in AML, which provides additional mechanisms underlying the synergy between the two agents.

Metformin, phenformin, and galegine inhibit complex IV activity and reduce glycerol-derived gluconeogenesis.

SignificanceMetformin is the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, yet the mechanism by which it lowers plasma glucose concentrations has remained elusive. Most studies to date have attributed metformin's glucose-lowering effects to inhibition of complex I activity. Contrary to this hypothesis, we show that inhibition of complex I activity in vitro and in vivo does not reduce plasma glucose concentrations or inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis. We go on to show that metformin, and the related guanides/biguanides, phenformin and galegine, inhibit complex IV activity at clinically relevant concentrations, which, in turn, results in inhibition of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, increased cytosolic redox, and selective inhibition of glycerol-derived hepatic gluconeogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.

Lysine 53 Acetylation of Cytochrome c in Prostate Cancer: Warburg Metabolism and Evasion of Apoptosis.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Two classic cancer hallmarks are a metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) to glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect, and resistance to cell death. Cytochrome c (Cytc) is at the intersection of both pathways, as it is essential for electron transport in mitochondrial respiration and a trigger of intrinsic apoptosis when released from the mitochondria. However, its functional role in cancer has never been studied. Our data show that Cytc is acetylated on lysine 53 in both androgen hormone-resistant and -sensitive human prostate cancer xenografts. To characterize the functional effects of K53 modification in vitro, K53 was mutated to acetylmimetic glutamine (K53Q), and to arginine (K53R) and isoleucine (K53I) as controls. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity analyzed with purified Cytc variants showed reduced oxygen consumption with acetylmimetic Cytc compared to the non-acetylated Cytc (WT), supporting the Warburg effect. In contrast to WT, K53Q Cytc had significantly lower caspase-3 activity, suggesting that modification of Cytc K53 helps cancer cells evade apoptosis. Cardiolipin peroxidase activity, which is another proapoptotic function of the protein, was lower in acetylmimetic Cytc. Acetylmimetic Cytc also had a higher capacity to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), another pro-survival feature. We discuss our experimental results in light of structural features of K53Q Cytc, which we crystallized at a resolution of 1.31 Å, together with molecular dynamics simulations. In conclusion, we propose that K53 acetylation of Cytc affects two hallmarks of cancer by regulating respiration and apoptosis in prostate cancer xenografts.

Targeting multiple signaling pathways: the new approach to acute myeloid leukemia therapy.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults and the second most common form of acute leukemia in children. Despite this, very little improvement in survival rates has been achieved over the past few decades. This is partially due to the heterogeneity of AML and the need for more targeted therapeutics than the traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies that have been a mainstay in therapy for the past 50 years. In the past 20 years, research has been diversifying the approach to treating AML by investigating molecular pathways uniquely relevant to AML cell proliferation and survival. Here we review the development of novel therapeutics in targeting apoptosis, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, hedgehog (HH) pathway, mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and c-Myc signaling. There has been an impressive effort into better understanding the diversity of AML cell characteristics and here we highlight important preclinical studies that have supported therapeutic development and continue to promote new ways to target AML cells. In addition, we describe clinical investigations that have led to FDA approval of new targeted AML therapies and ongoing clinical trials of novel therapies targeting AML survival pathways. We also describe the complexity of targeting leukemia stem cells (LSCs) as an approach to addressing relapse and remission in AML and targetable pathways that are unique to LSC survival. This comprehensive review details what we currently understand about the signaling pathways that support AML cell survival and the exceptional ways in which we disrupt them.

Targeting mitochondrial respiration for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease with variable presentation, molecular phenotype, and cytogenetic abnormalities and has seen very little improvement in patient survival over the last few decades. This heterogeneity supports poor prognosis partially through the variability in response to the standard chemotherapy. Further understanding of molecular heterogeneity has promoted the development of novel treatments, some of which target mitochondrial metabolism and function. This review discusses the relative dependency that AML cells have on mitochondrial function, and the ability to pivot this reliance to target important subsets of AML cells, including leukemia stem cells (LSCs). LSCs are tumor-initiating cells that are resistant to standard chemotherapy and promote the persistence and relapse of AML. Historically, LSCs have been targeted based on immunophenotype, but recent developments in the understanding of LSC metabolism has demonstrated unique abilities to target LSCs while sparing normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) through inhibition of mitochondrial function. Here we highlight the use of small molecules that have been demonstrated to effectively target mitochondrial function. IACS-010759 and ME-344 target the electron transport chain (ETC) to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The imipridone family (ONC201, ONC206, ONC212) of inhibitors target mitochondria through activation of ClpP mitochondrial protease and reduce function of essential pathways. These molecules offer a new mechanism for developing clinical therapies in AML and support novel strategies to target LSCs in parallel with conventional therapies.

Brain-Specific Serine-47 Modification of Cytochrome c Regulates Cytochrome c Oxidase Activity Attenuating ROS Production and Cell Death: Implications for Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Akt Signaling.

We previously reported that serine-47 (S47) phosphorylation of cytochrome c (Cytc) in the brain results in lower cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity and caspase-3 activity in vitro. We here analyze the effect of S47 modification in fibroblast cell lines stably expressing S47E phosphomimetic Cytc, unphosphorylated WT, or S47A Cytc. Our results show that S47E Cytc results in partial inhibition of mitochondrial respiration corresponding with lower mitochondrial membrane potentials (ΔΨm) and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. When exposed to an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model simulating ischemia/reperfusion injury, the Cytc S47E phosphomimetic cell line showed minimal ROS generation compared to the unphosphorylated WT Cytc cell line that generated high levels of ROS upon reoxygenation. Consequently, the S47E Cytc cell line also resulted in significantly lower cell death upon exposure to OGD/R, confirming the cytoprotective role of S47 phosphorylation of Cytc. S47E Cytc also resulted in lower cell death upon H2O2 treatment. Finally, we propose that pro-survival kinase Akt (protein kinase B) is a likely mediator of the S47 phosphorylation of Cytc in the brain. Akt inhibitor wortmannin abolished S47 phosphorylation of Cytc, while the Akt activator SC79 maintained S47 phosphorylation of Cytc. Overall, our results suggest that loss of S47 phosphorylation of Cytc during brain ischemia drives reperfusion injury through maximal electron transport chain flux, ΔΨm hyperpolarization, and ROS-triggered cell death.

Cotargeting of Mitochondrial Complex I and Bcl-2 Shows Antileukemic Activity against Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Reliant on Oxidative Phosphorylation.

Targeting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a promising strategy to improve treatment outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. IACS-010759 is a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor that has demonstrated preclinical antileukemic activity and is being tested in Phase I clinical trials. However, complex I deficiency has been reported to inhibit apoptotic cell death through prevention of cytochrome c release. Thus, combining IACS-010759 with a BH3 mimetic may overcome this mechanism of resistance leading to synergistic antileukemic activity against AML. In this study, we show that IACS-010759 and venetoclax synergistically induce apoptosis in OXPHOS-reliant AML cell lines and primary patient samples and cooperatively target leukemia progenitor cells. In a relatively OXPHOS-reliant AML cell line derived xenograft mouse model, IACS-010759 treatment significantly prolonged survival, which was further enhanced by treatment with IACS-010759 in combination with venetoclax. Consistent with our hypothesis, IACS-010759 treatment indeed retained cytochrome c in mitochondria, which was completely abolished by venetoclax, resulting in Bak/Bax- and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Our preclinical data provide a rationale for further development of the combination of IACS-010759 and venetoclax for the treatment of patients with AML.

Cytochrome c phosphorylation: Control of mitochondrial electron transport chain flux and apoptosis.

Cytochrome c (Cytc)1is a cellular life and death decision molecule that regulates cellular energy supply and apoptosis through tissue specific post-translational modifications. Cytc is an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) and thus central for aerobic energy production. Under conditions of cellular stress, Cytc release from the mitochondria is a committing step for apoptosis, leading to apoptosome formation, caspase activation, and cell death. Recently, Cytc was shown to be a target of cellular signaling pathways that regulate the functions of Cytc by tissue-specific phosphorylations. So far five phosphorylation sites of Cytc have been mapped and functionally characterized, Tyr97, Tyr48, Thr28, Ser47, and Thr58. All five phosphorylations partially inhibit respiration, which we propose results in optimal intermediate mitochondrial membrane potentials and low ROS production under normal conditions. Four of the phosphorylations result in inhibition of the apoptotic functions of Cytc, suggesting a cytoprotective role for phosphorylated Cytc. Interestingly, these phosphorylations are lost during stress conditions such as ischemia. This results in maximal ETC flux during reperfusion, mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization, excessive ROS generation, and apoptosis. We here present a new model proposing that the electron transfer from Cytc to cytochrome c oxidase is the rate-limiting step of the ETC, which is regulated via post-translational modifications of Cytc. This regulation may be dysfunctional in disease conditions such as ischemia-reperfusion injury and neurodegenerative disorders through increased ROS, or cancer, where post-translational modifications on Cytc may provide a mechanism to evade apoptosis.

Regulation of Respiration and Apoptosis by Cytochrome c Threonine 58 Phosphorylation.

Cytochrome c (Cytc) is a multifunctional protein, acting as an electron carrier in the electron transport chain (ETC), where it shuttles electrons from bc1 complex to cytochrome c oxidase (COX), and as a trigger of type II apoptosis when released from the mitochondria. We previously showed that Cytc is regulated in a highly tissue-specific manner: Cytc isolated from heart, liver, and kidney is phosphorylated on Y97, Y48, and T28, respectively. Here, we have analyzed the effect of a new Cytc phosphorylation site, threonine 58, which we mapped in rat kidney Cytc by mass spectrometry. We generated and overexpressed wild-type, phosphomimetic T58E, and two controls, T58A and T58I Cytc; the latter replacement is found in human and testis-specific Cytc. In vitro, COX activity, caspase-3 activity, and heme degradation in the presence of H2O2 were decreased with phosphomimetic Cytc compared to wild-type. Cytc-knockout cells expressing T58E or T58I Cytc showed a reduction in intact cell respiration, mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm), ROS production, and apoptotic activity compared to wild-type. We propose that, under physiological conditions, Cytc is phosphorylated, which controls mitochondrial respiration and apoptosis. Under conditions of stress Cytc phosphorylations are lost leading to maximal respiration rates, ∆Ψm hyperpolarization, ROS production, and apoptosis.

Serine-47 phosphorylation of cytochrome c in the mammalian brain regulates cytochrome c oxidase and caspase-3 activity.

Cytochrome c (Cytc) is a multifunctional protein that operates as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and plays a key role in apoptosis. We have previously shown that tissue-specific phosphorylations of Cytc in the heart, liver, and kidney play an important role in the regulation of cellular respiration and cell death. Here, we report that Cytc purified from mammalian brain is phosphorylated on S47 and that this phosphorylation is lost during ischemia. We have characterized the functional effects in vitro using phosphorylated Cytc purified from pig brain tissue and a recombinant phosphomimetic mutant (S47E). We crystallized S47E phosphomimetic Cytc at 1.55 Å and suggest that it spatially matches S47-phosphorylated Cytc, making it a good model system. Both S47-phosphorylated and phosphomimetic Cytc showed a lower oxygen consumption rate in reaction with isolated Cytc oxidase, which we propose maintains intermediate mitochondrial membrane potentials under physiologic conditions, thus minimizing production of reactive oxygen species. S47-phosphorylated and phosphomimetic Cytc showed lower caspase-3 activity. Furthermore, phosphomimetic Cytc had decreased cardiolipin peroxidase activity and is more stable in the presence of H2O2. Our data suggest that S47 phosphorylation of Cytc is tissue protective and promotes cell survival in the brain.-Kalpage, H. A., Vaishnav, A., Liu, J., Varughese, A., Wan, J., Turner, A. A., Ji, Q., Zurek, M. P., Kapralov, A. A., Kagan, V. E., Brunzelle, J. S., Recanati, M.-A., Grossman, L. I., Sanderson, T. H., Lee, I., Salomon, A. R., Edwards, B. F. P, Hüttemann, M. Serine-47 phosphorylation of cytochrome c in the mammalian brain regulates cytochrome c oxidase and caspase-3 activity.

Tissue-specific regulation of cytochrome c by post-translational modifications: respiration, the mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS, and apoptosis.

Cytochrome c (Cyt c) plays a vital role in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). In addition, it is a key regulator of apoptosis. Cyt c has multiple other functions including ROS production and scavenging, cardiolipin peroxidation, and mitochondrial protein import. Cyt c is tightly regulated by allosteric mechanisms, tissue-specific isoforms, and post-translational modifications (PTMs). Distinct residues of Cyt c are modified by PTMs, primarily phosphorylations, in a highly tissue-specific manner. These modifications downregulate mitochondrial ETC flux and adjust the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), to minimize reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under normal conditions. In pathologic and acute stress conditions, such as ischemia-reperfusion, phosphorylations are lost, leading to maximum ETC flux, ΔΨm hyperpolarization, excessive ROS generation, and the release of Cyt c. It is also the dephosphorylated form of the protein that leads to maximum caspase activation. We discuss the complex regulation of Cyt c and propose that it is a central regulatory step of the mammalian ETC that can be rate limiting in normal conditions. This regulation is important because it maintains optimal intermediate ΔΨm, limiting ROS generation. We examine the role of Cyt c PTMs, including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, nitration, nitrosylation, and sulfoxidation and consider their potential biological significance by evaluating their stoichiometry.-Kalpage, H. A., Bazylianska, V., Recanati, M. A., Fite, A., Liu, J., Wan, J., Mantena, N., Malek, M. H., Podgorski, I., Heath, E. I., Vaishnav, A., Edwards, B. F., Grossman, L. I., Sanderson, T. H., Lee, I., Hüttemann, M. Tissue-specific regulation of cytochrome c by post-translational modifications: respiration, the mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS, and apoptosis.

A Study on Hereditary Thrombophilia and Stroke in a Cohort from Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: Thrombophilia is an enhanced tendency of arterial or venous blood clot formation. The frequently assessed hereditary thrombophilia mutations associated with stroke are methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.677C>T, Factor V (F5) c.1691G>A (Leiden), and prothrombin (F2) c.20210G>A. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of the 3 mutations in ischemic stroke patients in Sri Lanka. METHODS: A database of clinical details and genetic test results of stroke patients referred for thrombophilia screening from June 2006 to April 2014 was maintained prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 400 ischemic stroke patients (319 arterial, 66 venous, and 15 location unreported) were screened for hereditary thrombophilia. Patients with the MTHFR c.677C>T, F5 c.1691G>A, and F2 c.20210G>A mutations were 17.3%, 3.3%, and .5% of the total cohort, respectively. F5 mutation was present in a statistically significant number of patients with venous thrombosis (P = .005) compared to patients with arterial thrombosis. The MTFHR and F2 mutations showed no such significant association. The mean age of patients with MTHFR, F5, and F2 mutations was 29 (±15), 34 (±11), and 38 (±5.6) years, respectively. CONCLUSION: MTHFR c.677C>T is the predominant mutation and the only mutation that had patients with the homozygous mutant genotype. Venous thrombosis showed a significant association with the F5 c.1691G>A mutation.