RESUMEN

The mitochondrial intermembrane space protein AIFM1 has been reported to mediate the import of MIA40/CHCHD4, which forms the import receptor in the mitochondrial disulfide relay. Here, we demonstrate that AIFM1 and MIA40/CHCHD4 cooperate beyond this MIA40/CHCHD4 import. We show that AIFM1 and MIA40/CHCHD4 form a stable long-lived complex in vitro, in different cell lines, and in tissues. In HEK293 cells lacking AIFM1, levels of MIA40 are unchanged, but the protein is present in the monomeric form. Monomeric MIA40 neither efficiently interacts with nor mediates the import of specific substrates. The import defect is especially severe for NDUFS5, a subunit of complex I of the respiratory chain. As a consequence, NDUFS5 accumulates in the cytosol and undergoes rapid proteasomal degradation. Lack of mitochondrial NDUFS5 in turn results in stalling of complex I assembly. Collectively, we demonstrate that AIFM1 serves two overlapping functions: importing MIA40/CHCHD4 and constituting an integral part of the disulfide relay that ensures efficient interaction of MIA40/CHCHD4 with specific substrates.

Asunto(s)

Factor Inductor de la Apoptosis , Complejo I de Transporte de Electrón , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial , Factor Inductor de la Apoptosis/metabolismo , Disulfuros/metabolismo , Complejo I de Transporte de Electrón/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial/genética , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana Mitocondrial/metabolismo , Proteínas del Complejo de Importación de Proteínas Precursoras Mitocondriales , Proteínas Mitocondriales/genética , Proteínas Mitocondriales/metabolismo , Oxidación-Reducción , Transporte de Proteínas

RESUMEN

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have emerged as versatile tools to increase the intracellular accumulation of different kinds of cargoes. For an efficient cellular uptake and drug delivery, their organization into a distinct and stable secondary structure at the outer surface of the plasma membrane is a hallmark and supports optimal lipid-peptide interactions. Incorporation of hydrophobic moieties, such as carboranes (CBs), has the potential to increase the lipophilicity of peptides, and thus, to facilitate the formation of secondary structures. Herein, we present synthesis and biophysical as well as biological characterization of carborane-CPP conjugates having incorporated one or more CB clusters. Our results highlight the possibility to modulate the secondary structure of CPPs by the addition of CB's leading to constructs with altered membrane activity and promising use in terms of nucleic acid delivery.