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1. Mitochondrial phosphagen kinases support the volatile power demands of motor nerve terminals

   https://doi.org/10.1113/JP284872  

   Justs, Karlis A. ; Sempertegui, Sergio ; Riboul, Danielle V. ; Oliva, Carlos D. ; Durbin, Ryan J. ; Crill, Sarah ; Stawarski, Michal ; Su, Chenchen ; Renden, Robert B. ; Fily, Yaouen ; et al ( November 2023 , The Journal of Physiology)

   Motor neurons are the longest neurons in the body, with axon terminals separated from the soma by as much as a meter. These terminals are largely autonomous with regard to their bioenergetic metabolism and must burn energy at a high rate to sustain muscle contraction. Here, through computer simulation and drawing on previously published empirical data, we determined that motor neuron terminals inDrosophila larvae experience highly volatile power demands. It might not be surprising then, that we discovered the mitochondria in the motor neuron terminals of bothDrosophila and mice to be heavily decorated with phosphagen kinases ‐ a key element in an energy storage and buffering system well‐characterized in fast‐twitch muscle fibres. Knockdown of arginine kinase 1 (ArgK1) inDrosophilalarval motor neurons led to several bioenergetic deficits, including mitochondrial matrix acidification and a faster decline in the cytosol ATP to ADP ratio during axon burst firing.image

   Neurons commonly fire in bursts imposing highly volatile demands on the bioenergetic machinery that generates ATP.

   Using a computational approach, we built profiles of presynaptic power demand at the level of single action potentials, as well as the transition from rest to sustained activity.

   Phosphagen systems are known to buffer ATP levels in muscles and we demonstrate that phosphagen kinases, which support such phosphagen systems, also localize to mitochondria in motor nerve terminals of fruit flies and mice.

   By knocking down phosphagen kinases in fruit fly motor nerve terminals, and using fluorescent reporters of the ATP:ADP ratio, lactate, pH and Ca²⁺, we demonstrate a role for phosphagen kinases in stabilizing presynaptic ATP levels.

   These data indicate that the maintenance of phosphagen systems in motor neurons, and not just muscle, could be a beneficial initiative in sustaining musculoskeletal health and performance.

    

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2. MitoBK Ca channel is functionally associated with its regulatory β1 subunit in cardiac mitochondria

   https://doi.org/10.1113/JP277769  

   Balderas, Enrique ; Torres, Natalia S. ; Rosa‐Garrido, Manuel ; Chaudhuri, Dipayan ; Toro, Ligia ; Stefani, Enrico ; Olcese, Riccardo ( July 2019 , The Journal of Physiology)

   Association of plasma membrane BK_Cachannels with BK‐β subunits shapes their biophysical properties and physiological roles; however, functional modulation of the mitochondrial BK_Cachannel (mitoBK_Ca) by BK‐β subunits is not established.

   MitoBK_Ca‐α and the regulatory BK‐β1 subunit associate in mouse cardiac mitochondria.

   A large fraction of mitoBK_Cadisplay properties similar to that of plasma membrane BK_Cawhen associated with BK‐β1 (left‐shifted voltage dependence of activation,V_1/2 = −55 mV, 12 µmmatrix Ca²⁺).

   In BK‐β1 knockout mice, cardiac mitoBK_Cadisplayed a lowP_oand a depolarizedV_1/2of activation (+47 mV at 12 µmmatrix Ca²⁺)

   Co‐expression of BK_Cawith the BK‐β1 subunit in HeLa cells doubled the density of BK_Cain mitochondria.

   The present study supports the view that the cardiac mitoBK_Cachannel is functionally modulated by the BK‐β1 subunit; proper targeting and activation of mitoBK_Cashapes mitochondrial Ca²⁺handling.

   Association of the plasma membrane BK_Cachannel with auxiliary BK‐β1–4 subunits profoundly affects the regulatory mechanisms and physiological processes in which this channel participates. However, functional association of mitochondrial BK (mitoBK_Ca) with regulatory subunits is unknown. We report that mitoBK_Cafunctionally associates with its regulatory subunit BK‐β1 in adult rodent cardiomyocytes. Cardiac mitoBK_Cais a calcium‐ and voltage‐activated channel that is sensitive to paxilline with a large conductance for K⁺of 300 pS. Additionally, mitoBK_Cadisplays a high open probability (P_o) and voltage half‐activation (V_1/2 = −55 mV,n = 7) resembling that of plasma membrane BK_Cawhen associated with its regulatory BK‐β1 subunit. Immunochemistry assays demonstrated an interaction between mitochondrial BK_Ca‐α and its BK‐β1 subunit. Mitochondria from the BK‐β1 knockout (KO) mice showed sparse mitoBK_Cacurrents (five patches with mitoBK_Caactivity out of 28 total patches fromn = 5 different hearts), displaying a depolarizedV_1/2of activation (+47 mV in 12 µmmatrix Ca²⁺). The reduced activity of mitoBK_Cawas accompanied by a high expression of BK_Catranscript in the BK‐β1 KO, suggesting a lower abundance of mitoBK_Cachannels in this genotype. Accordingly, BK‐β1subunit increased the localization of BKDEC (i.e. the splice variant of BK_Cathat specifically targets mitochondria) into mitochondria by two‐fold. Importantly, both paxilline‐treated and BK‐β1 KO mitochondria displayed a more rapid Ca²⁺overload, featuring an early opening of the mitochondrial transition pore. We provide strong evidence that mitoBK_Caassociates with its regulatory BK‐β1 subunit in cardiac mitochondria, ensuring proper targeting and activation of the mitoBK_Cachannel that helps to maintain mitochondrial Ca²⁺homeostasis.

    

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3. Chronic cold exposure induces mitochondrial plasticity in deer mice native to high altitudes

   https://doi.org/10.1113/JP280298  

   Mahalingam, Sajeni ; Cheviron, Zachary A. ; Storz, Jay F. ; McClelland, Grant B. ; Scott, Graham R. ( September 2020 , The Journal of Physiology)

   Small mammals native to high altitude must sustain high rates of thermogenesis to cope with cold. Skeletal muscle is a key site of shivering and non‐shivering thermogenesis, but the importance of mitochondrial plasticity in cold hypoxic environments remains unresolved.

   We examined high‐altitude deer mice, which have evolved a high capacity for aerobic thermogenesis, to determine the mechanisms of mitochondrial plasticity during chronic exposure to cold and hypoxia, alone and in combination.

   Cold exposure in normoxia or hypoxia increased mitochondrial leak respiration and decreased phosphorylation efficiency and OXPHOS coupling efficiency, which may serve to augment non‐shivering thermogenesis. Cold also increased muscle oxidative capacity, but reduced the capacity for mitochondrial respiration via complex II relative to complexes I and II combined.

   High‐altitude mice had a more oxidative muscle phenotype than low‐altitude mice.

   Therefore, both plasticity and evolved changes in muscle mitochondria contribute to thermogenesis at high altitude.

   Small mammals native to high altitude must sustain high rates of thermogenesis to cope with cold and hypoxic environments. Skeletal muscle is a key site of shivering and non‐shivering thermogenesis, but the importance of mitochondrial plasticity in small mammals at high altitude remains unresolved. High‐altitude deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and low‐altitude white‐footed mice (P. leucopus) were born and raised in captivity, and chronically exposed as adults to warm (25°C) normoxia, warm hypoxia (12 kPa O₂), cold (5°C) normoxia, or cold hypoxia. We then measured oxidative enzyme activities, oxidative fibre density and capillarity in the gastrocnemius, and used a comprehensive substrate titration protocol to examine the function of muscle mitochondria by high‐resolution respirometry. Exposure to cold in both normoxia or hypoxia increased the activities of citrate synthase and cytochrome oxidase. In lowlanders, this was associated with increases in capillary density and the proportional abundance of oxidative muscle fibres, but in highlanders, these traits were unchanged at high levels across environments. Environment had some distinct effects on mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity between species, but the capacity of complex II relative to the combined capacity of complexes I and II was consistently reduced in both cold environments. Both cold environments also increased leak respiration and decreased phosphorylation efficiency and OXPHOS coupling efficiency in both species, which may serve to augment non‐shivering thermogenesis. These cold‐induced changes in mitochondrial function were overlaid upon the generally more oxidative phenotype of highlanders. Therefore, both plasticity and evolved changes in muscle mitochondria contribute to thermogenesis at high altitudes.

    

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4. mTERF18 and ATAD3 are required for mitochondrial nucleoid structure and their disruption confers heat tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

   https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17717  

   Kim, Minsoo ; Schulz, Vincent ; Brings, Lea ; Schoeller, Theresa ; Kühn, Kristina ; Vierling, Elizabeth ( September 2021 , New Phytologist)

   Mitochondria play critical roles in generating ATP through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and produce both damaging and signaling reactive oxygen species (ROS). They have reduced genomes that encode essential subunits of the OXPHOS machinery. Mitochondrial Transcription tERmination Factor‐related (mTERF) proteins are involved in organelle gene expression, interacting with organellar DNA or RNA.

   We previously found that mutations inArabidopsis thaliana mTERF18/SHOT1enable plants to better tolerate heat and oxidative stresses, presumably due to low ROS production and reduced oxidative damage.

   Here we discover thatshot1mutants have greatly reduced OXPHOS complexes I and IV and reveal that suppressor ofhot1‐41 (SHOT1) binds DNA and localizes to mitochondrial nucleoids, which are disrupted inshot1. Furthermore, three homologues of animal ATPase family AAA domain‐containing protein 3 (ATAD3), which is involved in mitochondrial nucleoid organization, were identified as SHOT1‐interacting proteins. Importantly, disrupting ATAD3 function disrupts nucleoids, reduces accumulation of complex I, and enhances heat tolerance, as is seen inshot1mutants.

   Our data link nucleoid organization to OXPHOS biogenesis and suggest that the common defects inshot1mutants and ATAD3‐disrupted plants lead to critical changes in mitochondrial metabolism and signaling that result in plant heat tolerance.

    

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5. Exploring the role of the Kölliker–Fuse nucleus in breathing variability by mathematical modelling

   https://doi.org/10.1113/JP285158  

   John, S. R. ; Barnett, W. H. ; Abdala, A. P. L. ; Zoccal, D. B. ; Rubin, J. E. ; Molkov, Y. I. ( December 2023 , The Journal of Physiology)

   The Kölliker–Fuse nucleus (KF), which is part of the parabrachial complex, participates in the generation of eupnoea under resting conditions and the control of active abdominal expiration when increased ventilation is required. Moreover, dysfunctions in KF neuronal activity are believed to play a role in the emergence of respiratory abnormalities seen in Rett syndrome (RTT), a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder associated with an irregular breathing pattern and frequent apnoeas. Relatively little is known, however, about the intrinsic dynamics of neurons within the KF and how their synaptic connections affect breathing pattern control and contribute to breathing irregularities. In this study, we use a reduced computational model to consider several dynamical regimes of KF activity paired with different input sources to determine which combinations are compatible with known experimental observations. We further build on these findings to identify possible interactions between the KF and other components of the respiratory neural circuitry. Specifically, we present two models that both simulate eupnoeic as well as RTT‐like breathing phenotypes. Using nullcline analysis, we identify the types of inhibitory inputs to the KF leading to RTT‐like respiratory patterns and suggest possible KF local circuit organizations. When the identified properties are present, the two models also exhibit quantal acceleration of late‐expiratory activity, a hallmark of active expiration featuring forced exhalation, with increasing inhibition to KF, as reported experimentally. Hence, these models instantiate plausible hypotheses about possible KF dynamics and forms of local network interactions, thus providing a general framework as well as specific predictions for future experimental testing.image

   The Kölliker–Fuse nucleus (KF), a part of the parabrachial complex, is involved in regulating normal breathing and controlling active abdominal expiration during increased ventilation.

   Dysfunction in KF neuronal activity is thought to contribute to respiratory abnormalities seen in Rett syndrome (RTT). This study utilizes computational modelling to explore different dynamical regimes of KF activity and their compatibility with experimental observations.

   By analysing different model configurations, the study identifies inhibitory inputs to the KF that lead to RTT‐like respiratory patterns and proposes potential KF local circuit organizations.

   Two models are presented that simulate both normal breathing and RTT‐like breathing patterns.

   These models provide testable hypotheses and specific predictions for future experimental investigations, offering a general framework for understanding KF dynamics and potential network interactions.

    

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