mitoCPR - a surveillance pathway that protects mitochondria in response to mitochondrial import stress [human]. Homo sapiens

Mitochondrial functions are essential for cell viability and rely on protein import into the organelle. Physiological perturbations and disease conditions can lead to mitochondrial import defect. We find that in budding yeast, mitochondrial import defects result in activation of a surveillance mechanism, which we termed mitoCPR. The mitoCPR is aimed at ameliorating mitochondrial import and protecting mitochondria during import stress. This is mediated by the mitoCPR effector, Cis1, which associates with mitochondria to reduce the accumulation of mitochondrial preproteins at the organelle's surface. Clearance of preproteins depends on the AAA-ATPase Msp1 and the proteasome, suggesting that Cis1 facilitates the degradation of unimported proteins that accumulate at the mitochondrial surface. We further show that mitoCPR is critical for maintaining mitochondrial functions during mitochondrial import stress and provide evidence that it is an ancient, conserved mitochondrial protection mechanism. Overall design: Three replicates each of WT control, rho0 (lacking mitochondrial DNA) and CCCP-treated (to induce mitochondrial protein import stress) were compared.