title: Structural and functional consequences of c-N-Ras constitutively associated with intact mitochondria.
abstract: We demonstrate that both c-N-Ras and c-K(B)-Ras are constitutively associated with purified mitochondria. c-K(B)-Ras is associated with the mitochondrial outer membrane, and c-N-Ras is associated with both the outer membrane and inner mitochondrial compartments. The mitochondrial morphology is abnormal in both c-N-Ras negative and K-Ras negative cells. Normal mitochondrial morphology was restored by targeting N-Ras to both the inner and outer mitochondrial compartments, or by ectopically expressing c-K(B)-Ras. Impaired mitochondrial function can result in increased CHOP and NFkappaB activity, typical for a retrograde signaling response. Both are constitutively elevated in the N-Ras negative cells, but not in the K-Ras negative background, and are restored by c-N-Ras targeted exclusively to the inner mitochondrial compartment. Surprisingly, both targeting and the ability to functionally reduce retrograde transcriptional activity were found to be independent of c-N-Ras farnesylation. Overall, these data demonstrate for the first time a (1) farnesylation independent function for c-N-Ras and (2) that N-Ras within the inner mitochondrial compartment is an essential component of the retrograde signaling system between the mitochondria and nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, NC10, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. wolfmaa@ccf.org
authors.forename: Janice C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wolfman
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Planchon
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolfman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018631:ras Proteins