Autocatalytic processing of m-AAA protease subunits in mitochondria.
m-AAA proteases are ATP-dependent proteolytic machines in the inner membrane of mitochondria which are crucial for the maintenance of mitochondrial activities. Conserved nuclear-encoded subunits, termed paraplegin, Afg3l1, and Afg3l2, form various isoenzymes differing in their subunit composition in mammalian mitochondria. Mutations in different m-AAA protease subunits are associated with distinct neuronal disorders in human. However, the biogenesis of m-AAA protease complexes or of individual subunits is only poorly understood. Here, we have examined the processing of nuclear-encoded m-AAA protease subunits upon import into mitochondria and demonstrate autocatalytic processing of Afg3l1 and Afg3l2. The mitochondrial processing peptidase MPP generates an intermediate form of Afg3l2 that is matured autocatalytically. Afg3l1 or Afg3l2 are also required for maturation of newly imported paraplegin subunits after their cleavage by MPP. Our results establish that mammalian m-AAA proteases can act as processing enzymes in vivo and reveal overlapping activities of Afg3l1 and Afg3l2. These findings might be of relevance for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders associated with mutations in different m-AAA protease subunits.
Koppen
Mirko
M
Institute for Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
Bonn
Florian
F
Ehses
Sarah
S
Langer
Thomas
T
D049069:ATP-Dependent Proteases; D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D014162:Transfection; D000096122:Mitochondrial Processing Peptidase
D049069:ATP-Dependent Proteases; D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D000096122:Mitochondrial Processing Peptidase; C546907:Afg3l1 protein, mouse; C542395:Afg3l2 protein, mouse; C491813:Spg7 protein, mouse; C114583:m-AAA proteases