title: The nuclear genes Mtfr1 and Dufd1 regulate mitochondrial dynamic and cellular respiration.
abstract: Dufd1 (DUF729 domain containing 1) is related to Mtfr1 (mitochondrial fission regulator 1), a gene involved in the regulation of antioxidant activity in the mouse testis. The present study was undertaken to better understand their role in regulating mitochondrial architecture and function in the mouse. We show that Dufd1 is expressed as a 2 kb mRNA and has a more specific tissue pattern compared to Mtfr1, with highest level of expression in testes, lower level in spleen, and negligible levels in other organs and/or tissues. In the male gonad, Dufd1 mRNA expression increases during postnatal development, similarly to Mtfr1. In situ hybridization and real-time PCR analyses show that Dufd1 is expressed in the seminiferous tubules by middle-late pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids. In transfected cells, the Dufd1-tagged protein is located in mitochondria, associated with the tips of mitochondrial tubules and to tubules constrictions, and induces mitochondrial fission although with a lesser efficiency than Mtfr1. We also found that both endogenous Dufd1 and Mtfr1 proteins are associated with membrane-enriched subcellular fractions, including mitochondria. Inhibition of Mtfr1 and/or Dufd1 expression, in a testicular germ cells line, severely impairs O(2) consumption and indicates that both genes are required for mitochondrial respiration. Accordingly, analysis of testes mitochondria from Mtfr1-deficient mice reveals severely reduced O(2) consumption and ATP synthesis compared to wt animals. These data show that, in murine testis, Dufd1 and Mtfr1 have redundant functions related to mitochondrial physiology and represent genes with a potential role in testicular function.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monticone
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Panfoli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravera
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puglisi
authors.forename: Ming-Ming
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tonachini
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biticchi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabiano
authors.forename: Ranieri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cancedda
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boitani
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castagnola
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000235:genetics; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C493867:CHPPR protein, mouse; C552688:Dufd1 protein, mouse; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate