title: Role for two conserved intermembrane space proteins, Ups1p and Ups2p, [corrected] in intra-mitochondrial phospholipid trafficking.
abstract: Mitochondrial membranes maintain a specific phospholipid composition. Most phospholipids are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to mitochondria, but cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine are produced in mitochondria. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, phospholipid exchange between the ER and mitochondria relies on the ER-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES) complex, which physically connects the ER and mitochondrial outer membrane. However, the proteins and mechanisms involved in phospholipid transport within mitochondria remain elusive. Here, we investigated the role of the conserved intermembrane space proteins, Ups1p and Ups2p, and an inner membrane protein, Mdm31p, in phospholipid metabolism. Our data show that loss of the ERMES complex, Ups1p, and Mdm31p causes similar defects in mitochondrial phospholipid metabolism, mitochondrial morphology, and cell growth. Defects in cells lacking the ERMES complex or Ups1p are suppressed by Mdm31p overexpression as well as additional loss of Ups2p, which antagonizes Ups1p. Combined loss of the ERMES complex and Ups1p exacerbates phospholipid defects. Finally, pulse-chase experiments using [(14)C]serine revealed that Ups1p and Ups2p antagonistically regulate conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine. Our results suggest that Ups proteins and Mdm31p play important roles in phospholipid biosynthesis in mitochondria. Ups proteins may function in phospholipid trafficking between the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. ytamura1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Ouma
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onguka
authors.forename: Alyson E Aiken
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Claypool
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sesaki
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C089419:MDM10 protein, S cerevisiae; C089418:MMM1 protein, S cerevisiae; C489433:MMM2 protein, S cerevisiae; C497847:Mdm31 protein, S cerevisiae; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D010743:Phospholipids; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C512497:Ups1 protein, S cerevisiae; C542159:Ups2 protein, S cerevisiae; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine; D012694:Serine