title: A bifunctional protein regulates mitochondrial protein synthesis.
abstract: Mitochondrial gene expression is predominantly regulated at the post-transcriptional level and mitochondrial ribonucleic acid (RNA)-binding proteins play a key role in RNA metabolism and protein synthesis. The AU-binding homolog of enoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) hydratase (AUH) is a bifunctional protein with RNA-binding activity and a role in leucine catabolism. AUH has a mitochondrial targeting sequence, however, its role in mitochondrial function has not been investigated. Here, we found that AUH localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane and matrix where it associates with mitochondrial ribosomes and regulates protein synthesis. Decrease or overexpression of the AUH protein in cells causes defects in mitochondrial translation that lead to changes in mitochondrial morphology, decreased mitochondrial RNA stability, biogenesis and respiratory function. Because of its role in leucine metabolism, we investigated the importance of the catalytic activity of AUH and found that it affects the regulation of mitochondrial translation and biogenesis in response to leucine.
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Tara R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Stefan M K
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne-Marie J
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shearwood
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ermer
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Louis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Moira E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hibbs
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rackham
authors.affiliation: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia aleksandra.filipovska@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filipovska
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000201:enzymology; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053140:Organelle Shape; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D021381:Protein Transport; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020871:RNA Stability; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D012313:RNA; C092554:AUH protein, human; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase; D007930:Leucine