Putative role of uncoupling proteins in mitochondria-nucleus communications and DNA damage response

J Biosci. 2021:46:99.

Abstract

Mitochondria-nucleus communications and DNA damage response (DDR) play roles in cellular stress and closely associate with a range of diseases. Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are capable of uncoupling mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and protecting against oxidative stress. However, the potential role of UCPs in DDR and DDR-related mitochondria-nucleus communications remains unknown. The review deduces UCPs functions in mitochondria-nucleus communications implicated in metabolite regulation (e.g., reactive oxygen species) and Ca2+ signaling, and in DDR (e.g., base excision repair, double-strand DNA break repair, mitophagy and nuclear DNA degradation). Represented are shared microRNAs that regulate UCPs and DDR. It would provide novel insight into UCPs-mediated mitochondria-nucleus communications and DDR, and potentially promote drug target identification, drug discovery and clinical therapy of DDR-related diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / genetics*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins