Mitochondrial Probe for Glutathione Depletion Reveals NME3 Essentiality for Mitochondrial Redox Response

ACS Chem Biol. 2024 Sep 20;19(9):2012-2022. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00287. Epub 2024 Aug 12.

Abstract

Maintenance of the mitochondrial thiol redox state is essential for cell survival. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the redox response to mitochondrial glutathione depletion. We developed a mitochondria-penetrating peptide, mtCDNB, to specifically deplete mitochondrial glutathione. A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen in tandem with mtCDNB treatment was employed to uncover regulators of the redox response to mitochondrial glutathione depletion. We identified nucleoside diphosphate kinase 3 (NME3) as a regulator of mitochondrial dynamics. We show that NME3 is recruited to the mitochondrial outer membrane when under redox stress. In the absence of NME3, there is impaired mitophagy, which leads to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. NME3 knockouts depleted of mitochondrial glutathione have increased mitochondrial ROS production, accumulate mtDNA lesions, and present a senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Our findings suggest a novel role for NME3 in selecting mitochondria for degradation through mitophagy under conditions of mitochondrial redox stress.

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
  • Glutathione* / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria* / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Dynamics
  • Mitophagy* / drug effects
  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / genetics
  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Glutathione
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases
  • DNA, Mitochondrial