Apoptosis inducing factor: Cellular protective function in Dictyostelium discoideum

Publication date: Available online 25 January 2020Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - BioenergeticsAuthor(s): Ashlesha Kadam, Darshan Mehta, Tina Jubin, Mohmmad Shoab Mansuri, Rasheedunnisa BegumAbstractApoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF), a nuclear encoded mitochondrial inter-membrane space flavoprotein with intrinsic NADH oxidase activity, plays an important role in inducing cell death mechanisms. In response to cell death signals, it undergoes mitochondrio-nuclear translocation leading to DNA fragmentation. In addition to its role in cell death, AIF has a pro-survival role, wherein it contributes to the maintenance of mitochondrial structure and function in a coordinated manner. However, its exact mechanism of controlling mitochondrial homeostasis is unclear. The current study aims to explore the protective functions of AIF by its downregulation and overexpression in Dictyostelium discoideum. Constitutive AIF downregulated (dR) cells exhibited compromised oxidative phosphorylation along with elevated levels of cellular ROS. Interestingly, constitutive AIF dR cells showed amelioration in the activity of the ETC complexes upon antioxidant treatment, strengthening AIF's role as a ROS regulator, by virtue of its oxidoreductase property. Also, constitutive AIF dR cells showed lower transcript levels of the various subunits of ETC. Moreover, loss of AIF affected mtDNA content and mitochondrial fusion-fission mechanism which subsequently caused morphometric mitochondrial al...
Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Bioenergetics - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research