Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Newest Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Methods & Resources
    • Author Interviews
    • Archive
    • Subjects
  • Collections
  • Submit
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
    • License, Copyright, Fee
    • FAQ
    • Why submit
  • About
    • About Us
    • Editors & Staff
    • Board Members
    • Licensing and Reuse
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • LSA LLC
  • Alerts
  • Other Publications
    • EMBO Press
    • The EMBO Journal
    • EMBO reports
    • EMBO Molecular Medicine
    • Molecular Systems Biology
    • Rockefeller University Press
    • Journal of Cell Biology
    • Journal of Experimental Medicine
    • Journal of General Physiology
    • Journal of Human Immunity
    • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
    • Genes & Development
    • Genome Research

User menu

  • My alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
Life Science Alliance
  • Other Publications
    • EMBO Press
    • The EMBO Journal
    • EMBO reports
    • EMBO Molecular Medicine
    • Molecular Systems Biology
    • Rockefeller University Press
    • Journal of Cell Biology
    • Journal of Experimental Medicine
    • Journal of General Physiology
    • Journal of Human Immunity
    • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
    • Genes & Development
    • Genome Research
  • My alerts
Life Science Alliance

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Newest Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Methods & Resources
    • Author Interviews
    • Archive
    • Subjects
  • Collections
  • Submit
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
    • License, Copyright, Fee
    • FAQ
    • Why submit
  • About
    • About Us
    • Editors & Staff
    • Board Members
    • Licensing and Reuse
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • LSA LLC
  • Alerts
  • Follow LSA on Bluesky
  • Follow lsa Template on Twitter
Research Article
Transparent Process
Open Access

A dominant negative mitofusin causes mitochondrial perinuclear clusters because of aberrant tethering

Stephanie R Sloat, View ORCID ProfileSuzanne Hoppins  Correspondence email
Stephanie R Sloat
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Roles: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing—original draft
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Suzanne Hoppins
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Roles: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Supervision, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Project administration, Writing
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Suzanne Hoppins
  • For correspondence: shoppins@uw.edu
Published 13 October 2022. DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101305
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info
  • Metrics
  • Reviewer Comments
  • PDF
Loading

Article Figures & Data

Figures

  • Figure 1.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 1. Structure of Mfn1.

    (A) Ribbon structure of Mfn1IM dimer in the open conformation bound to GDP (PDB: 5GOM) with the GTPase domain of one protomer in goldenrod, the second GTPase domain in dark blue, helical bundle 1 (HB1) in magenta, S329 highlighted in cyan, and GDP in red. (B) Structure of Mfn1IM dimer in the closed conformation bound to transition-state mimic GDP-BeF3− in red (PDB: 5YEW).

  • Figure 2.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 2. Expression of Mfn1S329P or Mfn2S350P causes perinuclear clustering of mitochondria.

    (A) Representative images of Mfn1-null MEFs transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn1WT-mNeonGreen, or Mfn1S329P-mNeonGreen. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (A, B) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (A) and of wild-type MEFs transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn1WT-mNeonGreen or Mfn1S329P-mNeonGreen. Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment). (C) Representative images of Mfn2-null MEFs transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn2WT-mNeonGreen, or Mfn2S350P-mNeonGreen. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (C, D) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (C) and wild-type MEFs transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn2WT-mNeonGreen, or Mfn2S350P-mNeonGreen. Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment). (E) Representative electron micrographs of the indicated MEFs cell lines. Scale bar = 2 μm. Lower panels show higher magnification from boxed area in upper panel. Scale bar = 0.2 μm.

  • Figure 3.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 3. Mitochondrial clusters induced by proline variants do not have connected mitochondrial network.

    (A) Representative images of Mfn1-null MEFs expressing mt-paGFP and transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn1WT-FLAG, or Mfn1S329P-FLAG either 0 or 50 min after activation of mt-paGFP with a 405-nm laser, which is time = 0. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (B) Representative images of Mfn2-null MEFs expressing mt-paGFP and transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn2WT-FLAG, or Mfn2S350P-FLAG either 0 or 50 min after activation of mt-paGFP with a 405-nm laser, which is time = 0. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (A, C) Quantification of the diffusion of mt-paGFP in the cell lines described in (A) and in wild-type MEFs (Mfn1+/+Mfn2+/+) transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn1WT-FLAG, or Mfn1S329P-FLAG. Error bars represent mean ± SEM. n = 6/7 cells over two independent experiments. (B, D) Quantification of the diffusion of mt-paGFP in the cell lines described in (B) and in wild-type MEFs (Mfn1+/+Mfn2+/+) transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn2WT-FLAG, or Mfn2S350P-FLAG. Error bars represent mean ± SEM. N = 9–11 cells over three independent experiments.

  • Figure S1.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S1. Representative images of mt-paGFP diffusion over 50 min.

    Representative images of Mfn1-null or WT MEFs expressing mt-paGFP and transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn1WT-FLAG, or Mfn1S329P-FLAG before activation of mt-paGFP (Pre) and 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min following. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm.

  • Figure S2.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S2. Representative images of mt-paGFP diffusion over 50 min.

    Representative images of Mfn2-null or WT MEFs expressing mt-paGFP and transduced with an empty vector (V), Mfn2WT-FLAG, or Mfn2S350P-FLAG before activation of mt-paGFP (Pre) and 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min following. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm.

  • Figure S3.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S3. Structure of Mfn2.

    Ribbon structure of Mfn2IM bound to GDP (PDB: 6FJK) with the GTPase domain in dark blue, helical bundle 1 (HB1) in magenta, S350 highlighted in cyan, R94 highlighted in green, and GDP in red.

  • Figure 4.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 4. Mitofusin proline variants induce rapid perinuclear clustering of mitochondria.

    (A) Representative images of Flp-In TREx HEK293 expressing the indicated mitofusin variant after incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, and nuclei were labeled with NucBlue and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (A, B) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (A). Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment).

  • Figure S4.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S4. Mitofusin protein expression in Flp-In TREx HEK293 induced with 0.2 μg/ml TET.

    (A) Whole-cell lysates prepared from the indicated cell lines incubated in the absence (−) or presence (+) of 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h were subject to SDS–PAGE and immunoblotting with α-Mfn1 and α-tubulin. Endogenous Mfn1 and Mfn1-FLAG are indicated with a line an arrowhead, respectively. (B) Whole-cell lysates prepared from the indicated cell lines incubated in the absence (−) or presence (+) of 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h were subject to SDS–PAGE and immunoblotting with α-Mfn2 and α-tubulin. Endogenous Mfn2 and Mfn2-FLAG are indicated with a line an arrowhead, respectively. (C) Whole-cell lysates prepared from the indicated cell lines incubated in the absence (−) or presence (+) of 0.2 μg/ml TET for the indicated time were subject to SDS–PAGE and immunoblotting with α-Mfn1 or α-Mfn2 and α-tubulin. (C, D) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (C). Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment).

  • Figure S5.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S5. Distribution of lysosome and endoplasmic reticulum are not affected by expression of mitofusin proline variants.

    (A) Representative images of Flp-In TREx HEK293 expressing the indicated mitofusin variant after incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, lysosomes were labeled with LysoTracker, and nuclei were labeled with NucBlue and visualized by live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (B) Representative images of Flp-In TREx HEK293 expressing the indicated mitofusin variant after induction of expression by incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h. Endoplasmic reticulum was labeled by expression of Sec61-eGFP and visualized by live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent single z-slices near the coverslip. Scale bar = 5 μm.

  • Figure S6.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S6. Flp-In TREx HEK293 treated with nocodazole or shRNA targeting dynein heavy chain (DHC).

    (A) Representative images of Flp-In TREx HEK293 expressing the indicated mitofusin variant after incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h in the presence of 0 or 5 nM nocodazole. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos. Cells were fixed and immunolabeled with anti-tubulin (α-Tub). Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (B) Representative Western blot of α-DHC and α-tubulin in whole-protein extract from cells treated with either control shRNA (shLacZ) or shRNA against DHC (shDHC). Molecular-weight markers are indicated in kD on left. Percent knockdown represents mean knockdown of DHC n = 3 quantified by band intensities in Western blot normalized to whole-protein stain.

  • Figure 5.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 5. Perinuclear clustering of mitochondria by the proline variant is not dependent on dynein-mediated microtubule-based transport.

    (A) Representative images of Flp-In TREx HEK293 expression indicated the mitofusin variant after incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h in the presence or absence of 5 nM nocodazole. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, and nuclei were labeled with NucBlue and visualized by live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (A, B) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (A). Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate and blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment). (C) Representative images of Flp-In TREx HEK293 with shLacZ or shDHC and expressing the indicated mitofusin variant after incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, and nuclei were labeled with NucBlue and visualized by live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (C, D) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (C). Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate and blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment).

  • Figure S7.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S7. Mfn1IMS329P has normal GTPase activity.

    (A) A kinetic plot of GTP hydrolysis of Mfn1IMWT and Mfn1IMS329P fit to an allosteric sigmoidal equation. (B) Table of kinetic parameters for Mfn1IMWT and Mfn1IMS329P: maximum velocity (Vmax), Hill coefficient (h) and Michaelis–Menten constant (Khalf). (C) Summary of key catalytic residues in Mfn1 with alanine substitutions and the reported impact on dimerization (G–G interface) and GTP hydrolysis. References are (1) Qi et al (2016), (2) Yan et al (2018), (3) Cao et al (2017), and (4) this work.

  • Figure 6.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 6. Mitofusin proline variants require GTPase activity to induce perinuclear clustering of mitochondria.

    (A) Representative images of Mfn1-null MEFs expressing the indicated Mfn1-mNeonGreen variant. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (A, B) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (A). Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment). (C) Representative images of Mfn2-null MEFs expression indicated the Mfn2-mNeonGreen variant. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (C, D) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (C). Error bars represent mean ± SEM from at least n = 3 separate blinded experiments (>100 cells per experiment).

  • Figure S8.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S8. Mfn1IMH107A does not form a stable dimer.

    Mfn1IMWT or Mfn1IMH107A were incubated with either GDP alone or GDP•BeF3− and then loaded onto a 5–20% linear sucrose gradient and spun at 100,000g for 16 h. Fractions were collected and subject to SDS–PAGE and Coomassie staining.

  • Figure S9.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure S9. Mfn1I105A does not support mitochondrial fusion and blocks mitochondrial fusion by wild-type mitofusins.

    Wild-type or Mfn1-null MEFs expressing mt-paGFP and transduced with empty vector (V) or Mfn1I105A-FLAG were imaged either 0 min or 50 min after activation of mt-paGFP with a 405-nm laser, which is time = 0. The mitochondrial network was labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos and visualized with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Quantification of the diffusion of mt-paGFP in the indicated cell lines is shown. Error bars represent mean ± SEM. n = 6/7 cells over three independent experiments.

  • Figure 7.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 7. Mfn1S329P is defective for GTP-dependent oligomerization.

    (A) Representative blue native–PAGE of mitochondria isolated from Flp-In TREx cells expressing Mfn1WT-FLAG or Mfn1S329P-FLAG after incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h. Mitochondria were untreated or incubated in the presence of GMP-PNP (PNP), followed by solubilization and separation by blue native–PAGE and immunoblotted with α-FLAG. Arrow indicates ∼200-kD species, closed arrowhead indicates ∼320-kD species, and open arrowhead indicates ∼450-kD species. Molecular-weight markers are indicated in kD on left. (A, B) Quantification of native mitofusin species indicated in A. Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate experiments.

  • Figure 8.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 8. Cytosolic mitofusin blocks mitochondrial tethering by mitofusin proline variants.

    (A) Schematic of mitochondria tethered by mitofusin trans complexes (left) and mitochondria with mitofusin trans complexes blocked by interaction with the cytosolic variant of mitofusin (F646D) (right). (B) Representative images of Flp-In TREx HEK293 transfected with eGFP, eGFP-Mfn1F646D, or eGFP-Mfn1F646D-S329P and expressing either Mfn1WT-FLAG or Mfn1S329P-FLAG after incubation with 0.2 μg/ml TET for 4 h. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, and nuclei were labeled with NucBlue and visualized by live-cell fluorescence microscopy. Images represent maximum intensity projections. Scale bar = 5 μm. (B, C) Quantification of the mitochondrial morphology in the cell lines described in (B). Error bars represent mean ± SEM from n = 3 separate blinded experiments (≥100 cells per experiment).

PreviousNext
Back to top
Download PDF
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Life Science Alliance.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
A dominant negative mitofusin causes mitochondrial perinuclear clusters because of aberrant tethering
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Life Science Alliance
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Life Science Alliance web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Mitochondrial tethering results in perinuclear clusters
Stephanie R Sloat, Suzanne Hoppins
Life Science Alliance Oct 2022, 6 (1) e202101305; DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101305

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Mitochondrial tethering results in perinuclear clusters
Stephanie R Sloat, Suzanne Hoppins
Life Science Alliance Oct 2022, 6 (1) e202101305; DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101305
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
Issue Cover

In this Issue

Volume 6, No. 1
January 2023
  • Table of Contents
  • Cover (PDF)
  • About the Cover
  • Masthead (PDF)
Advertisement

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Materials and Methods
    • Acknowledgements
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info
  • Metrics
  • Reviewer Comments
  • PDF

Subjects

  • Cell Biology

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • HU modulates thiol–disulfide homeostasis
  • GSK3A, a proviral host factor for HAdV-B7 replication
  • PSME3 regulates myogenesis
Show more Research Article

Similar Articles

EMBO Press LogoRockefeller University Press LogoCold Spring Harbor Logo

Content

  • Home
  • Newest Articles
  • Current Issue
  • Archive
  • Subject Collections

For Authors

  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Author Guidelines
  • License, copyright, Fee

Other Services

  • Alerts
  • Bluesky
  • X/Twitter
  • RSS Feeds

More Information

  • Editors & Staff
  • Reviewer Guidelines
  • Feedback
  • Licensing and Reuse
  • Privacy Policy

ISSN: 2575-1077
© 2025 Life Science Alliance LLC

Life Science Alliance is registered as a trademark in the U.S. Patent and Trade Mark Office and in the European Union Intellectual Property Office.