Mitochondrial protein E2F3d, a distinctive E2F3 product, mediates hypoxia-induced mitophagy in cancer cells

Commun Biol. 2019 Jan 3:2:3. doi: 10.1038/s42003-018-0246-9. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Mitochondrial damage is caused by changes in the micro-environmental conditions during tumor progression. Cancer cells require mechanisms for mitochondrial quality control during this process; however, how mitochondrial integrity is maintained is unclear. Here we show that E2F3d, a previously unidentified E2F3 isoform, mediates hypoxia-induced mitophagy in cancer cells. Aberrant activity and expression of the E2F3 transcription factor is frequently observed in many cancer cells. Loss of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein family function increases the expression of E2F3d and E2F3a. E2F3d localizes to the outer mitochondrial membrane and its cytosolic domain contains an LC3-interacting region motif. Overexpression of E2F3d induces mitochondrial fragmentation and mitophagy, suggesting that E2F3d plays an important role in mitophagy. Furthermore, depletion of E2F3s attenuates hypoxia-induced mitophagy and increases intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, which is reversed by the reintroduction of E2F3d. This study presents another key player that regulates mitochondrial quality control in cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Hypoxia*
  • Dynamins / genetics
  • E2F3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • E2F3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondrial Membranes / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitophagy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • E2F3 Transcription Factor
  • E2F3 protein, human
  • MAP1LC3A protein, human
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • DNM1L protein, human
  • Dynamins