STX17 dynamically regulated by Fis1 induces mitophagy via hierarchical macroautophagic mechanism

Nat Commun. 2019 May 3;10(1):2059. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10096-1.

Abstract

Mitophagy is the selective autophagic targeting and removal of dysfunctional mitochondria. While PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy is well-characterized, PINK1/Parkin-independent route is poorly understood. Using structure illumination microscopy (SR-SIM), we demonstrate that the SNARE protein Syntaxin 17 (STX17) initiates mitophagy upon depletion of outer mitochondrial membrane protein Fis1. With proteomics analysis, we identify the STX17-Fis1 interaction, which controls the dynamic shuffling of STX17 between ER and mitochondria. Fis1 loss results in aberrant STX17 accumulation on mitochondria, which exposes the N terminus and promotes self-oligomerization to trigger mitophagy. Mitochondrial STX17 interacts with ATG14 and recruits core autophagy proteins to form mitophagosome, followed by Rab7-dependent mitophagosome-lysosome fusion. Furthermore, Fis1 loss impairs mitochondrial respiration and potentially sensitizes cells to mitochondrial clearance, which is mediated through canonical autophagy machinery, closely linking non-selective macroautophagy to mitochondrial turnover. Our findings uncover a PINK1/Parkin-independent mitophagic mechanism in which outer mitochondrial membrane protein Fis1 regulates mitochondrial quality control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitophagy*
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • FIS1 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • STX17 protein, human