Cited by 399Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsAutophagy in Disease and TherapyUbiquitin and proteasome pathways

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p62/SQSTM1 cooperates with Parkin for perinuclear clustering of depolarized mitochondria

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Abstract

PINK1 and Parkin were first identified as the causal genes responsible for familial forms of early‐onset Parkinson’s disease (PD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. PINK1 encodes a mitochondrial serine/threonine protein kinase, whereas Parkin encodes an ubiquitin‐protein ligase. PINK1 and Parkin cooperate to maintain mitochondrial integrity; however, the detailed molecular mechanism of how Parkin‐catalyzed ubiquitylation results in mitochondrial integrity remains an enigma. In this study, we show that Parkin‐catalyzed K63‐linked polyubiquitylation of depolarized mitochondria resulted in ubiquitylated mitochondria being transported along microtubules to cluster in the perinuclear region, which was interfered by pathogenic mutations of Parkin. In addition, p62/SQSTM1 (hereafter referred to as p62) was recruited to depolarized mitochondria after Parkin‐directed ubiquitylation. Intriguingly, deletion of p62 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts resulted in a gross loss of mitochondrial perinuclear clustering but did not hinder mitochondrial degradation. Thus, p62 is required for ubiquitylation‐dependent clustering of damaged mitochondria, which resembles p62‐mediated ‘aggresome’ formation of misfolded/unfolded proteins after ubiquitylation.

Overview

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Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Parkin-catalyzed K63-linked ubiquitylation of depolarized mitochondria drives their microtubule-dependent perinuclear clustering, and p62/SQSTM1 is required for this clustering but not for mitochondrial degradation in MEFs. The study links Parkin, p62, and aggresome-like mitochondrial quarantine, while leaving the role of p62 in mitophagy unresolved.

Key findings

  • Parkin rapidly moved to CCCP-depolarized mitochondria and ubiquitylated them by t = 1 h; mitochondria later concentrated in the perinuclear region at t > 4 h in Parkin-expressing HeLa cells, and this clustering was Parkin dependent.
  • Linkage-specific antibodies showed that Parkin-localized mitochondria were stained by K63-linked ubiquitin antibodies Apu3 and HWA4C4, but not by K48-linked Apu2; signals disappeared with E3-inactivated Parkin mutations T415N and G430D.
  • Microtubule inhibitors nocodazole (10 μg/mL) and colchicine (50 μg/mL) dissipated perinuclear mitochondrial clusters, whereas latrunculin A/B had no effect.
  • p62 was recruited to depolarized mitochondria after Parkin-directed ubiquitylation; p62 deletion in MEFs caused gross loss of perinuclear clustering but did not hinder degradation. mtDNA 12s rRNA after CCCP fell to 62 ± 4% in wild-type MEFs, 95 ± 13% in Atg7−/− MEFs, and 43 ± 2% in p62−/− MEFs.
  • p62 PB1 mutant K7A/D69A failed to restore clustering in p62−/− MEFs, whereas W340A restored clustering but delayed mitochondrial degradation.

Methods

  • HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin or pathogenic Parkin mutants were treated with 10 μM CCCP; MEFs (wild-type, p62−/−, Atg7−/−) expressing HA- or GFP-Parkin were treated with 30 μM CCCP and analyzed by immunocytochemistry.
  • Mitochondrial morphology was scored in more than 100 cells per condition across at least three experiments, with Welch’s t-test or Student’s t-test where reported; linkage-specific anti-ubiquitin antibodies were validated by immunoblotting against K48- or K63-linked polyubiquitin chains.
  • Additional assays included COX electron microscopy, real-time quantitative PCR for mitochondrial 12s ribosomal RNA normalized to GAPDH, and inhibitor treatments with bafilomycin A1 or E64d/pepstatin A/NH4Cl.

Limitations

  • The paper states that its results “do not rule out completely the involvement of p62 in Parkin-mediated mitophagy” and that a role for p62 in degradation is substitutable in MEFs, possibly due to functional redundancy with proteins such as NBR1, Alfy, and BAG3.
  • The authors note their p62 result conflicts with Geisler et al. (2010), who reported p62 is required for Parkin-dependent mitophagy; they attribute the discrepancy to methodological differences (p62 knockout MEFs versus p62 siRNA in HeLa cells) and state further analysis is needed.
  • Evident from the text: the study relies on cultured HeLa cells and MEFs with exogenous Parkin and CCCP-induced depolarization, not in vivo neurons; MEFs required higher CCCP concentrations and longer incubation than HeLa cells, and the p62−/− phenotype was interpreted with possible redundant factors.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2010.01426.x

Cites

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Figures

Figure 1 K63-linkage-specific anti-ubiquitin antibody can detect mitochondrial ubiquitylation catalyzed by Parkin. (A) HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP for the indicated times, then immunostained with anti-HA or anti-Tom20 antibodies. Mitochondria clustered to the juxtanuclear region (t = 4 h) only in Parkin-expressing cells. (B) Morphology of mitochondria in Parkin-expressing HeLa cells was analyzed in more than 100 cells in each time course. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (C) Linkage-specificity of anti-ubiquitin antibodies. K48- or K63-linked ubiquitin chain was blotted with Apu2, Apu3 or HWA4C4 antibody. P4D1 recognizes any type of ubiquitin and was used as a positive control. (D) HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP and subjected to immunocytochemistry with the indicated linkage-specific anti-ubiquitin antibodies. (E) Parkin-expressing HeLa cells were stained with the indicated antibodies, and cells with double-stained mitochondria by Parkin and linkage-specific Ub were counted in more than 100 cells per antibody. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (F) K63-linked ubiquitylation on mitochondria depends on the E3 activity of Parkin. K63-linked ubiquitylation signal disappeared when the catalytically dead T415N and G430D mutations were introduced into Parkin. Scale bars represent 10 μm in (A), (D) and (F).
Figure 1 K63-linkage-specific anti-ubiquitin antibody can detect mitochondrial ubiquitylation catalyzed by Parkin. (A) HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP for the indicated times, then immunostained with anti-HA or anti-Tom20 antibodies. Mitochondria clustered to the juxtanuclear region (t = 4 h) only in Parkin-expressing cells. (B) Morphology of mitochondria in Parkin-expressing HeLa cells was analyzed in more than 100 cells in each time course. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (C) Linkage-specificity of anti-ubiquitin antibodies. K48- or K63-linked ubiquitin chain was blotted with Apu2, Apu3 or HWA4C4 antibody. P4D1 recognizes any type of ubiquitin and was used as a positive control. (D) HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP and subjected to immunocytochemistry with the indicated linkage-specific anti-ubiquitin antibodies. (E) Parkin-expressing HeLa cells were stained with the indicated antibodies, and cells with double-stained mitochondria by Parkin and linkage-specific Ub were counted in more than 100 cells per antibody. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (F) K63-linked ubiquitylation on mitochondria depends on the E3 activity of Parkin. K63-linked ubiquitylation signal disappeared when the catalytically dead T415N and G430D mutations were introduced into Parkin. Scale bars represent 10 μm in (A), (D) and (F).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Mitochondrial clustering catalyzed by Parkin is microtubule dependent. (A) Microtubule polymerization inhibitors hampered the perinuclear clustering of mitochondria. HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP plus DMSO (control), nocodazole or colchicine, then immunostained with anti-Parkin or anti-Tom20 antibodies. Scale bars represent 10 μm. Treatment with both nocodazole and colchicine caused the depolarized mitochondria to scatter throughout the cells. (B) The morphology of mitochondria was analyzed in more than 100 cells per each condition. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk, P < 0.01 (Welch’s t-test).
Figure 2 Mitochondrial clustering catalyzed by Parkin is microtubule dependent. (A) Microtubule polymerization inhibitors hampered the perinuclear clustering of mitochondria. HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP plus DMSO (control), nocodazole or colchicine, then immunostained with anti-Parkin or anti-Tom20 antibodies. Scale bars represent 10 μm. Treatment with both nocodazole and colchicine caused the depolarized mitochondria to scatter throughout the cells. (B) The morphology of mitochondria was analyzed in more than 100 cells per each condition. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk, P < 0.01 (Welch’s t-test).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Various pathogenic mutations of Parkin impede mitochondrial clustering. (A) Schematic diagram of disease-relevant mutants of Parkin used in this study. IBR, in between RING; Ubl, ubiquitin like. (B) HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin with various pathogenic mutations were treated with CCCP followed by immunocytochemistry. Mitochondrial clustering was analyzed in more than 100 cells per mutation. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk, P < 0.01; two asterisks, P < 0.001 (Welch’s t-test). (C) Immunocytochemistry indicative of a typical example for each mutation is shown. Scale bars represent 20 μm in wild type and 10 μm in the other mutations. (D) Triple-staining using mitochondria-targeting GFP (Mt-GFP), anti-ubiquitin and anti-Parkin antibodies confirmed that mitochondria in T415N and G430D mutants did not undergo ubiquitylation or clustering.
Figure 3 Various pathogenic mutations of Parkin impede mitochondrial clustering. (A) Schematic diagram of disease-relevant mutants of Parkin used in this study. IBR, in between RING; Ubl, ubiquitin like. (B) HeLa cells expressing HA-Parkin with various pathogenic mutations were treated with CCCP followed by immunocytochemistry. Mitochondrial clustering was analyzed in more than 100 cells per mutation. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk, P < 0.01; two asterisks, P < 0.001 (Welch’s t-test). (C) Immunocytochemistry indicative of a typical example for each mutation is shown. Scale bars represent 20 μm in wild type and 10 μm in the other mutations. (D) Triple-staining using mitochondria-targeting GFP (Mt-GFP), anti-ubiquitin and anti-Parkin antibodies confirmed that mitochondria in T415N and G430D mutants did not undergo ubiquitylation or clustering.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 E3 activity of Parkin recruits endogenous p62 to depolarized mitochondria. (A) HeLa cells expressing wild type or E3-incompetent Parkin were treated with CCCP for 0, 1 or 4 h, then immunostained with the indicated antibodies. Note that endogenous p62 was recruited to mitochondria only in wild-type Parkin-expressing cells. All scale bars represent 10 μm and higher magnification views of the boxed areas are shown in the insets. (B) Recruitment of p62 onto mitochondria was analyzed in more than 100 cells in each experimental condition. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Two asterisks, P < 0.001 (Welch’s t-test).
Figure 4 E3 activity of Parkin recruits endogenous p62 to depolarized mitochondria. (A) HeLa cells expressing wild type or E3-incompetent Parkin were treated with CCCP for 0, 1 or 4 h, then immunostained with the indicated antibodies. Note that endogenous p62 was recruited to mitochondria only in wild-type Parkin-expressing cells. All scale bars represent 10 μm and higher magnification views of the boxed areas are shown in the insets. (B) Recruitment of p62 onto mitochondria was analyzed in more than 100 cells in each experimental condition. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Two asterisks, P < 0.001 (Welch’s t-test).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Damaged mitochondria clustered to the juxtanuclear region in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). (A) Endogenous p62 was recruited to mitochondria in MEFs. Exogenous Parkin and endogenous p62 were stained in wild-type or p62−/− MEFs. (B) Parkin was recruited to the mitochondria after CCCP treatment in p62−/− MEFs. In A and B, higher magnification views of the boxed areas are shown in the insets. (C) Depolarized mitochondria in the perinuclear region were not fused to each other. Electron microscopic analysis showed that juxtanuclear-clustered mitochondria are aggregated like a bunch of grapes. Arrowheads indicate malformed mitochondria with disintegrated cristae. Scale bars for each figure are shown below.
Figure 5 Damaged mitochondria clustered to the juxtanuclear region in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). (A) Endogenous p62 was recruited to mitochondria in MEFs. Exogenous Parkin and endogenous p62 were stained in wild-type or p62−/− MEFs. (B) Parkin was recruited to the mitochondria after CCCP treatment in p62−/− MEFs. In A and B, higher magnification views of the boxed areas are shown in the insets. (C) Depolarized mitochondria in the perinuclear region were not fused to each other. Electron microscopic analysis showed that juxtanuclear-clustered mitochondria are aggregated like a bunch of grapes. Arrowheads indicate malformed mitochondria with disintegrated cristae. Scale bars for each figure are shown below.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 Juxtanuclear clustering rather than degradation of mitochondria is considerably inhibited in p62−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). (A) Top panel: example figures indicative of diffused (light gray in the bar graph), aggregated (gray) or degraded mitochondria (black) are shown. Bottom panel: wild type, p62−/− and Atg7 −/− MEFs expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP for 24 h, and mitochondrial morphology was analyzed in >100 cells per mutation. Error bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (B) Immunocytochemistry of wild type, p62−/− and Atg7 −/− MEFs expressing HA-Parkin after CCCP treatment for 16 h. Green, red and blue arrowheads indicate cells with dispersed, aggregated and degraded mitochondria, respectively. (C) Time course experiments showing the morphologic change of mitochondria. Wild-type or p62−/− MEFs expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP for the indicated times, immunostained with anti-HA and anti-Tom20 antibodies, and then the mitochondrial morphology was analyzed in more than 100 cells per condition. Green, red and blue lines indicate cells with dispersed, aggregated and degraded mitochondria, respectively. Error bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (D) Measurement of mtDNA contents in wild type, Atg7 −/− and p62−/− MEFs after CCCP treatment. The graph represents the results from three independent experiments. Contents of mtDNA without CCCP treatment were defined as 100% in each cell. Asterisk shows significant difference from control (P < 0.01; Welch’s t-test), whereas two asterisks show no significance (P > 0.01). (E) Depolarized mitochondria are degraded by the autophagic and lysosomal pathway in p62−/− MEFs. p62−/− MEFs were treated with CCCP plus DMSO (control), bafilomycin A1 or a protease inhibitor cocktail (pepstatin A, E64d and NH4Cl), then the morphology of mitochondria was analyzed in more than 100 cells per each condition. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk, P < 0.001 (Welch’s t-test).
Figure 6 Juxtanuclear clustering rather than degradation of mitochondria is considerably inhibited in p62−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). (A) Top panel: example figures indicative of diffused (light gray in the bar graph), aggregated (gray) or degraded mitochondria (black) are shown. Bottom panel: wild type, p62−/− and Atg7 −/− MEFs expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP for 24 h, and mitochondrial morphology was analyzed in >100 cells per mutation. Error bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (B) Immunocytochemistry of wild type, p62−/− and Atg7 −/− MEFs expressing HA-Parkin after CCCP treatment for 16 h. Green, red and blue arrowheads indicate cells with dispersed, aggregated and degraded mitochondria, respectively. (C) Time course experiments showing the morphologic change of mitochondria. Wild-type or p62−/− MEFs expressing HA-Parkin were treated with CCCP for the indicated times, immunostained with anti-HA and anti-Tom20 antibodies, and then the mitochondrial morphology was analyzed in more than 100 cells per condition. Green, red and blue lines indicate cells with dispersed, aggregated and degraded mitochondria, respectively. Error bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. (D) Measurement of mtDNA contents in wild type, Atg7 −/− and p62−/− MEFs after CCCP treatment. The graph represents the results from three independent experiments. Contents of mtDNA without CCCP treatment were defined as 100% in each cell. Asterisk shows significant difference from control (P < 0.01; Welch’s t-test), whereas two asterisks show no significance (P > 0.01). (E) Depolarized mitochondria are degraded by the autophagic and lysosomal pathway in p62−/− MEFs. p62−/− MEFs were treated with CCCP plus DMSO (control), bafilomycin A1 or a protease inhibitor cocktail (pepstatin A, E64d and NH4Cl), then the morphology of mitochondria was analyzed in more than 100 cells per each condition. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk, P < 0.001 (Welch’s t-test).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 The PB1 domain of p62 is imperative for the clustering of depolarized mitochondria. (A) Immunocytochemistry of p62−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) complemented by wild-type p62 or the indicated p62 mutants. Higher magnification views of the boxed areas are shown in the insets in the middle panel. (B) The mitochondrial morphology of p62−/− MEFs expressing the indicated p62 mutants was analyzed in more than 100 cells per mutation. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk shows significant difference from control (P < 0.01; Student’s t-test) whereas two asterisks show no significance (P = 0.43 > 0.01), meaning that wild-type p62 restored the mitochondrial clustering, whereas the PB1 domain mutant (K7A, D69A) did not. Triple asterisks show significant difference from wild-type control (P = 0.005 < 0.01), meaning that mitochondrial degradation was impaired in p62−/− MEFs complemented with the p62 W340A mutant.
Figure 7 The PB1 domain of p62 is imperative for the clustering of depolarized mitochondria. (A) Immunocytochemistry of p62−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) complemented by wild-type p62 or the indicated p62 mutants. Higher magnification views of the boxed areas are shown in the insets in the middle panel. (B) The mitochondrial morphology of p62−/− MEFs expressing the indicated p62 mutants was analyzed in more than 100 cells per mutation. Bars represent the mean ± SD values of at least three experiments. Asterisk shows significant difference from control (P < 0.01; Student’s t-test) whereas two asterisks show no significance (P = 0.43 > 0.01), meaning that wild-type p62 restored the mitochondrial clustering, whereas the PB1 domain mutant (K7A, D69A) did not. Triple asterisks show significant difference from wild-type control (P = 0.005 < 0.01), meaning that mitochondrial degradation was impaired in p62−/− MEFs complemented with the p62 W340A mutant.CC BY · PubMed Central

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 14
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 17
28 of 28
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Endogenous Parkin is undetectable in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

    “Because endogenous Parkin is undetectable in MEFs, HA- or GFP-Parkin was introduced into control (p62+/+) and p62 KO (p62−/−) MEFs (Komatsu et al. 2007) by retro-viral transfection (Kitamura et al. 2003).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    MEFs are less sensitive than HeLa cells to CCCP, requiring higher concentrations and longer incubation to observe the phenotype.

    “Because MEFs are less sensitive than HeLa cells to CCCP, higher concentrations of CCCP (30 μm) and longer incubation are required to observe the phenotype.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The p62 W340A mutant cannot interact with LC3.

    “the p62 W340A mutant, which cannot interact with LC3 (Fig. 7B)”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Complete disruption of p62 cannot cause this type of titration and thus cannot confer the dominant effect.

    “(note that complete disruption of p62 cannot cause this type of titration and thus cannot confer the dominant effect).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The K7A/D69A double mutation in the PB1 domain abolishes p62 oligomerization.

    “we introduced a K7A/D69A double mutation in the PB1 domain”
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Metadata

Authors
Okatsu, K., Saisho, K., Shimanuki, M., Nakada, K., Shitara, H., Sou, Y., Kimura, M., Sato, S., Hattori, N., Komatsu, M., Tanaka, K., & Matsuda, N.
Affiliations
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science (JP)
  • University of Tsukuba (JP)
  • Juntendo University (JP)
  • Japan Science and Technology Agency (JP)
Corresponding author
  • Tanaka, Keiji
  • Matsuda, Noriyuki
Venue
Genes to Cells
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-07-17
Volume
15
Issue
8
Pages
887-900
ISSN
  • 1356-9597 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2443
OpenAlex
W1904531393
Cited by
397
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 43
FWCI
20.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Genes to Cells (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (22650091)
  • Japan Science and Technology Agency
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
Keywords
p62, Parkin, PINK1, mitochondrial depolarization, ubiquitin-protein ligase, microtubule transport, mitochondrial quality control, mitochondrial degradation, aggresomes, Parkinson's disease, parkin mutations
MeSH terms
Sequestosome-1 Protein, Cell Nucleus, Cells, Cultured, DNA, Mitochondrial, HeLa Cells, Humans, Mitochondria, Protein Folding, Ubiquitin, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Ubiquitination, Biocatalysis

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