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Study of Endoplasmic Reticulum and Mitochondria Interactions by In Situ Proximity Ligation Assay in Fixed Cells
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Interactions between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in demyelinated axons
Truc Quynh Thai1,2, Huy Bang Nguyen1,2, Yang Sui1,2
1Division of Neurobiology and Bioinformatics, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan.
Medical Molecular Morphology
|November 19, 2018
Summary
In demyelinated axons, interactions between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) increase. These enhanced mitochondria-ER connections persist even as axons degenerate in hereditary myelin diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Demyelination causes axonal damage, affecting mitochondria crucial for axon survival.
- Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) are physical links between mitochondria and ER.
- The role of MAMs in demyelinated axons remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ultrastructural changes in mitochondria-ER membrane juxtapositions in demyelinated axons.
- To analyze these changes in a mouse model of chronic progressive demyelination (PLP4e mice).
Main Methods:
- Utilized a proteolipid protein (PLP4e) mouse model with chronic progressive demyelination.
- Examined optic nerve tissues at 1 and 5 months of age using 3D ultrastructural analysis.
- Compared mitochondria size and mitochondria-ER juxtaposition in PLP4e mice versus wild-type controls.
Main Results:
- At 1 month, PLP4e mice showed slightly larger mitochondria but similar mitochondria-ER juxtapositions compared to wild-type.
- By 5 months, PLP4e mice exhibited significantly larger mitochondria and increased mitochondria-ER juxtapositions.
- In degenerating axons, mitochondria enlargement was reduced, but mitochondria-ER juxtapositions remained similar to non-degenerating axons.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondria-ER interactions are enhanced in chronically demyelinated axons.
- These enhanced interactions are maintained during axonal degeneration in hereditary myelin diseases.
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