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Mitochondrial cytochrome c shot towards histone chaperone condensates in the nucleus

Katiuska González-Arzola1, Alejandra Guerra-Castellano1, Francisco Rivero-Rodríguez1

  • 1Institute for Chemical Research (IIQ), Scientific Research Centre Isla de la Cartuja (cicCartuja), University of Seville - CSIC, Spain.

FEBS Open Bio
|May 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondria

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mitochondria are crucial for cell homeostasis and fate.
  • Their role in DNA damage response is often limited to apoptosis.
  • Emerging evidence suggests mitochondrial factors influence nuclear functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mitochondrial factors, specifically cytochrome c, in nuclear DNA damage response.
  • To explore how cytochrome c modulates chromatin dynamics and nuclear condensate formation.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the interaction of nuclear cytochrome c with histone chaperones post-DNA damage.
  • Analyzed the effect of cytochrome c on nucleosome assembly/disassembly activity.
  • Examined histone chaperone interactions with cytochrome c's Lys residues and their role in phase transitions.

Main Results:

  • Cytochrome c (Cc) interacts with nuclear histone chaperones after DNA damage.
  • Nuclear Cc competitively inhibits histone chaperone activity, affecting nucleosome assembly.
  • Cc may influence heterochromatin formation via histone chaperone interactions and phase transitions.

Conclusions:

  • Cytochrome c plays a regulatory role in DNA repair beyond apoptosis.
  • Nuclear Cc fine-tunes nucleosome assembly and nuclear condensate formation.
  • Mitochondrial factors can significantly impact nuclear DNA repair mechanisms.
Keywords:
DNA damage responsechromatin remodellingcytochrome chistone chaperoneliquid-liquid phase separationlysine acetylation

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