Lysine acetylation modulates s-OPA1 GTPase activity and oligomerization in mitochondrial membrane remodeling

Mitochondrial dynamics are regulated by coordinated fission and fusion events that rely on key proteins and lipids organized spatially within the mitochondria. The dynamin-related GTPase Optic Atrophy 1 (OPA1) is essential for inner mitochondrial membrane fusion and cristae structure maintenance. While post-translational modifications, particularly lysine acetylation, are emerging as critical regulators of mitochondrial protein function, their impact on OPA1 remains poorly characterized. In this study, we explored the effects of lysine acetylation on the short form of OPA1 (s-OPA1) using acetylation and deacetylation mimetic mutations. Through a combination of in silico analyses and functional assays, we identified lysine residues in s-OPA1 that are conserved across species and significantly influence protein stability, GTPase activity, and oligomeric assembly upon acetylation or deacetylation. Our findings reveal that acetylation at K328 and deacetylation at K342 within the G domain enhance the GTPase activity of s-OPA1 upon lipid membrane binding, whereas deacetylation at K772 abolishes membrane binding-induced GTPase activity. Negative-stain transmission electron microscopy indicated that while lysine acetylation does not alter the ability of s-OPA1 to bind and tubulate liposomes, it significantly impacts higher-order filament formation. These findings provide novel insights into how acetylation modulates s-OPA1 function, highlighting a potential mechanism for post-translational regulation of mitochondrial dynamics. Our study contributes to the understanding of how molecular changes influence broader cellular processes, with implications for mitochondrial function and related disorders.