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Updated: Sep 17, 2025

A Semi-High-Throughput Adaptation of the NADH-Coupled ATPase Assay for Screening Small Molecule Inhibitors
Published on: August 17, 2019
An NADH-controlled gatekeeper of ATP synthase
Fabian Schildhauer1, Petra S J Ryl1, Simon M Lauer2
1Technische Universität Berlin, Chair of Bioanalytics, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
None:
ATP fuels crucial cellular processes and is obtained mostly by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) at the inner mitochondrial membrane. While significant progress has been made in mechanistic understanding of ATP production, critical aspects surrounding its substrate supply logistics are poorly understood. We identify an interaction between mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIFM1) and adenylate kinase 2 (AK2) as gatekeeper of ATP synthase. This interaction is NADH dependent and influenced by glycolysis, linking it to the cell's metabolic state. Genetic interference with AIFM1/AK2 association impedes the ability of Caenorhabditis elegans animals to handle altered metabolic rates and nutrient availability. Together, the results imply AIFM1 as a cellular NADH sensor, placing AK2 next to the OXPHOS complexes for local ADP regeneration as the substrate for ATP synthesis. This metabolic signal relay balances ATP synthase substrate supply against ATP conservation, enabling cells to adapt to fluctuating energy availability, with possible implications for AIFM1-related mitochondrial diseases.
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