It has been assumed, based largely on morphologic evidence, that human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) contain underdeveloped, bioenergetically inactive mitochondria. In contrast, differentiated cells harbour a branched mitochondrial network with oxidative phosphorylation as the main energy source. A role for mitochondria in hPSC bioenergetics and in cell differentiation therefore remains uncertain. Here, we show that hPSCs have functional respiratory complexes that are able to consume O2 at maximal capacity. Despite this, ATP generation in hPSCs is mainly by glycolysis and ATP is consumed by the F1F ATP synthase to partially maintain hPSC mitochondrial membrane potential and cell viability. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) plays a regulating role in hPSC energy metabolism by preventing mitochondrial glucose oxidation and facilitating glycolysis via a substrate shunting mechanism. With early differentiation, hPSC proliferation slows, energy metabolism decreases, and UCP2 is repressed, resulting in decreased glycolysis and maintained or increased mitochondrial glucose oxidation. Ectopic UCP2 expression perturbs this metabolic transition and impairs hPSC differentiation. Overall, hPSCs contain active mitochondria and require UCP2 repression for full differentiation potential. There is a [Have you seen?][1] (December 2011) associated with this Article. [1]: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2011.436

Defined mutations in the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier (AAC) are associated with certain types of progressive external ophthalmoplegia. AAC is required for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and dysregulation of AAC has been implicated in apoptosis. Little is known about the AAC interactome, aside from a known requirement for the phospholipid cardiolipin (CL) and that it is thought to function as a homodimer. Using a newly developed dual affinity tag, we demonstrate that yeast AAC2 physically participates in several protein complexes of distinct size and composition. The respiratory supercomplex and several smaller AAC2-containing complexes, including other members of the mitochondrial carrier family, are identified here. In the absence of CL, most of the defined interactions are destabilized or undetectable. The absence of CL and/or AAC2 results in distinct yet additive alterations in respiratory supercomplex structure and respiratory function. Thus, a single lipid can significantly alter the functional interactome of an individual protein.

▪ Abstract The mitochondrion has developed an elaborate translocation system for the import of nuclear-coded proteins and the export of proteins coded on the mitochondrial genome. Precursor proteins contain targeting and sorting information to reach the mitochondrion, whereas the translocons recognize the information and direct the precursor to the correct compartment. The outer membrane contains the TOM (translocase of the outer membrane) complex for translocation and the SAM (sorting and assembly machinery) complex for assembly of outer membrane proteins with complex topologies. At the inner membrane, the TIM23 (translocase of the inner membrane) mediates the import of mitochondrial proteins with a typical N-terminal targeting sequence, and the TIM22 complex mediates the import of polytopic inner membrane proteins. Based on its prokaryotic origin, the inner membrane also contains several components that mediate the export and assembly of proteins from within the matrix. Together the translocation and assembly complexes coordinate assembly of the mitochondrion.

The soluble Tim9p–Tim10p (Tim, translocase of inner membrane) complex of the mitochondrial intermembrane space mediates the import of the carrier proteins and is a component of the TIM22 import system. The mechanism by which the Tim9p–Tim10p complex assembles and binds the carriers is not well understood, but previous studies have proposed that the conserved cysteine residues in the ‘twin CX3C’ motif coordinate zinc and potentially generate a zinc‐finger‐like structure that binds to the matrix loops of the carrier proteins. Here we have purified the native and recombinant Tim9p–Tim10p complex, and show that both complexes resemble each other and consist of three Tim9p and three Tim10p. Results from inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry studies failed to detect zinc in the Tim9p–Tim10p complex. Instead, the cysteine residues seemingly formed disulfide linkages. The Tim9p–Tim10p complex bound specifically to the transmembrane domains of the ADP/ATP carrier, but had no affinity for Tim23p, an inner membrane protein that is inserted via the TIM22 complex. The chaperone‐like Tim9p–Tim10p complex thus may prevent aggregation of the unfolded carrier proteins in the aqueous intermembrane space.

Mohr–Tranebjaerg syndrome (MTS/DFN-1) or deafness/dystonia syndrome results from a mutation in deafness/dystonia protein 1/translocase of mitochondrial inner membrane 8a (DDP1/TIMM8a). DDP1/TIMM8a is similar to a family of yeast proteins in the mitochondrial intermembrane space which mediate the import and insertion of inner membrane proteins. We now show that TIMM8a assembles in a 70 kDa complex in the intermembrane space with TIMM13. DDP1/TIMM8a is not detectable in fibroblasts derived from a patient with a missense mutation in the DDP1/TIMM8a gene; the point mutation results in cysteine-66 being changed to tryptophan-66 in the conserved ‘twin CX₃C’ motif. The corresponding mutation in yeast translocase of inner membrane 8p (Tim8p) yields an unstable protein that does not assemble with yeast Tim13p. DDP1/TIMM8a, when expressed with TIMM13 in yeast mitochondria lacking the Tim8p–Tim13p complex, restores Tim23p import, and TIMM8a and TIMM13 can be cross-linked to the hTim23 import intermediate in rat and yeast mitochondria. In a similar manner to Tim8p, TIMM8a seemingly mediates the import of hTim23. Deafness/dystonia syndrome thus may be caused by decreased levels of Tim23 in the mitochondrial inner membrane in affected tissues.