A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Sphingosine kinase 1 overexpression induces MFN2 fragmentation and alters mitochondrial matrix Ca2+ handling in HeLa cells
Authors: I. Pulli, C. Löf, T. Blom, M.Y. Asghar, T. Lassila, N. Bäck, K.-L. Lin, J.H. Nyström, K. Kemppainen, D.M. Toivola, E. Dufour, A. Sanz, H.M. Cooper, J.B. Parys, K. Törnquis
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Publication year: 2019
Journal: BBA - Molecular Cell Research
Journal name in source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research
Volume: 1866
Issue: 9
First page : 1475
Last page: 1486
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 1879-2596
eISSN: 1878-2434
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2019.06.006
Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) converts sphingosine to the bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). S1P bindsto G-protein-coupled receptors (S1PR1–5) to regulate cellular events, including Ca2+signaling. The SK1/S1P axisand Ca2+signaling both play important roles in health and disease. In this respect, Ca2+microdomains at themitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs) are of importance in oncogenesis.Mitofusin 2 (MFN2) modulates ER-mitochondria contacts, and dysregulation of MFN2 is associated with ma-lignancies. We show that overexpression of SK1 augments agonist-induced Ca2+release from the ER resulting inincreased mitochondrial matrix Ca2+. Also, overexpression of SK1 induces MFN2 fragmentation, likely throughincreased calpain activity. Further, expressing putative calpain-cleaved MFN2 N- and C-terminal fragments in-creases mitochondrial matrix Ca2+during agonist stimulation, mimicking the SK1 overexpression in cells.Moreover, SK1 overexpression enhances cellular respiration and cell migration. Thus, SK1 regulates MFN2fragmentation resulting in increased mitochondrial Ca2+and downstream cellular effects.