Regulation of mitochondrial iron import through differential turnover of mitoferrin 1 and mitoferrin 2

PN Paradkar, KB Zumbrennen, BH Paw… - … and cellular biology, 2009 - Taylor & Francis
PN Paradkar, KB Zumbrennen, BH Paw, DM Ward, J Kaplan
Molecular and cellular biology, 2009Taylor & Francis
Mitoferrin 1 and mitoferrin 2 are homologous members of the mitochondrial solute carrier
family. Mitoferrin 1 is required for mitochondrial iron delivery in developing erythrocytes.
Here we show that mitoferrin 1 and mitoferrin 2 contribute to mitochondrial iron delivery in a
variety of cells. Reductions in mitoferrin 1 and/or mitoferrin 2 levels by RNA interference
result in decreased mitochondrial iron accumulation, heme synthesis, and iron-sulfur cluster
synthesis. The ectopic expression of mitoferrin 1 in nonerythroid cells silenced for mitoferrin …
Mitoferrin 1 and mitoferrin 2 are homologous members of the mitochondrial solute carrier family. Mitoferrin 1 is required for mitochondrial iron delivery in developing erythrocytes. Here we show that mitoferrin 1 and mitoferrin 2 contribute to mitochondrial iron delivery in a variety of cells. Reductions in mitoferrin 1 and/or mitoferrin 2 levels by RNA interference result in decreased mitochondrial iron accumulation, heme synthesis, and iron-sulfur cluster synthesis. The ectopic expression of mitoferrin 1 in nonerythroid cells silenced for mitoferrin 2 or the expression of mitoferrin 2 in cells silenced for mitoferrin 1 restored heme synthesis to “baseline” levels. The ectopic expression of mitoferrin 2, however, did not support hemoglobinization in erythroid cells deficient in mitoferrin 1. Mitoferrin 2 could not restore heme synthesis in developing erythroid cells because of an inability of the protein to accumulate in mitochondria. The half-life of mitoferrin 1 was increased in developing erythroid cells, while the half-life of mitoferrin 2 did not change. These results suggest that mitochondrial iron accumulation is tightly regulated and that controlling mitoferrin levels within the mitochondrial membrane provides a mechanism to regulate mitochondrial iron levels.
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