The Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response Protects against Anoxia in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is a surveillance pathway that defends proteostasis in the "powerhouse" of the cell. Activation of the UPRmt protects against stresses imposed by reactive oxygen species, respiratory chain deficits, and pathologic bacteria. Consistent with the UPRmt's role in adaption, we found that either its pharmacological or genetic activation by ethidium bromide (EtBr) or RNAi of the mitochondrial AAA-protease spg-7 was sufficient to reduce death in an anoxia-based Caenorhabditis elegans model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. The UPRmt-specific transcription factor atfs-1 was necessary for protection and atfs-1 gain-of-function (gf) mutants were endogenously protected from both death and dysfunction. Neurons exhibited less axonal degeneration followin

SUBMITTER: Pena S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4961406 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature