Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Autophagy, a highly conserved homeostatic mechanism, is essential for cell survival. The decline of autophagy function has been implicated in various diseases as well as aging. Although mitochondria play a key role in the autophagy process, whether mitochondrial-derived peptides are involved in this process has not been explored.Methods
We developed a high through put screening method to identify potential autophagy inducers among mitochondrial-derived peptides. We used three different cell lines, mice, c.elegans, and a human cohort to validate the observation.Results
Humanin, a mitochondrial-derived peptide, increases autophagy and maintains autophagy flux in several cell types. Humanin administration increases the expression of autophagy-related genes and lowers accumulation of harmful misfolded proteins in mice skeletal muscle, suggesting that humanin-induced autophagy potentially contributes to the improved skeletal function. Moreover, autophagy is a critical role in humanin-induced lifespan extension in C. elegans.Conclusions
Humanin is an autophagy inducer.General significance
This paper presents a significant, novel discovery regarding the role of the mitochondrial derived peptide humanin in autophagy regulation and as a possible therapeutic target for autophagy in various age-related diseases.
SUBMITTER: Kim SJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8595716 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kim Su-Jeong SJ Devgan Anjali A Miller Brendan B Lee Sam Mool SM Kumagai Hiroshi H Wilson Kenneth A KA Wassef Gabriella G Wong Richard R Mehta Hemal H HH Cohen Pinchas P Yen Kelvin K
Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects 20211006 1
<h4>Background</h4>Autophagy, a highly conserved homeostatic mechanism, is essential for cell survival. The decline of autophagy function has been implicated in various diseases as well as aging. Although mitochondria play a key role in the autophagy process, whether mitochondrial-derived peptides are involved in this process has not been explored.<h4>Methods</h4>We developed a high through put screening method to identify potential autophagy inducers among mitochondrial-derived peptides. We use ...[more]