Replacement of the C6ORF66 assembly factor (NDUFAF4) restores complex I activity in patient cells

Mol Med. 2013 Jul 24;19(1):124-34. doi: 10.2119/molmed.2012.00343.

Abstract

Disorders of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system frequently result in a severe multisystem disease with the consequence of early childhood death. Among these disorders, isolated complex I deficiency is the most frequently diagnosed, accounting for one-third of all cases of respiratory chain deficiency. We chose to focus on complex I deficiency, caused by mutation in the assembly factor chromosome 6, open reading frame 66 (C6ORF66; NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] complex I assembly factor 4 [NDUFAF4]) protein. We used the approach of cell- and organelle-directed protein/enzyme replacement therapy, with the transactivator of transcription (TAT) peptide as the moiety delivery system. This step will enable us to deliver the wild-type assembly factor C6ORF66 into patient cells and their mitochondria, leading to the proper assembly and function of complex I and, as a result, to a functional OXPHOS system. We designed and constructed the TAT-ORF fusion protein by gene fusion techniques, expressed the protein in an Escherichia coli expression system and highly purified it. Our results indicate that TAT-ORF enters patients' cells and their mitochondria rapidly and efficiently. TAT-ORF is biologically active and led to an increase in complex I activity. TAT-ORF also increased the number of patient cells and improved the activity of their mitochondria. Moreover, we observed an increase in ATP production, a decrease in the content of mitochondria and a decrease in the level of reactive oxygen species. Our results suggest that this approach of protein replacement therapy for the treatment of mitochondrial disorders is a promising one.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electron Transport Complex I / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Products, tat / genetics
  • Gene Products, tat / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Products, tat
  • NDUFAF4 protein, human
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Electron Transport Complex I