QIL1 mutation causes MICOS disassembly and early onset fatal mitochondrial encephalopathy with liver disease

Elife. 2016 Sep 13:5:e17163. doi: 10.7554/eLife.17163.

Abstract

Previously, we identified QIL1 as a subunit of mitochondrial contact site (MICOS) complex and demonstrated a role for QIL1 in MICOS assembly, mitochondrial respiration, and cristae formation critical for mitochondrial architecture (Guarani et al., 2015). Here, we identify QIL1 null alleles in two siblings displaying multiple clinical symptoms of early-onset fatal mitochondrial encephalopathy with liver disease, including defects in respiratory chain function in patient muscle. QIL1 absence in patients' fibroblasts was associated with MICOS disassembly, abnormal cristae, mild cytochrome c oxidase defect, and sensitivity to glucose withdrawal. QIL1 expression rescued cristae defects, and promoted re-accumulation of MICOS subunits to facilitate MICOS assembly. MICOS assembly and cristae morphology were not efficiently rescued by over-expression of other MICOS subunits in patient fibroblasts. Taken together, these data provide the first evidence of altered MICOS assembly linked with a human mitochondrial disease and confirm a central role for QIL1 in stable MICOS complex formation.

Keywords: 3-methylglutaconic aciduria; MICOS; QIL1; cell biology; early-onset fatal mitochondrial encephalopathy; human; human biology; liver disease; medicine; mitochondrial disease.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liver Diseases / genetics*
  • Liver Diseases / pathology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies / genetics*
  • Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies / pathology*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / deficiency*
  • Mutation*
  • Siblings

Substances

  • MICOS13 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins

Supplementary concepts

  • Mitochondrial encephalopathy