Prohibitin S-Nitrosylation Is Required for the Neuroprotective Effect of Nitric Oxide in Neuronal Cultures.

TitleProhibitin S-Nitrosylation Is Required for the Neuroprotective Effect of Nitric Oxide in Neuronal Cultures.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsQu Y, Konrad C, Anderson C, Qian L, Yin T, Manfredi G, Iadecola C, Zhou P
JournalJ Neurosci
Volume40
Issue16
Pagination3142-3151
Date Published2020 Apr 15
ISSN1529-2401
Abstract

Prohibitin (PHB) is a critical protein involved in many cellular activities. In brain, PHB resides in mitochondria, where it forms a large protein complex with PHB2 in the inner TFmembrane, which serves as a scaffolding platform for proteins involved in mitochondrial structural and functional integrity. PHB overexpression at moderate levels provides neuroprotection in experimental brain injury models. In addition, PHB expression is involved in ischemic preconditioning, as its expression is enhanced in preconditioning paradigms. However, the mechanisms of PHB functional regulation are still unknown. Observations that nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in ischemia preconditioning compelled us to postulate that the neuroprotective effect of PHB could be regulated by NO. Here, we test this hypothesis in a neuronal model of ischemia-reperfusion injury and show that NO and PHB are mutually required for neuronal resilience against oxygen and glucose deprivation stress. Further, we demonstrate that NO post-translationally modifies PHB through protein S-nitrosylation and regulates PHB neuroprotective function, in a nitric oxide synthase-dependent manner. These results uncover the mechanisms of a previously unrecognized form of molecular regulation of PHB that underlies its neuroprotective function. Prohibitin (PHB) is a critical mitochondrial protein that exerts a potent neuroprotective effect when mildly upregulated in mice. However, how the neuroprotective function of PHB is regulated is still unknown. Here, we demonstrate a novel regulatory mechanism for PHB that involves nitric oxide (NO) and shows that PHB and NO interact directly, resulting in protein S-nitrosylation on residue Cys of PHB. We further show that nitrosylation of PHB may be essential for its ability to preserve neuronal viability under hypoxic stress. Thus, our study reveals a previously unknown mechanism of functional regulation of PHB that has potential therapeutic implications for neurologic disorders.

DOI10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1804-19.2020
Alternate JournalJ. Neurosci.
PubMed ID32152200
PubMed Central IDPMC7159891
Grant ListR01 NS034179 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01 NS067078 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States