Skip to Content
Merck
  • Dopamine induces mitochondrial depolarization without activating PINK1-mediated mitophagy.

Dopamine induces mitochondrial depolarization without activating PINK1-mediated mitophagy.

Journal of neurochemistry (2015-12-29)
Heather Bondi, Mara Zilocchi, Maria Gabriella Mare, Gianluca D'Agostino, Stefano Giovannardi, Santiago Ambrosio, Mauro Fasano, Tiziana Alberio
ABSTRACT

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. PD mostly occurs sporadically and its cause remains unknown, nevertheless the discovery of familiar forms of PD, characterized by mutations of genes encoding proteins associated with mitochondria homeostasis, suggests a strong implication of the mitochondrial quality control system in PD. We investigated the effect of dopamine cytosolic accumulation in undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells, an in vitro model widely used to reproduce impairment of dopamine homeostasis, an early step in PD pathogenesis. A strong depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane was observed after dopamine exposure. Nevertheless, mitochondrial network resulted to assume a peculiar morphology with a distinct pattern of OPA1 and MFN1, key regulators of mitochondrial dynamics. Moreover, selective elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria did not take place, suggesting an impairment of the mitophagic machinery induced by dopamine. Indeed, PINK1 did not accumulate on the outer mitochondrial membrane, nor was parkin recruited to depolarized mitochondria. Altogether, our results indicate that an improper handling of dysfunctional mitochondria may be a leading event in PD pathogenesis. Impaired dopamine (DA) homeostasis and oxidative stress play a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Free cytosolic dopamine undergoes spontaneous oxidation and generates semiquinonic and quinonic species (DAQ) with the concurrent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dopamine dissipates mitochondrial potential (Δψm ) with a peculiar alteration of the mitochondrial network. However, PINK1-dependent mitophagy is not activated by dopamine toxicity and dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate inside the cell.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG Antibody, Peroxidase Conjugated, 1 mg/mL (after reconstitution), Chemicon®
Sigma-Aldrich
Goat Anti-Mouse IgG Antibody, HRP conjugate, Upstate®, from goat
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-OPA1 antibody produced in rabbit, Prestige Antibodies® Powered by Atlas Antibodies, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous glycerol solution
Sigma-Aldrich
Monoclonal Anti-β-Tubulin antibody produced in mouse, clone TUB 2.1, ascites fluid