Transition metals such as Cu, Fe, Co have well known toxic effects. A large fraction of the transition metal uptake occurs through lysosomes and accumulation of transition metals in lysosomes was shown in the overload models. The effects of transition metals on lysosomal digestive machinery are not very well established. The preliminary data obtained for this project show that transition metals block ion channel mucolipin 1 (TRPML1). TRPML1 was previously identified as the lysosomal ion channel mutations in which cause lysosomal storage disease mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV). Similar to the effects of TRPML1 downregulation in MLIV, TRPML1 block by transition metals is associated with formation of cytoplasmic storage bodies, mitochondrial fragmentation and the loss of Ca2+ buffering by mitochondria. By analogy with the lysosome-mitochondria axis model of aging and cell death in lysosomal storage diseases, these data suggest that TRPML1 block by transition metals affects lysosomal function and, therefore autophagy. Suppressed autophagy results in accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria that cannot take up cytoplasmic Ca2+ and guard cells against pro-apoptotic effects of Ca2+ spikes. The central premise of this proposal is: if TRPML1 block contributes to transition metals toxicity, then all transition metals that block TRPML1 should induce the same MLIV-like phenotype. This novel model of the lysosomal contribution to transition metal toxicity will be tested using several approaches. First, the range of transition metals that block TRPML1 will be established in order to correlate TRPML1 block by metals and lysosomal storage phenotype induced by such block. Whether or not all transition metals that block TRPML1 induce autophagy suppression and accumulation of mitochondria that are compromised in their Ca2+ buffering function will be established. Structural determinants of TRPML1 block by transition metals will be established and transition metal resistant mutants will be created. Such mutants will be used to replace native TRPML1 and establish the relative contribution of TRPML1 block into lysosomal toxicity of transition metals. The results obtained in the course of this project are expected to identify a novel link between lysosomal buildup of transition metals and cell death and may provide a rationale for novel pharmacological approaches to transition metals toxicity. The basic biological implications of this project include better understanding of the effect of toxic metals, structure and function of ion channels and housekeeping role of lysosomes.

Public Health Relevance

The present project aims to answer whether the block of the lysosomal ion channel TRPML1 contributes to transition metal toxicity. Delineating the chain of events that connects lysosomal accumulation of transition metals to cell death will pave way for a detailed inquiry into lysosomal aspects of transition metal toxicity and may suggest novel pharmacological approaches to complement the existing treatments for metal toxicity. Since lysosomes are involved in the organism-level functions such as antigen processing, proving that transition metals affect lysosomal function may have even broader biological impact.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21ES016782-02
Application #
7816743
Study Section
Cell Structure and Function (CSF)
Program Officer
Tyson, Frederick L
Project Start
2009-05-01
Project End
2012-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2012-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$181,180
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
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Ravi, Sreeram; Peña, Karina A; Chu, Charleen T et al. (2016) Biphasic regulation of lysosomal exocytosis by oxidative stress. Cell Calcium 60:356-362
Peña, Karina; Coblenz, Jessica; Kiselyov, Kirill (2015) Brief exposure to copper activates lysosomal exocytosis. Cell Calcium 57:257-62
Kukic, Ira; Lee, Jeffrey K; Coblentz, Jessica et al. (2013) Zinc-dependent lysosomal enlargement in TRPML1-deficient cells involves MTF-1 transcription factor and ZnT4 (Slc30a4) transporter. Biochem J 451:155-63
Colletti, Grace A; Kiselyov, Kirill (2011) TRPML1. Adv Exp Med Biol 704:209-19
Kiselyov, Kirill; Colletti, Grace A; Terwilliger, Austen et al. (2011) TRPML: transporters of metals in lysosomes essential for cell survival? Cell Calcium 50:288-94
Kiselyov, Kirill; van Rossum, Damian B; Patterson, Randen L (2010) TRPC channels in pheromone sensing. Vitam Horm 83:197-213
Kiselyov, Kirill; Yamaguchi, Soichiro; Lyons, Christopher W et al. (2010) Aberrant Ca2+ handling in lysosomal storage disorders. Cell Calcium 47:103-11