The goal of this proposal is to identify the enzymes involved in mammalian mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism and to determine how these enzymes function together to support mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism. Folic acid metabolism is essential in all cells, and mitochondria play a critical role in these pathways. This is reflected in human diseases associated with folate and homocysteine metabolism (e.g. cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects), and in the recently recognized connection between homocysteine and mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism. Elevated plasma homocysteine is now recognized as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of mortality in the U.S. We have carried out extensive studies on these compartmentalized pathways in yeast, but our understanding of the mitochondrial one-carbon pathway in mammals is far from complete. Using molecular tools made possible by the Human Genome Project, we are now able to study the mitochondrial pathway in humans and other mammals.
The Specific Aims are to: (1) Characterize the mammalian MTHFD2L gene and enzyme;(2) Examine the mitochondrial localization and metabolic roles of the MTHFD1L and MTHFD2L enzymes in mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism;and (3) Generate targeting constructs for future production of MTHFD1L and MTHFD2L knockout mice. The experimental design includes isolation of human and rodent cDNAs and expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells to confirm localization to mitochondria. The MTHFD2L protein will be purified for analysis of its kinetics and substrate specificity. The expression profile of the gene in human and mouse tissues and mouse embryos will be examined. We will utilize siRNA knockdowns in cultured cells to study the role of the MTHFD2L enzyme in mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism. Targeting vectors designed to produce conditional MTHFD1L and MTHFD2L knockout mouse strains will be constructed. However, actual production of the knockout mouse lines is beyond the scope of this two-year project. The information gained from these studies will fill a huge gap in our understanding of folic acid and mammalian mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism, and may ultimately suggest better treatments for human disorders such as cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of this project is to study two human genes involved in folic acid metabolism in mitochondria, and to learn how defects in these genes contribute to human disease. The information gained from these studies will fill a huge gap in our understanding of folic acid metabolism, and may ultimately suggest better treatments for human disorders such as cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM086856-02
Application #
7930555
Study Section
Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic Processes Study Section (INMP)
Program Officer
Anderson, Vernon
Project Start
2009-08-15
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2010-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$313,640
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Shin, Minhye; Momb, Jessica; Appling, Dean R (2017) Human mitochondrial MTHFD2 is a dual redox cofactor-specific methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase. Cancer Metab 5:11
Shin, Minhye; Bryant, Joshua D; Momb, Jessica et al. (2014) Mitochondrial MTHFD2L is a dual redox cofactor-specific methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase expressed in both adult and embryonic tissues. J Biol Chem 289:15507-17
Momb, Jessica; Appling, Dean R (2014) Mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism and neural tube defects. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 100:576-83
Momb, Jessica; Lewandowski, Jordan P; Bryant, Joshua D et al. (2013) Deletion of Mthfd1l causes embryonic lethality and neural tube and craniofacial defects in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:549-54
Bolusani, Swetha; Young, Blake A; Cole, Nicola A et al. (2011) Mammalian MTHFD2L encodes a mitochondrial methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase isozyme expressed in adult tissues. J Biol Chem 286:5166-74
Pike, Schuyler T; Rajendra, Rashmi; Artzt, Karen et al. (2010) Mitochondrial C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase (MTHFD1L) supports the flow of mitochondrial one-carbon units into the methyl cycle in embryos. J Biol Chem 285:4612-20