ER-misfolded proteins become sequestered with mitochondria and impair mitochondrial function

Proteostasis is a challenge for cellular organisms, as all known protein synthesis machineries are error-prone. Here we show by cell fractionation and microscopy studies that misfolded proteins formed in the endoplasmic reticulum can become associated with and partly transported into mitochondria, resulting in impaired mitochondrial function. Blocking the endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES), but not the mitochondrial sorting and assembly machinery (SAM) or the mitochondrial surveillance pathway components Msp1 and Vms1, abrogated mitochondrial sequestration of ER-misfolded proteins. We term this mitochondria-associated proteostatic mechanism for ER-misfolded proteins ERAMS (ER-associated mitochondrial sequestration). We testify to the relevance of this pathway by using mutant alpha-1-antitrypsin as an example of a human disease-related misfolded ER protein, and we hypothesize that ERAMS plays a role in pathological features such as mitochondrial dysfunction. Sanchon et al find that misfolded proteins formed in the ER can become associated with mitochondria, both in mammalian cells and in yeast, resulting in impaired mitochondrial function. They further discover that components of ERMES-mediated ER-mitochondria contacts are needed for this mechanism, which they name ERAMS, for ER-associated mitochondrial sequestration.

Automated summary

Misfolded proteins formed in the endoplasmic reticulum can associate with and be partly transported into mitochondria, resulting in impaired mitochondrial function in both mammalian and yeast cells. Components of the ERMES-mediated ER-mitochondria contacts are necessary for this mechanism, which is named ERAMS, for ER-associated mitochondrial sequestration.