Etxebeste-Mitxeltorena Mikel, Flores-Romero Hector, Ramos-Inza Sandra, Masiá Esther, Nenchova Maria, Montesinos Jorge, Martinez-Gonzalez Loreto, Porras Gracia, Orzáez Mar, Vicent María J, Gil Carmen, Area-Gomez Estela, Garcia-Saez Ana J, Martinez Ana
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas "Margarita Salas"-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Institute for Genetics, CECAD, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
J Med Chem. 2025 Jan 23;68(2):1179-1194. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01368. Epub 2025 Jan 8.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease without effective treatment. The progressive motoneuron death in ALS is associated with alterations in lipid metabolism. As its regulation occurs in mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs), modulation of mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs) is emerging as a crucial factor in MAM formation and lipid metabolism control. Using the MERLIN biosensor in a high-throughput screening within the EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC, we discovered small molecules that increase MERCs in HCT116 cells, enhancing their ability to uptake cholesterol. We demonstrated that cholesterol trafficking is decreased in an ALS patient-derived cell model, and this trafficking is restored after treatment with the discovered MERC modulator . Electron microscopy revealed that treatment with compound increases MERCs, promotes lipid droplet formation, and restores mitochondrial cristae. Overall, the brain-permeable MERC modulator, compound , may serve as a valuable pharmacological tool for studying MAM function and holds potential for in vivo studies in ALS and other MAM dysfunction diseases.
肌萎缩侧索硬化症(ALS)是一种致命的神经退行性疾病,尚无有效治疗方法。ALS中运动神经元的进行性死亡与脂质代谢改变有关。由于其调节发生在线粒体相关内质网(ER)膜(MAMs)中,线粒体-内质网接触(MERCs)的调节正成为MAM形成和脂质代谢控制的关键因素。在欧盟开放筛选平台ERIC的高通量筛选中使用MERLIN生物传感器,我们发现了能增加HCT116细胞中MERCs的小分子,增强了它们摄取胆固醇的能力。我们证明,在ALS患者来源的细胞模型中胆固醇转运减少,而用发现的MERC调节剂处理后这种转运得以恢复。电子显微镜显示,化合物处理可增加MERCs,促进脂滴形成,并恢复线粒体嵴。总体而言,具有脑渗透性的MERC调节剂化合物可能是研究MAM功能的有价值的药理学工具,在ALS和其他MAM功能障碍疾病的体内研究中具有潜力。