The mitochondrial fission factor dynamin-related protein 1 modulates T-cell receptor signalling at the immune synapse

EMBO J. 2011 Apr 6;30(7):1238-50. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2011.25. Epub 2011 Feb 15.

Abstract

During antigen-specific T-cell activation, mitochondria mobilize towards the vicinity of the immune synapse. We show here that the mitochondrial fission factor dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) docks at mitochondria, regulating their positioning and activity near the actin-rich ring of the peripheral supramolecular activation cluster (pSMAC) of the immune synapse. Mitochondrial redistribution in response to T-cell receptor engagement was abolished by Drp1 silencing, expression of the phosphomimetic mutant Drp1S637D and the Drp1-specific inhibitor mdivi-1. Moreover, Drp1 knockdown enhanced mitochondrial depolarization and T-cell receptor signal strength, but decreased myosin phosphorylation, ATP production and T-cell receptor assembly at the central supramolecular activation cluster (cSMAC). Our results indicate that Drp1-dependent mitochondrial positioning and activity controls T-cell activation by fuelling central supramolecular activation cluster assembly at the immune synapse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dynamins
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / genetics
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Immunological Synapses / physiology*
  • Immunological Synapses / ultrastructure*
  • Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism

Substances

  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • DNM1L protein, human
  • Dynamins