Dysfunction of Drosophila mitochondrial carrier homolog (Mtch) alters apoptosis and disturbs development
Cristina González,
Lidia Martínez‐Sánchez,
Paula Clemente,
Janne Markus Toivonen,
Juan José Arredondo,
Miguel Ángel Fernández‐Moreno,
José Alberto Carrodeguas
Affiliations
Cristina González
Departamento de Bioquímica & Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” The Autonomous University of Madrid‐Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Spain
Lidia Martínez‐Sánchez
Departamento de Bioquímica & Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” The Autonomous University of Madrid‐Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Spain
Paula Clemente
Departamento de Bioquímica & Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” The Autonomous University of Madrid‐Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Spain
Janne Markus Toivonen
LAGENBIO, Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2) Universidad de Zaragoza Spain
Juan José Arredondo
Departamento de Bioquímica & Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” The Autonomous University of Madrid‐Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Spain
Miguel Ángel Fernández‐Moreno
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) Facultad de Medicina, UAM Madrid Spain
Mitochondrial carrier homologs 1 (MTCH1) and 2 (MTCH2) are orphan members of the mitochondrial transporter family SLC25. Human MTCH1 is also known as presenilin 1‐associated protein, PSAP. MTCH2 is a receptor for tBid and is related to lipid metabolism. Both proteins have been recently described as protein insertases of the outer mitochondrial membrane. We have depleted Mtch in Drosophila and show here that mutant flies are unable to complete development, showing an excess of apoptosis during pupation; this observation was confirmed by RNAi in Schneider cells. These findings are contrary to what has been described in humans. We discuss the implications in view of recent reports concerning the function of these proteins.
