The Eutherian Armcx genes regulate mitochondrialtrafficking in neurons and interact with miroand Trak2

摘要

Brain function requires neuronal activity-dependent energy consumption. neuronal energysupply is controlled by molecular mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial dynamics, includingKinesin motors and mitofusins, miro1-2 and Trak2 proteins. Here we show a new protein familythat localizes to the mitochondria and controls mitochondrial dynamics. This family of proteins isencoded by an array of armadillo (Arm) repeat-containing genes located on the X chromosome.The Armcx cluster is unique to Eutherian mammals and evolved from a single ancestor gene(Armc10). We show that these genes are highly expressed in the developing and adult nervoussystem. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Armcx3 expression levels regulate mitochondrialdynamics and trafficking in neurons, and that Alex3 interacts with the Kinesin/miro/Trak2complex in a Ca2+ -dependent manner. our data provide evidence of a new Eutherian-specificfamily of mitochondrial proteins that controls mitochondrial dynamics and indicate that thiskey process is differentially regulated in the brain of higher vertebrates.