Mitochondria-associated membrane formation in hormone-stimulated Leydig cell steroidogenesis: role of ATAD3

Endocrinology. 2015 Jan;156(1):334-45. doi: 10.1210/en.2014-1503.

Abstract

Leydig cell steroidogenesis is a multistep process that takes place in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The physical association between these 2 organelles could facilitate both steroidogenesis substrate availability and mitochondrial product passage to steroidogenic enzymes in the ER, thus regulating the rate of steroid formation. Confocal microscopy, using antisera against organelle-specific antigens, and electron microscopy studies demonstrated that there is an increase in the number of mitochondria-ER contact sites in response to hormone treatment in MA-10 mouse tumor Leydig cells. Electron tomography and 3-dimensional reconstruction allowed for the visualization of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). MAMs were isolated and found to contain the 67-kDa long isoform of the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) family, AAA domain-containing protein 3 (ATAD3). The 67-kDa ATAD3 is anchored in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is enriched in outer-inner mitochondrial membrane contact sites. ATAD3-depleted MA-10 cells showed reduced production of steroids in response to human choriogonadotropin but not to 22R-hydroxycholesterol treatment, indicating a role of ATAD3 in the delivery of the substrate cholesterol into the mitochondria. The N terminus of ATAD3 contains 50 amino acids that have been proposed to insert into the outer mitochondrial membrane and associated organelles such as the ER. Deletion of the ATAD3 N terminus resulted in the reduction of hormone-stimulated progesterone biosynthesis, suggesting a role of ATAD3 in mitochondria-ER contact site formation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the hormone-induced, ATAD3-mediated, MAM formation participates in the optimal transfer of cholesterol from the ER into mitochondria for steroidogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism*
  • Adrenal Cortex / cytology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Leydig Cells / cytology*
  • Leydig Cells / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mitochondrial Membranes / physiology*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Rats
  • Transfection

Substances

  • ATAD3A protein, human
  • Atad3a protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Cholesterol
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Atad3a protein, rat
  • ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities