A moonlighting role for enzymes of glycolysis in the co-localization of mitochondria and chloroplasts

Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 9;11(1):4509. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18234-w.

Abstract

Glycolysis is one of the primordial pathways of metabolism, playing a pivotal role in energy metabolism and biosynthesis. Glycolytic enzymes are known to form transient multi-enzyme assemblies. Here we examine the wider protein-protein interactions of plant glycolytic enzymes and reveal a moonlighting role for specific glycolytic enzymes in mediating the co-localization of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Knockout mutation of phosphoglycerate mutase or enolase resulted in a significantly reduced association of the two organelles. We provide evidence that phosphoglycerate mutase and enolase form a substrate-channelling metabolon which is part of a larger complex of proteins including pyruvate kinase. These results alongside a range of genetic complementation experiments are discussed in the context of our current understanding of chloroplast-mitochondrial interactions within photosynthetic eukaryotes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / cytology
  • Arabidopsis / physiology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chloroplasts / enzymology*
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Glycolysis / physiology*
  • Mitochondria / enzymology*
  • Mutation
  • Phosphoglycerate Mutase / genetics
  • Phosphoglycerate Mutase / metabolism
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / genetics
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / metabolism
  • Photosynthesis / physiology
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Interaction Maps / physiology
  • Pyruvate Kinase / genetics
  • Pyruvate Kinase / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Pyruvate Kinase
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
  • Phosphoglycerate Mutase