Mitochondrial respiration generates an electrochemical proton gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane called protonmotive force (PMF) to drive diverse functions and synthesize ATP. Current techniques to manipulate the PMF are limited to its dissipation; yet, there is no precise and reversible method to increase the PMF. To address this issue, we aimed to use an optogenetic approach and engineered a mitochondria‐targeted light‐activated proton pump that we name mitochondria‐ON (mtON) to selectively increase the PMF in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we show that mtON photoactivation increases the PMF in a dose‐dependent manner, supports ATP synthesis, increases resistance to mitochondrial toxins, and modulates energy‐sensing behavior. Moreover, transient mtON activation during hypoxic preconditioning prevents the well‐characterized adaptive response of hypoxia resistance. Our results show that optogenetic manipulation of the PMF is a powerful tool to modulate metabolism and cell signaling.

Generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important process in triggering cellular necrosis and tissue infarction during ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Ischemia results in accumulation of the metabolite succinate. Rapid oxidation of this succinate by mitochondrial complex II (Cx-II) during reperfusion reduces the co-enzyme Q (Co-Q) pool, thereby driving electrons backward into complex-I (Cx-I), a process known as reverse electron transport (RET), which is thought to be a major source of ROS. During ischemia, enhanced glycolysis results in an acidic cellular pH at the onset of reperfusion. While the process of RsET within Cx-I is known to be enhanced by a high mitochondrial trans-membrane ΔpH, the impact of pH itself on the integrated process of Cx-II to Cx-I RET has not been fully studied. Using isolated mouse heart and liver mitochondria under conditions which mimic the onset of reperfusion (i.e., high [ADP]), we show that mitochondrial respiration (state 2 and state 3) as well as isolated Cx-II activity are impaired at acidic pH, whereas the overall generation of ROS by Cx-II to Cx-I RET was insensitive to pH. Together these data indicate that the acceleration of Cx-I RET ROS by ΔpH appears to be cancelled out by the impact of pH on the source of electrons, i.e. Cx-II. Implications for the role of Cx-II to Cx-I RET derived ROS in IR injury are discussed.

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Background The metabolite succinate accumulates during cardiac ischemia. Within 5 minutes of reperfusion, succinate returns to baseline levels via both its release from cells and oxidation by mitochondrial complex II. The latter drives reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and subsequent opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) pore, leading to cell death. Targeting succinate dynamics (accumulation/oxidation/release) may be therapeutically beneficial in cardiac ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury. It has been proposed that blocking MCT1 (monocarboxylate transporter 1) may be beneficial in IR injury, by preventing succinate release and subsequent engagement of downstream inflammatory signaling pathways. In contrast, herein we hypothesized that blocking MCT1 would retain succinate in cells, exacerbating ROS generation and IR injury. Methods and Results Using the mitochondrial ROS probe mitoSOX and a custom‐built murine heart perfusion rig built into a spectrofluorometer, we measured ROS generation in situ during the first moments of reperfusion. We found that acute MCT1 inhibition enhanced mitochondrial ROS generation at reperfusion and worsened IR injury (recovery of function and infarct size). Both of these effects were abrogated by tandem inhibition of mitochondrial complex II, suggesting that succinate retention worsens IR because it drives more mitochondrial ROS generation. Furthermore, using the PT pore inhibitor cyclosporin A, along with monitoring of PT pore opening via the mitochondrial membrane potential indicator tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester, we herein provide evidence that ROS generation during early reperfusion is upstream of the PT pore, not downstream as proposed by others. In addition, pore opening was exacerbated by MCT1 inhibition. Conclusions Together, these findings highlight the importance of succinate dynamics and mitochondrial ROS generation as key determinants of PT pore opening and IR injury outcomes.

Mitochondrial respiratory complex II (CII), also known as succinate dehydrogenase, plays a critical role in mitochondrial metabolism. Known but low potency CII inhibitors are selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells including the benzothiadiazine‐based anti‐hypoglycemic diazoxide. Herein, we study the structure‐activity relationship of benzothiadiazine derivatives for CII inhibition and their effect on cancer cells for the first time. A 15‐fold increase in CII inhibition was achieved over diazoxide, albeit with micromolar IC50 values. Cytotoxicity evaluation of the novel derivatives resulted in the identification of compounds with much greater antineoplastic effect than diazoxide, the most potent of which possesses an IC50 of 2.93±0.07 μM in a cellular model of triple‐negative breast cancer, with high selectivity over nonmalignant cells and more than double the potency of the clinical agent 5‐fluorouracil. No correlation between cytotoxicity and CII inhibition was found, thus indicating an as‐yet‐undefined mechanism of action of this scaffold. The derivatives described herein represent valuable hit compounds for therapeutic discovery in triple‐negative breast cancer.