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A genetic dimorphism incorporates either alanine (Ala) or valine (Val) in the mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). The Ala-MTS confers a 40% higher MnSOD activity than the Val-MTS after import into isolated mitochondria in vitro. The present study aimed to characterize functional consequences in whole cells. HuH7 human hepatoma cells were transfected with vectors encoding for the human Ala- or Val-MnSOD variants fused to a Myc-His-tag. The Ala-variant resulted in four-fold higher levels of the mature exogenous protein and MnSOD activity than the Val-variant. Studies with a proteasome inhibitor indicated that precursor proteins are either imported into the mitochondria or degraded by the proteasome. Despite identical levels 8 h after transfection, mRNA levels at 36 h were two-fold higher for the Ala-encoding mRNA than the Val-mRNA. Decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased both MnSOD mitochondrial import and its mRNA levels. Much larger differences in the activity of the human Val- and Ala-MnSOD variants are observed in whole cells rather than after import experiments performed in vitro. First, the slowly imported Val-MnSOD is degraded by the proteasome in cells. Second, the slower mitochondrial import of the Val-variant may be associated with decreased mRNA stability, possibly due to impaired cotranslational import.

β-Aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), a thymine catabolite, increases fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in liver and reduces the gain of body fat mass in Swiss (lean) mice fed a standard chow. We determined whether BAIBA could prevent obesity and related metabolic disorders in different murine models. To this end, BAIBA (100 or 500 mg/kg/day) was administered for 4 months in mice totally deficient in leptin (ob/ob). BAIBA (100 mg/kg/day) was also given for 4 months in wild-type (+/+) mice and mice partially deficient in leptin (ob/+) fed a high-calorie (HC) diet. BAIBA did not limit obesity and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice, but reduced liver cytolysis and inflammation. In ob/+ mice fed the HC diet, BAIBA fully prevented, or limited, the gain of body fat, steatosis and necroinflammation, glucose intolerance, and hypertriglyceridemia. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate was increased, whereas expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 was augmented in liver and white adipose tissue. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase was more phosphorylated, and de novo lipogenesis was less induced in liver. These favorable effects of BAIBA in ob/+ mice were associated with a restoration of plasma leptin levels. The reduction of body adiposity afforded by BAIBA was less marked in +/+ mice. Finally, BAIBA significantly stimulated the secretion of leptin in isolated ob/+ adipose cells, but not in +/+ cells. Thus, BAIBA could limit triglyceride accretion in tissues through a leptin-dependent stimulation of FAO. As partial leptin deficiency is not uncommon in the general population, supplementation with BAIBA may help to prevent diet-induced obesity and related metabolic disorders in low leptin secretors.

Motor axon degeneration is a critical but poorly understood event leading to weakness and muscle atrophy in motor neuron diseases. Here, we investigated oxidative stress-mediated axonal degeneration in mice lacking the antioxidant enzyme, Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). We demonstrate a progressive motor axonopathy in these mice and show that Sod1(-/-) primary motor neurons extend short axons in vitro with reduced mitochondrial density. Sod1(-/-) neurons also show oxidation of mitochondrial--but not cytosolic--thioredoxin, suggesting that loss of SOD1 causes preferential oxidative stress in mitochondria, a primary source of superoxide in cells. SOD1 is widely regarded as the cytosolic isoform of superoxide dismutase, but is also found in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. The functional significance of SOD1 in the intermembrane space is unknown. We used a transgenic approach to express SOD1 exclusively in the intermembrane space and found that mitochondrial SOD1 is sufficient to prevent biochemical and morphological defects in the Sod1(-/-) model, and to rescue the motor phenotype of these mice when followed to 12 months of age. These results suggest that SOD1 in the mitochondrial intermembrane space is fundamental for motor axon maintenance, and implicate oxidative damage initiated at mitochondrial sites in the pathogenesis of motor axon degeneration.