Summary Reprogramming of metabolic pathways determines cell functions and fate. In our work, we have used organelle-targeted ATP biosensors to evaluate cellular metabolic settings with high resolution in real time. Our data indicate that mitochondria dynamically supply ATP for glucose phosphorylation in a variety of cancer cell types. This hexokinase-dependent process seems to be reversed upon the removal of glucose or other hexose sugars. Our data further verify that mitochondria in cancer cells have increased ATP consumption. Similar subcellular ATP fluxes occurred in young mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). However, pancreatic beta cells, senescent MEFs, and MEFs lacking mitofusin 2 displayed completely different mitochondrial ATP dynamics, indicative of increased oxidative phosphorylation. Our findings add perspective to the variability of the cellular bioenergetics and demonstrate that live cell imaging of mitochondrial ATP dynamics is a powerful tool to evaluate metabolic flexibility and heterogeneity at a single-cell level.

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The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a functionally and morphologically complex cellular organelle largely responsible for a variety of crucial functions, including protein folding, maturation and degradation. Furthermore, the ER plays an essential role in lipid biosynthesis, dynamic Ca 2+ storage, and detoxification. Malfunctions in ER‐related processes are responsible for the genesis and progression of many diseases, such as heart failure, cancer, neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders. To fulfill many of its vital functions, the ER relies on a sufficient energy supply in the form of adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate (ATP), the main cellular energy source. Despite landmark discoveries and clarification of the functional principles of ER‐resident proteins and key ER‐related processes, the mechanism underlying ER ATP transport remains somewhat enigmatic. Here we summarize ER‐related ATP‐consuming processes and outline our knowledge about the nature and function of the ER energy supply.

Short AbstractOver the last decades a broad collection of sophisticated fluorescent protein-based probes was engineered with the aim to specifically monitor nitric oxide (NO), one of the most important signaling molecules in biology. Here we report and discuss the characteristics and fields of applications of currently available genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for the detection of NO and its metabolites in different cell types.Long abstractBecause of its radical nature and short half-life, real-time imaging of NO on the level of single cells is challenging. Herein we review state-of-the-art genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for NO and its by-products such as peroxynitrite, nitrite and nitrate. Such probes enable the real-time visualization of NO signals directly or indirectly on the level of single cells and cellular organelles and, hence, extend our understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of NO formation, diffusion and degradation. Here, we discuss the significance of NO detection in individual cells and on subcellular level with genetic biosensors. Currently available genetically encoded fluorescent probes for NO and nitrogen species are critically discussed in order to provide insights in the functionality and applicability of these promising tools. As an outlook we provide ideas for novel approaches for the design and application of improved NO probes and fluorescence imaging protocols.

Cancer cells voraciously consume nutrients to support their growth, exposing metabolic vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited. Here, we show in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, xenografts, and patient-derived organoids that fasting improves sorafenib efficacy and acts synergistically to sensitize sorafenib-resistant HCC. Mechanistically, sorafenib acts noncanonically as an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, causing resistant cells to depend on glycolysis for survival. Fasting, through reduction in glucose and impeded AKT/mTOR signaling, prevents this Warburg shift. Regulating glucose transporter and proapoptotic protein expression, p53 is necessary and sufficient for the sorafenib-sensitizing effect of fasting. p53 is also crucial for fasting-mediated improvement of sorafenib efficacy in an orthotopic HCC mouse model. Together, our data suggest fasting and sorafenib as rational combination therapy for HCC with intact p53 signaling. As HCC therapy is currently severely limited by resistance, these results should instigate clinical studies aimed at improving therapy response in advanced-stage HCC.

Mitochondrial Ca uptake regulates diverse endothelial cell functions and has also been related to nitric oxide (NO) production. However, it is not entirely clear if the organelles support or counteract NO biosynthesis by taking up Ca. The objective of this study was to verify whether or not mitochondrial Ca uptake influences Ca-triggered NO generation by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in an immortalized endothelial cell line (EA.hy926), respective primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and eNOS-RFP (red fluorescent protein) expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. We used novel genetically encoded fluorescent NO probes, the geNOps, and Ca sensors to monitor single cell NO and Ca dynamics upon cell treatment with ATP, an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP)-generating agonist. Mitochondrial Ca uptake was specifically manipulated by siRNA-mediated knock-down of recently identified key components of the mitochondrial Ca uniporter machinery. In endothelial cells and the eNOS-RFP expressing HEK293 cells we show that reduced mitochondrial Ca uptake upon the knock-down of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) protein and the essential MCU regulator (EMRE) yield considerable attenuation of the Ca-triggered NO increase independently of global cytosolic Ca signals. The knock-down of mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1), a gatekeeper of the MCU, increased both mitochondrial Ca sequestration and Ca-induced NO signals. The positive correlation between mitochondrial Ca elevation and NO production was independent of eNOS phosphorylation at serine. Our findings emphasize that manipulating mitochondrial Ca uptake may represent a novel strategy to control eNOS-mediated NO production.

Nitric Oxide (NO•) is a small radical, which mediates multiple important cellular functions in mammals, bacteria and plants. Despite the existence of a large number of methods for detecting NO• in vivo and in vitro, the real-time monitoring of NO• at the single-cell level is very challenging. The physiological or pathological effects of NO• are determined by the actual concentration and dwell time of this radical. Accordingly, methods that allow the single-cell detection of NO• are highly desirable. Recently, we expanded the pallet of NO• indicators by introducing single fluorescent protein-based genetically encoded nitric oxide (NO•) probes (geNOps) that directly respond to cellular NO• fluctuations and, hence, addresses this need. Here we demonstrate the usage of geNOps to assess intracellular NO• signals in response to two different chemical NO•-liberating molecules. Our results also confirm that freshly prepared 3-(2-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-nitrosohydrazino)-N-methyl-1-propanamine (NOC-7) has a much higher potential to evoke change in intracellular NO• levels as compared with the inorganic NO• donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Furthermore, dual-color live-cell imaging using the green geNOps (G-geNOp) and the chemical Ca2+ indicator fura-2 was performed to visualize the tight regulation of Ca2+-dependent NO• formation in single endothelial cells. These representative experiments demonstrate that geNOps are suitable tools to investigate the real-time generation and degradation of single-cell NO• signals in diverse experimental setups.

Background/Aims In pancreatic β-cells, the intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis is an essential regulator of the cells’ major functions. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as interactive intracellular Ca 2+ store balances cellular Ca 2+ . In this study basal ER Ca 2+ homeostasis was evaluated in order to reveal potential β-cell-specificity of ER Ca 2+ handling and its consequences for mitochondrial Ca 2+ , ATP and respiration. Methods The two pancreatic cell lines INS-1 and MIN-6, freshly isolated pancreatic islets, and the two non-pancreatic cell lines HeLA and EA.hy926 were used. Cytosolic, ER and mitochondrial Ca 2+ and ATP measurements were performed using single cell fluorescence microscopy and respective (genetically-encoded) sensors/dyes. Mitochondrial respiration was monitored by respirometry. GSK3β activity was measured with ELISA. Results An atypical ER Ca 2+ leak was observed exclusively in pancreatic islets and β-cells. This continuous ER Ca 2+ efflux is directed to mitochondria and increases basal respiration and organellar ATP levels, is established by GSK3β-mediated phosphorylation of presenilin-1, and is prevented by either knockdown of presenilin-1 or an inhibition/knockdown of GSK3β. Expression of a presenlin-1 mutant that mimics GSK3β-mediated phosphorylation established a β-cell-like ER Ca 2+ leak in HeLa and EA.hy926 cells. The ER Ca 2+ loss in β-cells was compensated at steady state by Ca 2+ entry that is linked to the activity of TRPC3. Conclusion Pancreatic β-cells establish a cell-specific ER Ca 2+ leak that is under the control of GSK3β and directed to mitochondria, thus, reflecting a cell-specific intracellular Ca 2+ handling for basal mitochondrial activity.