Mitochondria Controlled mTORC1 Activation Compartmentalizes Translation Initiation Factor eIF4E to Augment Intracellular Trafficking and Extracellular Export of miRNA in Mammalian Cells

Defective intracellular trafficking and export of miRNAs has been observed in senescent mammalian cells having impaired mitochondrial potential. Similar to what happens in senescent cells, Uncoupling Protein 2 mediated depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential results in progressive sequestration of miRNAs with polysomes and lowered release of miRNAs through extracellular vesicles. Supporting importance of mitochondrial membrane potential on miRNAs fate determination, impaired miRNA-trafficking process in growth retarded human cells has been found to be reversed in presence of Genipin an inhibitor of Uncoupling Protein 2. Mitochondrial detethering of endoplasmic reticulum in mitochondria depolarized cells, found to be responsible for defective compartmentalization of translation initiation factor eIF4E to ER attached polysomes. It causes retarded translation process of target mRNAs with rER attached polysomes to ensure reduced intracellular trafficking and extracellular export of miRNAs. We have identified a reduced activity of mTORC1 complex in mitochondria defective cells to cause reduced phosphorylation of eIF4E-BP1 to cause retarded eIF-4E targeting to ER attached polysome. Cumulatively, these data suggest intricate involvement of mitochondrial membrane potential and dynamics to determine stability of miRNAs in mammalian cells by affecting sub-cellular locations and export of miRNPs by affecting mTORC1 complex, the regulator of the protein translational machinery. Significance statementHow the reduced mitochondrial activity in growth retarded cells causes defective miRNA export is an open question. Mitochondrial defects induces a retarded subcellular miRNP trafficking in human cells to cause an upregulation in cellular miRNA content by reducing extracellular vesicle-mediated export of miRNA. We have identified a defective compartmentalization of translation initiation factor eIF4E in mitochondria-ER detethered mammalian cells to cause the retarded intracellular miRNA movement and export Activity of mTORC1 complex, a key regulator of protein translation in mammalian cells, is found to be responsible for ER-compartmentalization of eIF4E. mTORC1 activity reduction in growth retarded and mitochondria detethered cells influences the cell fate by acting on miRNA-mRNA axis. This is a unique way how mitochondrial activity is linked with protein translation and gene repression control in mammalian cells.