ER stress mediated degradation of diacylglycerol acyltransferase impairs mitochondrial functions in TMCO1 deficient cells

Abstract In eukaryotic cells, Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) is an interconnected membranous organelle and plays important roles in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism. We have previously demonstrated that TMCO1 is an ER Ca 2+ channel actively preventing ER Ca 2+ overloading. Recently, we also found that TMCO1 deficiency in mouse granulosa cells (GCs) caused abnormal Ca 2+ signaling, ER stress and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we further examined the roles of TMCO1 in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial functions. Intriguingly, we found that TMCO1 deletion reduced the number of lipid droplets (LDs) and the content of triglyceride (TG), which was due to ER stress associated degradation (ERAD) of the important enzyme in catalyzing TG synthesis, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2). Hypofunction in transforming non-esterification fatty acid (NEFA) to TG caused NEFA deposit, a potential risk of mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, in TMCO1 deficient cells, mitochondria volume decreased and inefficient oxidative phosphorylation was detected, which underlined enhanced mitophagy and impaired mitochondrial functions. Taken these data together, we for the first time revealed the role of TMCO1 in regulating lipid-metabolism and mitochondrial function. This study may provide new insights into understanding TMCO1 defect syndrome.