Neuronal Gtf2i deletion alters mitochondrial and autophagic properties

• Published in: Communications biology Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 1269
• Main Authors: Nir Sade, Ariel, Levy, Gilad, Schokoroy Trangle, Sari, Elad Sfadia, Galit, Bar, Ela, Ophir, Omer, Fischer, Inbar, Rokach, May, Atzmon, Andrea, Parnas, Hadar, Rosenberg, Tali, Marco, Asaf, Elroy Stein, Orna, Barak, Boaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 14.12.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 13; 13/1; 13/106; 13/31; 13/51; 13/95; 14/1; 14/19; 631/378/1689/2608; 631/378/340; 631/378/87; 631/80/304; 631/80/642/333; 82/29; Autophagy; Autophagy - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cortex (frontal); Developmental stages; Gene deletion; Heterozygote; Humans; Hypoxia; Life Sciences; Mitochondria; Mitophagy; Neurons - metabolism; Reactive oxygen species; Transcription Factors, TFIII - genetics; Transcription Factors, TFIII - metabolism; Williams syndrome; Williams Syndrome - genetics; Williams Syndrome - metabolism
• ISSN: 2399-3642; 2399-3642
• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05612-5

Gtf2i encodes the general transcription factor II-I (TFII-I), with peak expression during pre-natal and early post-natal brain development stages. Because these stages are critical for proper brain development, we studied at the single-cell level the consequences of Gtf2i ’s deletion from excitatory neurons, specifically on mitochondria. Here we show that Gtf2i ’s deletion resulted in abnormal morphology, disrupted mRNA related to mitochondrial fission and fusion, and altered autophagy/mitophagy protein expression. These changes align with elevated reactive oxygen species levels, illuminating Gtf2i ’s importance in neurons mitochondrial function. Similar mitochondrial issues were demonstrated by Gtf2i heterozygous model, mirroring the human condition in Williams syndrome (WS), and by hemizygous neuronal Gtf2i deletion model, indicating Gtf2i ’s dosage-sensitive role in mitochondrial regulation. Clinically relevant, we observed altered transcript levels related to mitochondria, hypoxia, and autophagy in frontal cortex tissue from WS individuals. Our study reveals mitochondrial and autophagy-related deficits shedding light on WS and other Gtf2i -related disorders. A neurobiological study reveals Gtf2i’s pivotal roles in brain development and mediating neuronal mitochondrial function, validated by human brain samples derived from individuals with Williams syndrome.