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The Effects Of Alveolar Type II : The Causes Of Ati Cells

Satisfactory Essays

Alveolar type II (ATII) cells have a highly oxidative phenotype and numerous mitochondria (1). They are heavily dependent on mitochondrial function for energy generation required for pulmonary surfactant production, fluid transport and transdifferentation to alveolar type I cells to restore the epithelium after damage (2, 3). Cigarette smoking (CS) induces oxidative stress and is one of the most common causes of ATII cell injury and pulmonary emphysema. DJ-1 serves as a sensor of redox status and protect cells from oxidative stress (4). It is localized in the mitochondria, cytoplasm and nucleus. The oxidation of cysteine at position 106 (Cys106) to a sulfinate enhances DJ-1’s cytoprotective activity. We found further oxidized DJ-1 to …show more content…

1.2. To quantify DJ-1 oxidation in mitochondria using mass spectrometry analysis.

Specific Aim 2. To determine the mechanism of Cys106-sulfonate DJ-1 degradation in mitochondria in human primary alveolar type II (ATII) cells in emphysema in vitro.
Hypothesis: We hypothesize that DJ-1 with Cys106-sulfinate has cytoprotective activity. However, ClpP degrades DJ-1 that is further oxidized to the Cys106-sulfonate in ATII cells in emphysema in mitochondria.
2.1. To determine the function of DJ-1 with Cys106-sulfinate in mitochondria.
2.2. To determine the mechanism of degradation of DJ-1 with Cys106-sulfonate in mitochondria.

Specific Aim 3. To determine the function of DJ-1 with Cys106-sulfonate in mitochondria in ATII cell-specific ClpP conditional KO mice with emphysema.
Hypothesis: We hypothesize that ATII cell-specific ClpP conditional KO mice will have an impaired degradation of DJ-1 with Cys106-sulfonate leading to ATII cell injury.
3.1. Determine the function of DJ-1 Cys106-sulfonate in mitochondria.
3.2. Rescue DJ-1 degradation product accumulation by adenovirus ClpP.

We have identified Cys106-sulfonate within DJ-1 and its degradation by ClpP protease in the mitochondria in ATII cells in emphysema. Upon completion of the proposed studies, we will have defined the stability of oxidized DJ-1 in ATII cells in emphysema. We will also determine the mechanism of its degradation by ClpP protease and the impact of that event on ATII cell injury. These experiments

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