Mitochondrial localization of SESN2

Abstract

SESN2 is a member of evolutionarily conserved sestrin protein family found in most of Metazoa species. SESN2 is transcriptionally activated by many stress factors including metabolic derangements, oxidants and DNA-damage. As a result, SESN2 controls ROS accumulation, metabolism and cell viability. The best known function of SESN2 is the regulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 kinase (mTORC1) that plays the central role in the stimulation of cell growth and suppression of autophagy. SESN2 inhibits mTORC1 activity through interaction with the GATOR2 protein complex that suppresses an inhibitory effect of GATOR2 on the GATOR1 protein complex. GATOR1 inhibits mTORC1 through its GAP activity toward the small GTPase RagA/B which in complex with RagC/D proteins stimulate mTORC1 translocation to the lysosomes where this kinase is activated by small GTPase Rheb. Despite the well-established role of SESN2 in mTORC1 inhibition, the other SESN2 activities are not well characterised. We recently showed that SESN2 can control mitochondrial function and cell death via mTORC1-independent mechanisms and these activities might be explained by direct effects of SESN2 on mitochondria. In this work we examined mitochondrial localization of SESN2 and demonstrated that SESN2 is located on mitochondria and can be directly involved in the regulation of mitochondrial functions.