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.