Mitophagy regulates mitochondrial network signaling, oxidative stress, and apoptosis during myoblast differentiation

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a degradative process essential for various cellular processes. We previously demonstrated that autophagy-deficiency causes myoblast apoptosis and impairs myotube formation. In this study, we continued this work with particular emphasis on mitochondrial remodelling and stress/apoptotic signaling. We found increased (p < 0.05) autophagic (e.g., altered LC3B levels, increased ATG7, decreased SQSTM1) and mitophagic (e.g., BNIP3 upregulation, mitochondrial localized GFP-LC3 puncta, and elevated mitochondrial LC3B-II) signaling during myoblast differentiation. shRNA-mediated knockdown of ATG7 (shAtg7) decreased these autophagic and mitophagic responses, while increasing CASP3 activity and ANXA5/annexin V staining in differentiating myoblasts; ultimately resulting in dramatically impaired myogenesis. Further confirming the importance of mitophagy in these responses, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of Bnip3 (bnip3(-/-)) resulted in increased CASP3 activity and DNA fragmentation as well as impaired myoblast differentiation. In addition, shAtg7 myoblasts displayed greater endoplasmic reticulum (e.g., increased CAPN activity and HSPA) and mitochondrial (e.g., mPTP formation, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, elevated mitochondrial 4-HNE) stress. shAtg7 and bnip3(-/-) myoblasts also displayed altered mitochondria-associated signaling (e.g., PPARGC1A, DNM1L, OPA1) and protein content (e.g., SLC25A4, VDAC1, CYCS). Moreover, shAtg7 myoblasts displayed CYCS and AIFM1 release from mitochondria, and CASP9 activation. Similarly, bnip3(-/-) myoblasts had significantly higher CASP9 activation during differentiation. Importantly, administration of a chemical inhibitor of CASP9 (Ac-LEHD-CHO) or dominant-negative CASP9 (ad-DNCASP9) partially recovered differentiation and myogenesis in shAtg7 myoblasts. Together, these data demonstrate an essential role for autophagy in protecting myoblasts from mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptotic signaling during differentiation, as well as in the regulation of mitochondrial network remodelling and myogenesis.