Mitochondrial ROS triggers mitophagy through activating the DNA damage response signaling pathway

Q Qi-Qiang Guo (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) S Shan-Shan Wang (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) X Xiao-You Jiang (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) X Xiao-Chen Xie (Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University) Y Yu Zou J Jing-Wei Liu (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) Y Yang Guo (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China) Y Yu-Han Li (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) X Xi-Yan Liu (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) S Shuang Hao (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) X Xin-Yue Zhang (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) X Xiao-Xu Wu (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) S Song-Ming Lu (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) H Hong-De Xu (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) W Wen-Dong Guo (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) Y Yan-Ling Feng (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) C Chuan-Gui Wang (The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology) S Sheng-Ping Zhang (The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology) J Jia-Bin Li C Chen Liu X Xiao-Yu Song (The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University) T Toren Finkel L Liu Cao (Computational Biology Department, School of Computer Science)

Abstract

The homeostatic link between the production of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) and mitophagy plays a significant role in how cells respond to various physiological and pathological conditions. However, it remains unclear how cells translate oxidative stress signals into adaptive mitophagy responses. Here, we show that mtROS act as signaling molecules that activate the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), a DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. When activated, CHK2 regulates three critical steps in mitophagy. First, CHK2 phosphorylates mitochondrial membrane protein ATAD3A at Ser371, which inhibits the transport of PINK1 to the inner mitochondrial membrane and leads to the accumulation of PINK1 and the commencement of mitophagy. Second, activated CHK2 targets the autophagy adaptor OPTN at Ser177 and Ser473, thereby enhancing the targeting of ubiquitinated mitochondria to autophagosomes. Finally, CHK2 phosphorylates Beclin 1 at Ser90 and Ser93, hence promoting the formation of autophagosomal membranes. Consistent with these effects, Chk2 −/− mice show impaired mitophagic induction and impaired recovery in a ROS-dependent model of renal ischemia–reperfusion. Our study reveals a mtROS-triggered adaptive pathway that coordinates mitophagic induction, in order to protect cells and tissues exposed to pathophysiological stress-induced damage.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 40
Published October 07, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (23)

Q

Qi-Qiang Guo

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

S

Shan-Shan Wang

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

X

Xiao-You Jiang

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

X

Xiao-Chen Xie

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University

Y

Yu Zou

J

Jing-Wei Liu

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

Y

Yang Guo

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China

Y

Yu-Han Li

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

X

Xi-Yan Liu

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

S

Shuang Hao

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

X

Xin-Yue Zhang

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

X

Xiao-Xu Wu

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

S

Song-Ming Lu

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

H

Hong-De Xu

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

W

Wen-Dong Guo

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

Y

Yan-Ling Feng

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

C

Chuan-Gui Wang

The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology

S

Sheng-Ping Zhang

The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology

J

Jia-Bin Li

C

Chen Liu

X

Xiao-Yu Song

The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, China Medical University

T

Toren Finkel

L

Liu Cao

Computational Biology Department, School of Computer Science