Defect of proteolysis of mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit C in neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Mechanism of lysosomal storage of mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit c in late infantile form of NCL was studied. Morphological and biochemical examinations with patient fibroblasts showed that subunit c, not other mitochondrial proteins was specifically localized in lysosomes. The biosynthetic rate of subunit c and mRNA levels for P1 and P2 genes that code for it were almost the same in both control and patient cells. Measurement of labeled subunit c in mitochondrial and lysosomal fractions showed a specific delay of degradation of subunit c in patient cells with late infantile form of NCL and lysosomal transfer of radioactive mitochondrial subunit c after chase for 1-2 weeks, suggesting that subunit c is transfered to lysosomes through an autophagic process and accumulated as a consequence of abnormal catabolism in lysosomes.