Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41309693›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

N-terminal α-amino SUMOylation promotes phosphorylation-independent cofilin-1 translocation to the mitochondrial matrix and induces apoptosis.

Qi Deng, Xiaokun Gu, Jiaqian Feng, Jinhua Xiang, Xinyue Li, Weiji Weng, Gerald W Zamponi, Ou Huang, Si-Jian Pan, Yong Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Qi Deng *Department of Urology, Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Xiaokun Gu *Department of Urology, Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jiaqian Feng *Department of Urology, Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jinhua Xiang *Department of Urology, Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Xinyue LiDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Weiji WengDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Gerald W ZamponiDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-0644-9066
Ou HuangDepartment of General Surgery, Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. ou_huang@126.com.ORCID 0000-0001-8222-382X
Si-Jian PanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. psj11629@rjh.com.cn.
Yong LiDepartment of Urology, Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Emotions and Affective Disorders, Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. liyong68@shsmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-9939-094X

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 31671053National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 31761163002National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 31830031National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82071510
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cofilin is a central regulator of actin filament turnover, traditionally thought to act through phosphorylation-dependent control of filament assembly. However, its mitochondrial functions remain poorly understood. Here we show that N-terminal α-amino SUMOylation, rather than phosphorylation or actin interaction, governs cofilin-1 translocation to mitochondria and activation of the apoptotic pathway. This modification strengthens the association of cofilin-1 with the mitochondrial import receptors Tom20 and Tom70 through the molecular chaperone HSP70, enabling its delivery to the mitochondrial matrix. Once imported, SUMO-modified cofilin-1 binds cytochrome c1, promotes the dissociation of cytochrome c from complex III, and initiates mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. These findings redefine cofilin-1 as a regulator of mitochondrial integrity independent of its actin-related roles, uncovering a mechanism by which SUMOylation directs protein targeting and apoptotic signaling. This work broadens current understanding of mitochondrial regulation and may inform therapeutic strategies for diseases linked to defective cell death.

Indexed as

ApoptosisCofilin 1MitochondriaSumoylationAnimalsCytochromes cHEK293 CellsHeLa CellsHSP70 Heat-Shock ProteinsHumansMitochondrial Membrane Transport ProteinsMitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex ProteinsPhosphorylationProtein BindingProtein TransportCFL1 protein, humanCofilin 1Cytochromes cHSP70 Heat-Shock ProteinsMitochondrial Membrane Transport ProteinsMitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex ProteinsTOMM70 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID41309693
PMCPMC12748583

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.