Gatd3a, or glutamine amidotransferase-like class 1 domain-containing 3A, is a mitochondrial protein with significant biological functions. It acts as a deglycase, removing non-enzymatic chemical modifications from nucleotides and amino acids that occur during the Maillard reaction, thus restricting the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) [2]. It may also be involved in maintaining the integrity of important biomolecules in mitochondria through its interactions with factors in mitochondrial mRNA processing and translation [2].

In mouse models, GATD3A deficiency has been shown to have significant impacts. It induces mitochondrial dysfunction in fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Mechanistically, GATD3A deficiency enhances the binding of Sirt3 to MDH2, leading to deacetylation and decreased activity of MDH2. This impairs the tricarboxylic acid cycle flux, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and fibroblast-like synoviocyte senescence, which in turn facilitates osteoarthritis progression [1]. Intra-articular injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying GATD3A alleviates the osteoarthritis phenotype in male mice [1]. In shoulder osteoarthritis, GATD3A downregulation is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and increased cartilage degradation in cuff-tear arthropathy, especially under metabolic syndrome [3].

In conclusion, Gatd3a is crucial for maintaining mitochondrial function by restricting AGE formation. The study of Gatd3a-deficient mouse models has revealed its role in osteoarthritis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for this disease. Understanding Gatd3a's functions contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial-related pathologies and potential treatment strategies.

References:

1. Shen, Kai, Zhou, Hao, Zuo, Qiang, Zhai, Chenjun, Fan, Weimin. 2024. GATD3A-deficiency-induced mitochondrial dysfunction facilitates senescence of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and osteoarthritis progression. In Nature communications, 15, 10923. doi:10.1038/s41467-024-55335-2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39738099/

2. Smith, Andrew J, Advani, Jayshree, Brock, Daniel C, Kennedy, Breandán, Swaroop, Anand. 2022. GATD3A, a mitochondrial deglycase with evolutionary origins from gammaproteobacteria, restricts the formation of advanced glycation end products. In BMC biology, 20, 68. doi:10.1186/s12915-022-01267-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35307029/

3. Lynskey, Samuel J, Ling, Zihui, Ziemann, Mark, McGee, Sean L, Page, Richard S. 2025. Loosening the Lid on Shoulder Osteoarthritis: How the Transcriptome and Metabolic Syndrome Correlate with End-Stage Disease. In International journal of molecular sciences, 26, . doi:10.3390/ijms26073145. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40243895/