C] glucose isotope tracing, we demonstrate that key glycolytic enzymes are locally translated and metabolically active within the organelle. Mechanistically, we show that the VWA8-PHB2-GRP75 complex is responsible for anchoring these enzymes, thereby sustaining intra-mitochondrial glycolysis and preserving mitochondrial function by regulating NAD+ levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. In vivo, Vwa8 knockout in both mice and zebrafish abolishes this metabolic safeguard, leading to RP-like phenotypes that can be partially rescued by reactivating mitochondrial glycolysis. Collectively, these findings redefine the spatial compartmentalization of glucose metabolism and establish mitochondrial glycolysis as a therapeutic target for mitochondrial diseases.
Kong et al. (Tue,) studied this question.