# Mitochondrial Acetylation and Acetylome Dynamics in Alcoholic Liver Disease assessed with Heavy Water

> **NIH NIH R21** · NORTHEAST OHIO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $226,783

## Abstract

Summary
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver-related death. Alcohol intake is associated with
hyperacetylation of hepatic mitochondrial proteins and impaired mitochondrial function. However, the
significance of mitochondrial acetylation has been debated because of the low stoichiometry of acetylation. We
propose that changes in acetylome dynamics, rather than levels, are the determinant of mitochondrial
function. The rationale is that hepatic mitochondria may respond to alcohol-induced stress via acetyl-transfer
dependent enzymatic inhibition (short-term regulation) and/or the acetyl-transfer independent regulation of
protein stability (long-term regulation). To assess the impact of these acetylation-mediated changes, we will
quantify mitochondrial acetylome dynamics in ALD mice liver in vivo using a stable isotope-resolved high-
resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This method relies on our technical
advancement that dissects the isotope-labeling of acetyl moiety and peptide backbone. Acetylation turnover is
determined based on labeling of acetyl moiety. The effect of acetylation on protein stability is assessed by
comparisons of the half-lives of the intact native peptide and acetylated peptide fragments without acetyl moiety.
We will use this method and genetic and pharmacological tools to study the role of altered acetylome dynamics
in ALD mice livers. Experiments will be performed in collaboration with The Northern Ohio Alcohol Center (see
LOS of Dr. Nagy) using an established mouse model of ALD induced with a Lieber-DeCarli diet that results in
hepatic hyperacetylation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Aim 1 will determine if alcohol-induced acetylation
alters the stability of hepatic mitochondrial proteins and mitochondrial respiration. Aim 2 will assess the impact
of alcohol consumption on the acetylation turnover of mitochondrial proteins and the consequence of altered
acetyl transfer on regulations of metabolic and antioxidant enzymes.
Our novel tools and collaborative expertise will enable us to investigate the mechanisms of alcohol-induced
mitochondrial dysfunction. Completion of this project will uncover a novel role of altered acetylation dynamics in
the alcoholic liver and help to identify acetylation as a therapeutic target for the treatment of ALD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10526868
- **Project number:** 1R21AA029784-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHEAST OHIO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Takhar Kasumov
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $226,783
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-20 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10526868

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10526868, Mitochondrial Acetylation and Acetylome Dynamics in Alcoholic Liver Disease assessed with Heavy Water (1R21AA029784-01A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/10526868. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*