Mitochondrial protein interaction landscape of SS-31

Significance SS-31 is a synthetic peptide that improves mitochondrial function and is currently undergoing clinical trials for treatments of heart failure, primary mitochondrial myopathy, and other mitochondrial diseases. SS-31 interacts with cardiolipin which is abundant in the inner mitochondrial membrane, but mechanistic details of its pharmacological effects are unknown. Here we apply a chemical cross-linking/mass spectrometry method to provide direct evidence for specific interactions between SS-31 and mitochondrial proteins. The identified SS-31 interactors are functional components in ATP production and 2-oxoglutarate metabolism and signaling, consistent with improved mitochondrial function resultant from SS-31 treatment. These results offer a glimpse of the protein interaction landscape of SS-31 and provide mechanistic insight relevant to SS-31 mitochondrial therapy.