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Abstract
BCL-2 homologues are major regulators of apoptosis and, as such, play an active role in the survival of adult neurons following injury. In recent years, these proteins have also been associated with the regulation of autophagy, a catabolic process involved in the recycling of nutrients upon starvation. Basal levels of autophagy are also required to eliminate damaged proteins and organelles. This is illustrated by the accumulation of ubiquitin-positive aggregates in cells deficient in autophagy and, in the nervous system, this is associated with progressive cell loss and signs of neurodegeneration. Given the importance of both apoptosis and autophagy for neuronal survival in adult neurons, understanding how BCL-2 homologues co-ordinately regulate these processes will allow a better understanding of the cellular processes leading to neurodegeneration. In the present review, we will discuss the roles of BCL-2 homologues in the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy, focussing on their impact on adult neurons.
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352
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Abstract
Myofibrillar myopathies (MFMs) are a group of heterogeneous muscle disorders morphologically defined by the presence of foci of dissolution of the myofibrils, accumulation of the products of myofibrillar degradation and ectopic expression of multiple proteins. MFMs represent the paradigm of conformational protein diseases of skeletal and cardiac muscles. Protein aggregation in MFMs is now considered to be the result of a failure of the extralysosomal proteolytic degradation system. Several factors including mutant proteins, aggresome formation and oxidative stress may compromise the ubiquitin-proteasome system, promoting the accumulation of potentially toxic protein aggregates within muscle cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montse Olivé
- Institut de Neuropatologia, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
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353
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Lehman NL. The ubiquitin proteasome system in neuropathology. Acta Neuropathol 2009; 118:329-47. [PMID: 19597829 PMCID: PMC2716447 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-009-0560-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2009] [Revised: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 06/11/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) orchestrates the turnover of innumerable cellular proteins. In the process of ubiquitination the small protein ubiquitin is attached to a target protein by a peptide bond. The ubiquitinated target protein is subsequently shuttled to a protease complex known as the 26S proteasome and subjected to degradative proteolysis. The UPS facilitates the turnover of proteins in several settings. It targets oxidized, mutant or misfolded proteins for general proteolytic destruction, and allows for the tightly controlled and specific destruction of proteins involved in development and differentiation, cell cycle progression, circadian rhythms, apoptosis, and other biological processes. In neuropathology, alteration of the UPS, or mutations in UPS target proteins may result in signaling abnormalities leading to the initiation or progression of tumors such as astrocytomas, hemangioblastomas, craniopharyngiomas, pituitary adenomas, and medulloblastomas. Dysregulation of the UPS may also contribute to tumor progression by perturbation of DNA replication and mitotic control mechanisms, leading to genomic instability. In neurodegenerative diseases caused by the expression of mutant proteins, the cellular accumulation of these proteins may overload the UPS, indirectly contributing to the disease process, e.g., sporadic Parkinsonism and prion diseases. In other cases, mutation of UPS components may directly cause pathological accumulation of proteins, e.g., autosomal recessive Parkinsonism and spinocerebellar ataxias. Defects or dysfunction of the UPS may also underlie cognitive disorders such as Angelman syndrome, Rett syndrome and autism, and muscle and nerve diseases, e.g., inclusion body myopathy and giant axon neuropathy. This paper describes the basic biochemical mechanisms comprising the UPS and reviews both its theoretical and proven involvement in neuropathological diseases. The potential for the UPS as a target of pharmacological therapy is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Lehman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
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354
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Garbes L, Riessland M, Hölker I, Heller R, Hauke J, Tränkle C, Coras R, Blümcke I, Hahnen E, Wirth B. LBH589 induces up to 10-fold SMN protein levels by several independent mechanisms and is effective even in cells from SMA patients non-responsive to valproate. Hum Mol Genet 2009; 18:3645-58. [PMID: 19584083 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddp313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are potential candidates for therapeutic approaches in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)--a common autosomal recessive disorder and frequent cause of early childhood death. SMA is caused by homozygous absence of SMN1. Importantly, all SMA patients carry a nearly identical copy gene, SMN2, that produces only minor levels of correctly spliced full-length transcripts and SMN protein. Since an increased number of SMN2 copies strongly correlates with a milder SMA phenotype, activation or stabilization of SMN2 is considered as a therapeutic strategy. However, clinical trials demonstrated effectiveness of the HDACi valproate (VPA) and phenylbutyrate only in <50% of patients; therefore, identification of new drugs is of vital importance. Here we characterize the novel hydroxamic acid LBH589, an HDACi already widely used in cancer clinical trials. LBH589 treatment of human SMA fibroblasts induced up to 10-fold elevated SMN levels, the highest ever reported, accompanied by a markedly increased number of gems. FL-SMN2 levels were increased 2-3-fold by transcription activation via SMN2 promoter H3K9 hyperacetylation and restoration of correct splicing via elevated hTRA2-beta1 levels. Furthermore, LBH589 stabilizes SMN by reducing its ubiquitinylation as well as favouring incorporation into the SMN complex. Cytotoxic effects were not detectable at SMN2 activating concentrations. Notably, LBH589 also induces SMN2 expression in SMA fibroblasts inert to VPA, in human neural stem cells and in the spinal cord of SMN2-transgenic mice. Hence, LBH589, which is active already at nanomolar doses, is a highly promising candidate for SMA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutz Garbes
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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355
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Corera AT, Doucet G, Fon EA. Long-term potentiation in isolated dendritic spines. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6021. [PMID: 19547754 PMCID: PMC2695539 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2009] [Accepted: 05/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In brain, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) activation can induce long-lasting changes in synaptic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptor (AMPAR) levels. These changes are believed to underlie the expression of several forms of synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP). Such plasticity is generally believed to reflect the regulated trafficking of AMPARs within dendritic spines. However, recent work suggests that the movement of molecules and organelles between the spine and the adjacent dendritic shaft can critically influence synaptic plasticity. To determine whether such movement is strictly required for plasticity, we have developed a novel system to examine AMPAR trafficking in brain synaptosomes, consisting of isolated and apposed pre- and postsynaptic elements. Methodology/Principal Findings We report here that synaptosomes can undergo LTP-like plasticity in response to stimuli that mimic synaptic NMDAR activation. Indeed, KCl-evoked release of endogenous glutamate from presynaptic terminals, in the presence of the NMDAR co-agonist glycine, leads to a long-lasting increase in surface AMPAR levels, as measured by [3H]-AMPA binding; the increase is prevented by an NMDAR antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5). Importantly, we observe an increase in the levels of GluR1 and GluR2 AMPAR subunits in the postsynaptic density (PSD) fraction, without changes in total AMPAR levels, consistent with the trafficking of AMPARs from internal synaptosomal compartments into synaptic sites. This plasticity is reversible, as the application of AMPA after LTP depotentiates synaptosomes. Moreover, depotentiation requires proteasome-dependent protein degradation. Conclusions/Significance Together, the results indicate that the minimal machinery required for LTP is present and functions locally within isolated dendritic spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amadou T. Corera
- Centre for Neuronal Survival and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Guy Doucet
- Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central and Département de Pathologie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Edward A. Fon
- Centre for Neuronal Survival and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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356
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Jellinger KA. Recent advances in our understanding of neurodegeneration. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2009; 116:1111-62. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-009-0240-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2009] [Accepted: 05/05/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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357
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Friedman JS, Ray JW, Waseem N, Johnson K, Brooks MJ, Hugosson T, Breuer D, Branham KE, Krauth DS, Bowne SJ, Sullivan LS, Ponjavic V, Gränse L, Khanna R, Trager EH, Gieser LM, Hughbanks-Wheaton D, Cojocaru RI, Ghiasvand NM, Chakarova CF, Abrahamson M, Göring HH, Webster AR, Birch DG, Abecasis GR, Fann Y, Bhattacharya SS, Daiger SP, Heckenlively JR, Andréasson S, Swaroop A. Mutations in a BTB-Kelch protein, KLHL7, cause autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Am J Hum Genet 2009; 84:792-800. [PMID: 19520207 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2009] [Revised: 05/19/2009] [Accepted: 05/20/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a genetically heterogeneous group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases that result in dysfunction and/or death of rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina. So far, 18 genes have been identified for autosomal-dominant (ad) RP. Here, we describe an adRP locus (RP42) at chromosome 7p15 through linkage analysis in a six-generation Scandinavian family and identify a disease-causing mutation, c.449G-->A (p.S150N), in exon 6 of the KLHL7 gene. Mutation screening of KLHL7 in 502 retinopathy probands has revealed three different missense mutations in six independent families. KLHL7 is widely expressed, including expression in rod photoreceptors, and encodes a 75 kDa protein of the BTB-Kelch subfamily within the BTB superfamily. BTB-Kelch proteins have been implicated in ubiquitination through Cullin E3 ligases. Notably, all three putative disease-causing KLHL7 mutations are within a conserved BACK domain; homology modeling suggests that mutant amino acid side chains can potentially fill the cleft between two helices, thereby affecting the ubiquitination complexes. Mutations in an identical region of another BTB-Kelch protein, gigaxonin, have previously been associated with giant axonal neuropathy. Our studies suggest an additional role of the ubiquitin-proteasome protein-degradation pathway in maintaining neuronal health and in disease.
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358
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Glessner JT, Wang K, Cai G, Korvatska O, Kim CE, Wood S, Zhang H, Estes A, Brune CW, Bradfield JP, Imielinski M, Frackelton EC, Reichert J, Crawford EL, Munson J, Sleiman PMA, Chiavacci R, Annaiah K, Thomas K, Hou C, Glaberson W, Flory J, Otieno F, Garris M, Soorya L, Klei L, Piven J, Meyer KJ, Anagnostou E, Sakurai T, Game RM, Rudd DS, Zurawiecki D, McDougle CJ, Davis LK, Miller J, Posey DJ, Michaels S, Kolevzon A, Silverman JM, Bernier R, Levy SE, Schultz RT, Dawson G, Owley T, McMahon WM, Wassink TH, Sweeney JA, Nurnberger JI, Coon H, Sutcliffe JS, Minshew NJ, Grant SFA, Bucan M, Cook EH, Buxbaum JD, Devlin B, Schellenberg GD, Hakonarson H. Autism genome-wide copy number variation reveals ubiquitin and neuronal genes. Nature 2009; 459:569-73. [PMID: 19404257 PMCID: PMC2925224 DOI: 10.1038/nature07953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1017] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2008] [Accepted: 02/27/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are childhood neurodevelopmental disorders with complex genetic origins. Previous studies focusing on candidate genes or genomic regions have identified several copy number variations (CNVs) that are associated with an increased risk of ASDs. Here we present the results from a whole-genome CNV study on a cohort of 859 ASD cases and 1,409 healthy children of European ancestry who were genotyped with approximately 550,000 single nucleotide polymorphism markers, in an attempt to comprehensively identify CNVs conferring susceptibility to ASDs. Positive findings were evaluated in an independent cohort of 1,336 ASD cases and 1,110 controls of European ancestry. Besides previously reported ASD candidate genes, such as NRXN1 (ref. 10) and CNTN4 (refs 11, 12), several new susceptibility genes encoding neuronal cell-adhesion molecules, including NLGN1 and ASTN2, were enriched with CNVs in ASD cases compared to controls (P = 9.5 x 10(-3)). Furthermore, CNVs within or surrounding genes involved in the ubiquitin pathways, including UBE3A, PARK2, RFWD2 and FBXO40, were affected by CNVs not observed in controls (P = 3.3 x 10(-3)). We also identified duplications 55 kilobases upstream of complementary DNA AK123120 (P = 3.6 x 10(-6)). Although these variants may be individually rare, they target genes involved in neuronal cell-adhesion or ubiquitin degradation, indicating that these two important gene networks expressed within the central nervous system may contribute to the genetic susceptibility of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph T Glessner
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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359
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Wu XE, Mel BW. Capacity-enhancing synaptic learning rules in a medial temporal lobe online learning model. Neuron 2009; 62:31-41. [PMID: 19376065 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2008] [Revised: 12/13/2008] [Accepted: 02/02/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Medial temporal lobe structures are responsible for recording the continuous stream of autobiographical memories that define our unique personal history. Remarkably, these areas can construct durable memories from brief exposures to the constantly changing activity patterns arriving from antecedent cortical areas. Using a computer model of the hippocampal Schaffer collateral pathway that incorporates evidence for dendritic spikes in CA1 pyramidal neurons, we searched for biologically-plausible long-term potentiation (LTP) and homeostatic depression (HD) rules that maximize "online" learning capacity. We found memory utilization is most efficient when (1) very few synapses are modified to store each pattern, (2) LTP, the learning operation, is dendrite-specific and gated by distinct pre- and postsynaptic thresholds, (3) HD, the forgetting operation, co-occurs with LTP and targets least-recently potentiated synapses, and (4) both LTP and HD are all-or-none, leading de facto to binary-valued synaptic weights. In networks containing up to 40 million synapses, the learning scheme led to order-of-magnitude capacity increases compared to conventional plasticity rules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xundong E Wu
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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360
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361
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Thomas KJ, Cookson MR. The role of PTEN-induced kinase 1 in mitochondrial dysfunction and dynamics. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2009; 41:2025-35. [PMID: 19703660 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2008] [Revised: 02/23/2009] [Accepted: 02/23/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in parkin, PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and DJ-1 can all cause autosomal recessive forms of Parkinson's disease. Recent data suggest that these recessive parkinsonism-associated genes converge within a single pathogenic pathway whose dysfunction leads to the loss of substantia nigra pars compacta neurons. The major common functional effects of all three genes relate to mitochondrial and oxidative damage, with a possible additional involvement of the ubiquitin proteasome system. This review highlights the role of the mitochondrial kinase, PINK1, in protection against mitochondrial dysfunction and how this might relate to loss of substantia nigra neurons in recessive parkinsonism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Jean Thomas
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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362
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Tanaka K. The proteasome: overview of structure and functions. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2009; 85:12-36. [PMID: 19145068 PMCID: PMC3524306 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.85.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 542] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The proteasome is a highly sophisticated protease complex designed to carry out selective, efficient and processive hydrolysis of client proteins. It is known to collaborate with ubiquitin, which polymerizes to form a marker for regulated proteolysis in eukaryotic cells. The highly organized proteasome plays a prominent role in the control of a diverse array of basic cellular activities by rapidly and unidirectionally catalyzing biological reactions. Studies of the proteasome during the past quarter of a century have provided profound insights into its structure and functions, which has appreciably contributed to our understanding of cellular life. Many questions, however, remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Tanaka
- Laboratory of Frontier Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan.
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363
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Luque FA, Jaffe SL. The molecular and cellular pathogenesis of dementia of the Alzheimer's type an overview. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2009; 84:151-65. [PMID: 19501717 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7742(09)00408-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) remains elusive. The neurodegeneration occurring in this disease has been traditionally believed to be the result of toxicity caused by the accumulation of insoluble amyloid-beta 42 (AB) aggregates, however recent research questions this thesis and has suggested other more convincing cellular and molecular mechanisms. Dysfunction of amyloid precursor protein metabolism, AB generation/aggregation and/or degredation/clearance, tau metabolism, protein trafficking, signal transduction, heavy metal homeostasis, acetylcholine and cholesterol metabolism, have all been implicated etiologically especially as to production of neurotoxic by-products occurring as a result of a specific process derangement. In this paper, these and other research directions are discussed as well as their implications for future therapies. The relationship of the proposed abnormal molecular and cellular processes to underlying genetic mutations is also scrutinized, all in an attempt to stimulate further insight into the pathogenesis of, and thus therapeutics for this increasingly prevalent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco A Luque
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine-Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103, USA
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