1
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Neven J, Issayama LK, Dewachter I, Wilson DM. Genomic stress and impaired DNA repair in Alzheimer disease. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 139:103678. [PMID: 38669748 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most prominent form of dementia and has received considerable attention due to its growing burden on economic, healthcare and basic societal infrastructures. The two major neuropathological hallmarks of AD, i.e., extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide plaques and intracellular hyperphosphorylated Tau neurofibrillary tangles, have been the focus of much research, with an eye on understanding underlying disease mechanisms and identifying novel therapeutic avenues. One often overlooked aspect of AD is how Aβ and Tau may, through indirect and direct mechanisms, affect genome integrity. Herein, we review evidence that Aβ and Tau abnormalities induce excessive genomic stress and impair genome maintenance mechanisms, events that can promote DNA damage-induced neuronal cell loss and associated brain atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Neven
- Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, BIOMED, Hasselt 3500, Belgium
| | - Luidy Kazuo Issayama
- Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, BIOMED, Hasselt 3500, Belgium
| | - Ilse Dewachter
- Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, BIOMED, Hasselt 3500, Belgium
| | - David M Wilson
- Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, BIOMED, Hasselt 3500, Belgium.
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2
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Rabanal-Ruiz Y, Pedrero-Prieto CM, Sanchez-Rodriguez L, Flores-Cuadrado A, Saiz-Sanchez D, Frontinan-Rubio J, Ubeda-Banon I, Duran Prado M, Martinez-Marcos A, Peinado JR. Differential accumulation of human β-amyloid and tau from enriched extracts in neuronal and endothelial cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167204. [PMID: 38679217 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
While Aβ and Tau cellular distribution has been largely studied, the comparative internalization and subcellular accumulation of Tau and Aβ isolated from human brain extracts in endothelial and neuronal cells has not yet been unveiled. We have previously demonstrated that controlled enrichment of Aβ from human brain extracts constitutes a valuable tool to monitor cellular internalization in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we establish an alternative method to strongly enrich Aβ and Tau aggregates from human AD brains, which has allowed us to study and compare the cellular internalization, distribution and toxicity of both proteins within brain barrier endothelial (bEnd.3) and neuronal (Neuro2A) cells. Our findings demonstrate the suitability of human enriched brain extracts to monitor the intracellular distribution of human Aβ and Tau, which, once internalized, show dissimilar sorting to different organelles within the cell and differential toxicity, exhibiting higher toxic effects on neuronal cells than on endothelial cells. While tau is strongly concentrated preferentially in mitochondria, Aβ is distributed predominantly within the endolysosomal system in endothelial cells, whereas the endoplasmic reticulum was its preferential location in neurons. Altogether, our findings display a picture of the interactions that human Aβ and Tau might establish in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Rabanal-Ruiz
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - C M Pedrero-Prieto
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - L Sanchez-Rodriguez
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - A Flores-Cuadrado
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - D Saiz-Sanchez
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - J Frontinan-Rubio
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - I Ubeda-Banon
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - M Duran Prado
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - A Martinez-Marcos
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Juan R Peinado
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ciudad Real Medical School, Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration Group, Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain.
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3
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Kanaan NM. Tau here, tau there, tau almost everywhere: Clarifying the distribution of tau in the adult CNS. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:107-115. [PMID: 38102924 PMCID: PMC10851165 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau has gained significant attention over the last several decades primarily due to its apparent role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease. While the field has focused largely on tau's potential contributions to disease mechanisms, comparably less work has focused on normal tau physiology. Moreover, as the field has grown, some misconceptions and dogmas regarding normal tau physiology have become engrained in the traditional narrative. Here, one of the most common misconceptions regarding tau, namely its normal cellular/subcellular distribution in the CNS, is discussed. The literature describing the presence of tau in neuronal somata, dendrites, axons and synapses, as well as in glial cells is described. The origins for the erroneous description of tau as an "axon-specific," "axon-enriched" and/or "neuron-specific" protein are discussed as well. The goal of this work is to help address these specific dogmatic misconceptions and provide a concise description of tau's normal cellular/subcellular localization in the adult CNS. This information can help refine our collective understanding of- and hypotheses about tau biology and pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M. Kanaan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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4
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Younas N, Saleem T, Younas A, Zerr I. Nuclear face of Tau: an inside player in neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:196. [PMID: 38087392 PMCID: PMC10714511 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau (Tubulin associated unit) protein is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies. Tau is predominantly an axonal protein with a crucial role in the stabilization and dynamics of the microtubules. Since the discovery of Tau protein in 1975, research efforts were concentrated on the pathophysiological role of Tau protein in the context of the microtubules. Although, for more than three decades, different localizations of Tau protein have been discovered e.g., in the nuclear compartments. Discovery of the role of Tau protein in various cellular compartments especially in the nucleus opens up a new fold of complexity in tauopathies. Data from cellular models, animal models, and the human brain indicate that nuclear Tau is crucial for genome stability and to cope with cellular distress. Moreover, it's nature of nuclear translocation, its interactions with the nuclear DNA/RNA and proteins suggest it could play multiple roles in the nucleus. To comprehend Tau pathophysiology and efficient Tau-based therapies, there is an urgent need to understand whole repertoire of Tau species (nuclear and cytoplasmic) and their functional relevance. To complete the map of Tau repertoire, understanding of various species of Tau in the nucleus and cytoplasm, identification if specific transcripts of Tau, isoforms and post-translational modifications could foretell Tau's localizations and functions, and how they are modified in neurodegenerative diseases like AD, is urgently required. In this review, we explore the nuclear face of Tau protein, its nuclear localizations and functions and its linkage with Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany.
| | - Tayyaba Saleem
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Abrar Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
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5
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Magrin C, Bellafante M, Sola M, Piovesana E, Bolis M, Cascione L, Napoli S, Rinaldi A, Papin S, Paganetti P. Tau protein modulates an epigenetic mechanism of cellular senescence in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1232963. [PMID: 37842084 PMCID: PMC10569482 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1232963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Progressive Tau deposition in neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads is the hallmark of tauopathies, a disorder group that includes Alzheimer's disease. Since Tau is a microtubule-associated protein, a prevalent concept to explain the pathogenesis of tauopathies is that abnormal Tau modification contributes to dissociation from microtubules, assembly into multimeric β-sheets, proteotoxicity, neuronal dysfunction and cell loss. Tau also localizes in the cell nucleus and evidence supports an emerging function of Tau in DNA stability and epigenetic modulation. Methods: To better characterize the possible role of Tau in regulation of chromatin compaction and subsequent gene expression, we performed a bioinformatics analysis of transcriptome data obtained from Tau-depleted human neuroblastoma cells. Results: Among the transcripts deregulated in a Tau-dependent manner, we found an enrichment of target genes for the polycomb repressive complex 2. We further describe decreased cellular amounts of the core components of the polycomb repressive complex 2 and lower histone 3 trimethylation in Tau deficient cells. Among the de-repressed polycomb repressive complex 2 target gene products, IGFBP3 protein was found to be linked to increased senescence induction in Tau-deficient cells. Discussion: Our findings propose a mechanism for Tau-dependent epigenetic modulation of cell senescence, a key event in pathologic aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Magrin
- Laboratory for Aging Disorders, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, PhD Program in Neurosciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Martina Bellafante
- Laboratory for Aging Disorders, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Martina Sola
- Laboratory for Aging Disorders, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, PhD Program in Neurosciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Ester Piovesana
- Laboratory for Aging Disorders, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, PhD Program in Neurosciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Marco Bolis
- Functional Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Oncology Research, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
- Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program, Institute of Oncology Research, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Luciano Cascione
- Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program, Institute of Oncology Research, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sara Napoli
- Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program, Institute of Oncology Research, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Rinaldi
- Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program, Institute of Oncology Research, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Papin
- Laboratory for Aging Disorders, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Paganetti
- Laboratory for Aging Disorders, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, PhD Program in Neurosciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
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6
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Patil RS, Kovacs-Kasa A, Gorshkov BA, Fulton DJR, Su Y, Batori RK, Verin AD. Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatases 1 and 2A in Lung Endothelial Barrier Regulation. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1638. [PMID: 37371733 PMCID: PMC10296329 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular barrier dysfunction is characterized by increased permeability and inflammation of endothelial cells (ECs), which are prominent features of acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and sepsis, and a major complication of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. Functional impairment of the EC barrier and accompanying inflammation arises due to microbial toxins and from white blood cells of the lung as part of a defensive action against pathogens, ischemia-reperfusion or blood product transfusions, and aspiration syndromes-based injury. A loss of barrier function results in the excessive movement of fluid and macromolecules from the vasculature into the interstitium and alveolae resulting in pulmonary edema and collapse of the architecture and function of the lungs, and eventually culminates in respiratory failure. Therefore, EC barrier integrity, which is heavily dependent on cytoskeletal elements (mainly actin filaments, microtubules (MTs), cell-matrix focal adhesions, and intercellular junctions) to maintain cellular contacts, is a critical requirement for the preservation of lung function. EC cytoskeletal remodeling is regulated, at least in part, by Ser/Thr phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of key cytoskeletal proteins. While a large body of literature describes the role of phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins on Ser/Thr residues in the context of EC barrier regulation, the role of Ser/Thr dephosphorylation catalyzed by Ser/Thr protein phosphatases (PPases) in EC barrier regulation is less documented. Ser/Thr PPases have been proposed to act as a counter-regulatory mechanism that preserves the EC barrier and opposes EC contraction. Despite the importance of PPases, our knowledge of the catalytic and regulatory subunits involved, as well as their cellular targets, is limited and under-appreciated. Therefore, the goal of this review is to discuss the role of Ser/Thr PPases in the regulation of lung EC cytoskeleton and permeability with special emphasis on the role of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as major mammalian Ser/Thr PPases. Importantly, we integrate the role of PPases with the structural dynamics of the cytoskeleton and signaling cascades that regulate endothelial cell permeability and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul S. Patil
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Anita Kovacs-Kasa
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Boris A. Gorshkov
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - David J. R. Fulton
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Yunchao Su
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Robert K. Batori
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Alexander D. Verin
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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7
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Hedna R, Kovacic H, Pagano A, Peyrot V, Robin M, Devred F, Breuzard G. Tau Protein as Therapeutic Target for Cancer? Focus on Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5386. [PMID: 36358803 PMCID: PMC9653627 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite being extensively studied for several decades, the microtubule-associated protein Tau has not finished revealing its secrets. For long, Tau has been known for its ability to promote microtubule assembly. A less known feature of Tau is its capability to bind to cancer-related protein kinases, suggesting a possible role of Tau in modulating microtubule-independent cellular pathways that are associated with oncogenesis. With the intention of finding new therapeutic targets for cancer, it appears essential to examine the interaction of Tau with these kinases and their consequences. This review aims at collecting the literature data supporting the relationship between Tau and cancer with a particular focus on glioblastoma tumors in which the pathological significance of Tau remains largely unexplored. We will first treat this subject from a mechanistic point of view showing the pivotal role of Tau in oncogenic processes. Then, we will discuss the involvement of Tau in dysregulating critical pathways in glioblastoma. Finally, we will outline promising strategies to target Tau protein for the therapy of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayane Hedna
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Hervé Kovacic
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Alessandra Pagano
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Peyrot
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Maxime Robin
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie marine et continentale (IMBE), UMR 7263, CNRS, IRD 237, Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - François Devred
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Gilles Breuzard
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France
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8
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Fourest-Lieuvin A, Vinit A, Blot B, Perrot A, Denarier E, Saudou F, Arnal I. Controlled Tau Cleavage in Cells Reveals Abnormal Localizations of Tau Fragments. Neuroscience 2022; 518:162-177. [PMID: 35995336 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In several forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, the cytoskeleton-associated protein tau undergoes proteolysis, giving rise to fragments that have a toxic impact on neuronal homeostasis. How these fragments interact with cellular structures, in particular with the cytoskeleton, is currently incompletely understood. Here, we developed a method, derived from a Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV) protease system, to induce controlled cleavage of tau at specific sites. Five tau proteins containing specific TEV recognition sites corresponding to pathological proteolytic sites were engineered, and tagged with GFP at one end and mCherry at the other. Following controlled cleavage to produce GFP-N-terminal and C-terminal-mCherry fragments, we followed the fate of tau fragments in cells. Our results showed that whole engineered tau proteins associate with the cytoskeleton similarly to the non-modified tau, whereas tau fragments adopted different localizations with respect to the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. These distinct localizations were confirmed by expressing each separate fragment in cells. Some cleavages - in particular cleavages at amino-acid positions 124 or 256 - displayed a certain level of cellular toxicity, with an unusual relocalization of the N-terminal fragments to the nucleus. Based on the data presented here, inducible cleavage of tau by the TEV protease appears to be a valuable tool to reproduce tau fragmentation in cells and study the resulting consequences on cell physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Fourest-Lieuvin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Angélique Vinit
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Béatrice Blot
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Anthime Perrot
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Eric Denarier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Frédéric Saudou
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Arnal
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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9
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Antón-Fernández A, Vallés-Saiz L, Avila J, Hernández F. Neuronal nuclear tau and neurodegeneration. Neuroscience 2022; 518:178-184. [PMID: 35872252 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a well-known microtubule-associated protein related to its cytoplasmic localization in a neuronal cell. However, tau has been located at the cell nucleus where it could be a nucleic acid-associated protein by its preferential binding to DNA sequences present in the nucleolus and pericentromeric heterochromatin. This less well-known localization of tau could not be trivial, since during aging, an increase in the amount of nuclear tau takes place and it may be related to the described role of tau in the activation of transposons and further aging acceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Antón-Fernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Vallés-Saiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Avila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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Nelson RS, Dammer EB, Santiago JV, Seyfried NT, Rangaraju S. Brain Cell Type-Specific Nuclear Proteomics Is Imperative to Resolve Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanisms. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:902146. [PMID: 35784845 PMCID: PMC9243337 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.902146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) involve complex cellular mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Emerging findings have revealed that disruption of nuclear processes play key roles in ND pathogenesis. The nucleus is a nexus for gene regulation and cellular processes that together, may underlie pathomechanisms of NDs. Furthermore, many genetic risk factors for NDs encode proteins that are either present in the nucleus or are involved in nuclear processes (for example, RNA binding proteins, epigenetic regulators, or nuclear-cytoplasmic transport proteins). While recent advances in nuclear transcriptomics have been significant, studies of the nuclear proteome in brain have been relatively limited. We propose that a comprehensive analysis of nuclear proteomic alterations of various brain cell types in NDs may provide novel biological and therapeutic insights. This may be feasible because emerging technical advances allow isolation and investigation of intact nuclei from post-mortem frozen human brain tissue with cell type-specific and single-cell resolution. Accordingly, nuclei of various brain cell types harbor unique protein markers which can be used to isolate cell-type specific nuclei followed by down-stream proteomics by mass spectrometry. Here we review the literature providing a rationale for investigating proteomic changes occurring in nuclei in NDs and then highlight the potential for brain cell type-specific nuclear proteomics to enhance our understanding of distinct cellular mechanisms that drive ND pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth S. Nelson
- Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Eric B. Dammer
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | | | - Srikant Rangaraju
- Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States,*Correspondence: Srikant Rangaraju
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11
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Failure of DNA double-strand break repair by tau mediates Alzheimer's disease pathology in vitro. Commun Biol 2022; 5:358. [PMID: 35418705 PMCID: PMC9008043 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03312-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA double-strand break (DSB) is the most severe form of DNA damage and accumulates with age, in which cytoskeletal proteins are polymerized to repair DSB in dividing cells. Since tau is a microtubule-associated protein, we investigate whether DSB is involved in tau pathologies in Alzheimer's disease (AD). First, immunohistochemistry reveals the frequent coexistence of DSB and phosphorylated tau in the cortex of AD patients. In vitro studies using primary mouse cortical neurons show that non-p-tau accumulates perinuclearly together with the tubulin after DSB induction with etoposide, followed by the accumulation of phosphorylated tau. Moreover, the knockdown of endogenous tau exacerbates DSB in neurons, suggesting the protective role of tau on DNA repair. Interestingly, synergistic exposure of neurons to microtubule disassembly and the DSB strikingly augments aberrant p-tau aggregation and apoptosis. These data suggest that DSB plays a pivotal role in AD-tau pathology and that the failure of DSB repair leads to tauopathy.
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12
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Vallés-Saiz L, Peinado-Cahuchola R, Ávila J, Hernández F. Microtubule-associated protein tau in murine kidney: role in podocyte architecture. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:97. [PMID: 35084555 PMCID: PMC8794918 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04106-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a cytoskeletal protein that is expressed mainly in neurons and is involved in several cellular processes, such as microtubule stabilization, axonal maintenance, and transport. Altered tau metabolism is related to different tauopathies being the most important Alzheimer's disease where aberrant hyperphosphorylated and aggregated tau is found in the central nervous system. Here, we have analyzed that function in kidney by using tau knockout mice generated by integrating GFP-encoding cDNA into exon 1 of MAPT (here referred to as TauGFP/GFP). IVIS Lumina from PerkinElmer demonstrated GFP expression in the kidney. We then demonstrated by qPCR that the main tau isoform in the kidney is Tau4R. The GFP reporter allowed us to demonstrate that tau is found in the glomeruli of the renal cortex, and specifically in podocytes. This was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry. TauGFP/GFP mice present a podocyte cytoskeleton more dynamic as they contain higher levels of detyrosinated tubulin than wild-type mice. In addition, transmission electron microscopy studies demonstrated glomerular damage with a decrease in urinary creatinine. Our results prove that tau has an important role in kidney metabolism under normal physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vallés-Saiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocio Peinado-Cahuchola
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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13
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Gil L, Niño SA, Guerrero C, Jiménez-Capdeville ME. Phospho-Tau and Chromatin Landscapes in Early and Late Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910283. [PMID: 34638632 PMCID: PMC8509045 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular identity is determined through complex patterns of gene expression. Chromatin, the dynamic structure containing genetic information, is regulated through epigenetic modulators, mainly by the histone code. One of the main challenges for the cell is maintaining functionality and identity, despite the accumulation of DNA damage throughout the aging process. Replicative cells can remain in a senescent state or develop a malign cancer phenotype. In contrast, post-mitotic cells such as pyramidal neurons maintain extraordinary functionality despite advanced age, but they lose their identity. This review focuses on tau, a protein that protects DNA, organizes chromatin, and plays a crucial role in genomic stability. In contrast, tau cytosolic aggregates are considered hallmarks of Alzheimer´s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders called tauopathies. Here, we explain AD as a phenomenon of chromatin dysregulation directly involving the epigenetic histone code and a progressive destabilization of the tau–chromatin interaction, leading to the consequent dysregulation of gene expression. Although this destabilization could be lethal for post-mitotic neurons, tau protein mediates profound cellular transformations that allow for their temporal survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gil
- Departamento de Genética, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad “Alfonso X el Sabio”, 28691 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Sandra A. Niño
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma, de San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico;
| | - Carmen Guerrero
- Banco de Cerebros (Biobanco), Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain;
| | - María E. Jiménez-Capdeville
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma, de San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-444-826-2366
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14
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Sinsky J, Pichlerova K, Hanes J. Tau Protein Interaction Partners and Their Roles in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9207. [PMID: 34502116 PMCID: PMC8431036 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein plays a critical role in the assembly, stabilization, and modulation of microtubules, which are important for the normal function of neurons and the brain. In diseased conditions, several pathological modifications of tau protein manifest. These changes lead to tau protein aggregation and the formation of paired helical filaments (PHF) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), which are common hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. The accumulation of PHFs and NFTs results in impairment of physiological functions, apoptosis, and neuronal loss, which is reflected as cognitive impairment, and in the late stages of the disease, leads to death. The causes of this pathological transformation of tau protein haven't been fully understood yet. In both physiological and pathological conditions, tau interacts with several proteins which maintain their proper function or can participate in their pathological modifications. Interaction partners of tau protein and associated molecular pathways can either initiate and drive the tau pathology or can act neuroprotective, by reducing pathological tau proteins or inflammation. In this review, we focus on the tau as a multifunctional protein and its known interacting partners active in regulations of different processes and the roles of these proteins in Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jozef Hanes
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; (J.S.); (K.P.)
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15
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D’Andrea L, Stringhi R, Di Luca M, Marcello E. Looking at Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis from the Nuclear Side. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11091261. [PMID: 34572474 PMCID: PMC8467578 DOI: 10.3390/biom11091261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder representing the most common form of dementia. It is biologically characterized by the deposition of extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, constituted by hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The key protein in AD pathogenesis is the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is cleaved by secretases to produce several metabolites, including Aβ and APP intracellular domain (AICD). The greatest genetic risk factor associated with AD is represented by the Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) allele. Importantly, all of the above-mentioned molecules that are strictly related to AD pathogenesis have also been described as playing roles in the cell nucleus. Accordingly, evidence suggests that nuclear functions are compromised in AD. Furthermore, modulation of transcription maintains cellular homeostasis, and alterations in transcriptomic profiles have been found in neurodegenerative diseases. This report reviews recent advancements in the AD players-mediated gene expression. Aβ, tau, AICD, and APOE ε4 localize in the nucleus and regulate the transcription of several genes, part of which is involved in AD pathogenesis, thus suggesting that targeting nuclear functions might provide new therapeutic tools for the disease.
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16
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Kanaan NM, Grabinski T. Neuronal and Glial Distribution of Tau Protein in the Adult Rat and Monkey. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:607303. [PMID: 33986642 PMCID: PMC8112591 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.607303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein for which the physiological functions remain a topic of vigorous investigation. Additionally, tau is a central player in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and several frontotemporal dementias. A critical variable to understanding tau in physiological and disease contexts is its normal localization within cells of the adult CNS. Tau is often described as an axon-specific (or enriched) and neuron-specific protein with little to no expression in glial cells, all of which are untrue. Understanding normal tau distribution also impacts interpretation of experimental results and hypotheses regarding its role in disease. Thus, we set out to help clarify the normal localization of tau in the adult CNS of middle-aged rats and rhesus macaque using the hippocampus as a representative brain structure. The physiological concentration of tau in the rat hippocampus was 6.6 μM and in white matter was 3.6 μM as determined by quantitative sandwich ELISAs. We evaluated the cellular localization of tau using multiple tau-specific antibodies with epitopes to different regions, including Tau1, Tau5, Tau7, R1, and two novel primate-specific antibodies NT9 and NT15. In the rat and monkey, tau was localized within the somatodendritic and axonal compartments, as well as a subset of neuronal nuclei. Semi-quantitative fluorescence intensity measurements revealed that depending on the specific reagent used the somatodendritic tau is relatively equal to, higher than, or lower than axonal tau, highlighting differential labeling of tau with various antibodies despite its distribution throughout the neuron. Tau was strongly expressed in mature oligodendrocytes and displayed little to no expression in oligodendrocyte precursor cells, astrocytes or microglia. Collectively, the data indicate tau is ∼3 - 7 μM under physiological conditions, is not specifically enriched in axons, and is normally found in both neurons and mature oligodendrocytes in the adult CNS. The full landscape of tau distribution is not revealed by all antibodies suggesting availability of the epitopes is different within specific neuronal compartments. These findings set the stage for better understanding normal tau distributions and interpreting data regarding the presence of tau in different compartments or cell types within disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M. Kanaan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Mercy Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Tessa Grabinski
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
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17
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Mueller RL, Combs B, Alhadidy MM, Brady ST, Morfini GA, Kanaan NM. Tau: A Signaling Hub Protein. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:647054. [PMID: 33815057 PMCID: PMC8017207 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.647054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Over four decades ago, in vitro experiments showed that tau protein interacts with and stabilizes microtubules in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. This observation fueled the widespread hypotheses that these properties extend to living neurons and that reduced stability of microtubules represents a major disease-driving event induced by pathological forms of tau in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. Accordingly, most research efforts to date have addressed this protein as a substrate, focusing on evaluating how specific mutations, phosphorylation, and other post-translational modifications impact its microtubule-binding and stabilizing properties. In contrast, fewer efforts were made to illuminate potential mechanisms linking physiological and disease-related forms of tau to the normal and pathological regulation of kinases and phosphatases. Here, we discuss published work indicating that, through interactions with various kinases and phosphatases, tau may normally act as a scaffolding protein to regulate phosphorylation-based signaling pathways. Expanding on this concept, we also review experimental evidence linking disease-related tau species to the misregulation of these pathways. Collectively, the available evidence supports the participation of tau in multiple cellular processes sustaining neuronal and glial function through various mechanisms involving the scaffolding and regulation of selected kinases and phosphatases at discrete subcellular compartments. The notion that the repertoire of tau functions includes a role as a signaling hub should widen our interpretation of experimental results and increase our understanding of tau biology in normal and disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Mueller
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Benjamin Combs
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Mohammed M Alhadidy
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Scott T Brady
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - Gerardo A Morfini
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - Nicholas M Kanaan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
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18
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Gil L, Niño SA, Capdeville G, Jiménez-Capdeville ME. Aging and Alzheimer's disease connection: Nuclear Tau and lamin A. Neurosci Lett 2021; 749:135741. [PMID: 33610669 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Age-related pathologies like Alzheimer`s disease (AD) imply cellular responses directed towards repairing DNA damage. Postmitotic neurons show progressive accumulation of oxidized DNA during decades of brain aging, which is especially remarkable in AD brains. The characteristic cytoskeletal pathology of AD neurons is brought about by the progressive changes that neurons undergo throughout aging, and their irreversible nuclear transformation initiates the disease. This review focusses on critical molecular events leading to the loss of plasticity that underlies cognitive deficits in AD. During healthy neuronal aging, nuclear Tau participates in the regulation of the structure and function of the chromatin. The aberrant cell cycle reentry initiated for DNA repair triggers a cascade of events leading to the dysfunctional AD neuron, whereby Tau protein exits the nucleus leading to chromatin disorganization. Lamin A, which is not typically expressed in neurons, appears at the transformation from senile to AD neurons and contributes to halting the consequences of cell cycle reentry and nuclear Tau exit, allowing the survival of the neuron. Nevertheless, this irreversible nuclear transformation alters the nucleic acid and protein synthesis machinery as well as the nuclear lamina and cytoskeleton structures, leading to neurofibrillary tangles formation and final neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gil
- Departamento de Genética, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad "Alfonso X el Sabio", Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra A Niño
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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19
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Abstract
Tau, a microtubule-associated protein, plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of neurons. However, whether tau protein is expressed in smooth muscle cells is unknown. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that tau protein is expressed in the primary cultures of smooth muscle cells. Here, we report that tau protein is expressed and constitutively phosphorylated at threonine 181 in various smooth muscle cell types, including human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, bronchial airway smooth muscle cells, and cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 is more organized in the cell than is total tau protein. A protein phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A, induced the formation of higher molecular weight species of phosphorylated tau, as visualized by Western blotting, indicating the occurrence of tau aggregation. Immunofluorescence analysis also showed that calyculin A caused the aggregation of phosphorylated tau and disrupted the cytoskeletal organization. These results demonstrate the existence of tau protein in smooth muscle cells, and that smooth muscle tau is susceptible to protein phosphorylation and aggregation. Lung smooth muscle tau may therefore play an important role in pulmonary pathophysiology.
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20
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Flores-Rodríguez P, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Ibarra-Bracamontes V, Zarco N, Navarrete A, Martínez-Maldonado A, Guadarrama-Ortíz P, Villanueva-Fierro I, Ontiveros-Torres MA, Perry G, Alonso AD, Floran-Garduño B, Segovia J, Luna-Muñoz J. Phospho-Tau Protein Expression in the Cell Cycle of SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells: A Morphological Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 71:631-645. [PMID: 31424392 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It has been reported that the main function of tau protein is to stabilize microtubules and promote the movement of organelles through the axon in neurons. In Alzheimer's disease, tau protein is the major constituent of the paired helical filament, and it undergoes post-translational modifications including hyperphosphorylation and truncation. Whether other functions of tau protein are involved in Alzheimer's disease is less clear. We used SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells as an in vitro model to further study the functions of tau protein. We detected phosphorylated tau protein as small dense dots in the cell nucleus, which strongly colocalize with intranuclear speckle structures that were also labelled with an antibody to SC35, a protein involved in nuclear RNA splicing. We have shown further that tau protein, phosphorylated at the sites recognized by pT231, TG-3, and AD2 antibodies, is closely associated with cell division. Different functions may be characteristic of phosphorylation at specific sites. Our findings suggest that the presence of tau protein is involved in separation of sister chromatids in anaphase, and that tau protein also participates in maintaining the integrity of the DNA (pT231, prophase) and chromosomes during cell division (TG-3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Flores-Rodríguez
- Deparment of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, CINVESTAV, CDMX, México.,Brain Bank, Laboratorio Nacional de Servicios Experimentales, LaNSE-CINVESTAV, CDMX, México.,CIIDIR Durango, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Becario COFAA, Durango, México
| | - Charles R Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Claude M Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Vanessa Ibarra-Bracamontes
- Deparment of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, CINVESTAV, CDMX, México.,Brain Bank, Laboratorio Nacional de Servicios Experimentales, LaNSE-CINVESTAV, CDMX, México
| | - Natanael Zarco
- Deparment of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, CINVESTAV, CDMX, México
| | - Araceli Navarrete
- Deparment of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, CINVESTAV, CDMX, México
| | - Alejandra Martínez-Maldonado
- Deparment of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, CINVESTAV, CDMX, México.,Anahuac University North Mexico, CDMX, México
| | | | | | | | - George Perry
- College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Alejandra D Alonso
- Biology Department and Center for Developmental Neuroscience, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | | | - José Segovia
- Deparment of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, CINVESTAV, CDMX, México
| | - José Luna-Muñoz
- Brain Bank, Laboratorio Nacional de Servicios Experimentales, LaNSE-CINVESTAV, CDMX, México
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21
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Diez L, Wegmann S. Nuclear Transport Deficits in Tau-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurol 2020; 11:1056. [PMID: 33101165 PMCID: PMC7546323 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a cytosolic microtubule binding protein that is highly abundant in the axons of the central nervous system. However, alternative functions of tau also in other cellular compartments are suggested, for example, in the nucleus, where interactions of tau with specific nuclear entities such as DNA, the nucleolus, and the nuclear envelope have been reported. We would like to review the current knowledge about tau-nucleus interactions and lay out possible neurotoxic mechanisms that are based on the (pathological) interactions of tau with the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Diez
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Wegmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Berlin, Germany
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22
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Tau affects P53 function and cell fate during the DNA damage response. Commun Biol 2020; 3:245. [PMID: 32427887 PMCID: PMC7237658 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0975-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are constantly exposed to DNA damaging insults. To protect the organism, cells developed a complex molecular response coordinated by P53, the master regulator of DNA repair, cell division and cell fate. DNA damage accumulation and abnormal cell fate decision may represent a pathomechanism shared by aging-associated disorders such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Here, we examined this hypothesis in the context of tauopathies, a neurodegenerative disorder group characterized by Tau protein deposition. For this, the response to an acute DNA damage was studied in neuroblastoma cells with depleted Tau, as a model of loss-of-function. Under these conditions, altered P53 stability and activity result in reduced cell death and increased cell senescence. This newly discovered function of Tau involves abnormal modification of P53 and its E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2. Considering the medical need with vast social implications caused by neurodegeneration and cancer, our study may reform our approach to disease-modifying therapies. Martina Sola, Claudia Magrin et al. study the relation between Tau and P53 in response to DNA damage. They uncover an important role for Tau in regulating the stability, and activity of P53 post translationally. Their findings provide insights to potentially common pathways in neurodegenerative disease and cancer.
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23
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Schroeder C, Grell J, Hube-Magg C, Kluth M, Lang D, Simon R, Höflmayer D, Minner S, Burandt E, Clauditz TS, Büscheck F, Jacobsen F, Huland H, Graefen M, Schlomm T, Sauter G, Steurer S. Aberrant expression of the microtubule-associated protein tau is an independent prognostic feature in prostate cancer. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:193. [PMID: 30823906 PMCID: PMC6397474 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5390-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAPT) overexpression has been linked to poor prognosis and decreased response to taxane-based therapies in several cancer types, but its relevance in prostate cancer is unknown. Methods In this study, MAPT expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray containing 17,747 prostate cancers. Results MAPT was absent in normal prostate epithelial cells but detectable in 1004 (8.2%) of 12,313 interpretable cancers. Its expression was associated with advanced tumor stage, high Gleason grade, positive lymph nodes, and early biochemical recurrence (p < 0.0001 each). For example, MAPT was found in 3.6% of 2072 Gleason ≤3 + 3 cancers but in 14.4% of 704 Gleason ≥4 + 4 cancers. High-level MAPT staining was also linked to TMPRSS2:ERG fusions (p < 0.0001). MAPT staining was seen in 15.2 and 16% of cancers with TMPRSS2:ERG fusion detected by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in-situ hybridization, but in only 3.5 and 3.9% of cancers without ERG staining or ERG rearrangements. Moreover, an association was found between MAPT expression and PTEN deletions, with 19% MAPT positivity in 948 PTEN deleted cancers but only 7% MAPT positivity in 3895 tumors with normal PTEN copy numbers (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the prognostic value of MAPT was independent from established parameters. Conventional large section analyses showed intratumoral MAPT heterogeneity in all three analyzed cancers. Conclusions The results of our study identify MAPT, as a moderate prognostic marker in prostate cancer, whose clinical impact, however, may be limited due to the rarity and heterogeneity of its expression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-5390-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Schroeder
- General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery Department and Clinic, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Grell
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Hube-Magg
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martina Kluth
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dagmar Lang
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ronald Simon
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Doris Höflmayer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Minner
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eike Burandt
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Till S Clauditz
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Büscheck
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Frank Jacobsen
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hartwig Huland
- Martini-Clinic, Prostate Cancer Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Graefen
- Martini-Clinic, Prostate Cancer Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schlomm
- Department of Urology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Sauter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Steurer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany
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24
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Galas MC, Bonnefoy E, Buee L, Lefebvre B. Emerging Connections Between Tau and Nucleic Acids. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1184:135-143. [PMID: 32096035 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9358-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Connections between tau and nucleic acids have been largely underestimated until recently when several reports highlighted new key roles of tau in relation with DNA and RNA structure, metabolism and integrity, and their implications in the context of tauopathies. Here we focus on recent advances involving tau and nucleic acids in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Implication of tau and tau pathology in mechanisms regulating genome integrity, chromatin organization and RNA metabolism, highlight the connections between tau and nucleic acid as major mechanisms in neuronal homeostasis and the etiopathology of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Christine Galas
- University of Lille, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France.
| | | | - Luc Buee
- University of Lille, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
| | - Bruno Lefebvre
- University of Lille, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
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25
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Dugger BN, Hoffman BR, Scroggins A, Serrano GE, Adler CH, Shill HA, Belden CM, Sabbagh MN, Caviness JN, Driver Dunckley E, Beach TG. Tau immunoreactivity in peripheral tissues of human aging and select tauopathies. Neurosci Lett 2018; 696:132-139. [PMID: 30579993 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have been directed at understanding mechanisms of tau aggregation and therapeutics, nearly all focusing on the brain. It is critical to understand the presence of tau in peripheral tissues since this may provide new insights into disease progression and selective vulnerability. The current study sought to determine the presence of select tau species in peripheral tissues in elderly individuals and across an array of tauopathies. Using formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections, we examined abdominal skin, submandibular gland, and sigmoid colon among 69 clinicopathologically defined cases: 19 lacking a clinical neuropathological diagnosis (normal controls), 26 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), 21 Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 3 with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies for "total" tau (HT7) and two phosphorylated tau species (AT8 and pT231). HT7 staining of abdominal skin revealed immunoreactivity of potential nerve elements in 5% of cases (1 AD, 1 AD/PSP, and 1 CBD out of 55 cases examined); skin sections lacked AT8 and pT231 immunoreactive nerve elements. Submandibular glands from all cases had HT7 immunoreactive nerve elements; while pT231 was present in 92% of cases, and AT8 in only 3 cases (2 AD and one AD/PSP case). In sigmoid colon, HT7 immunoreactivity was present in all but 2 cases (97%), pT231 in 54%, and AT8 was present in only 5/62 cases (8%). These data suggest select tau species in CNS tauopathies do not have a high propensity to spread to the periphery and this may hold clues for the understanding of CNS tau pathogenicity and vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany N Dugger
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States.
| | | | - Alex Scroggins
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, United States
| | - Geidy E Serrano
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, United States
| | - Charles H Adler
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Holly A Shill
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | | | - Marwan N Sabbagh
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States; Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - John N Caviness
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Erika Driver Dunckley
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Thomas G Beach
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, United States
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26
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Ulrich G, Salvadè A, Boersema P, Calì T, Foglieni C, Sola M, Picotti P, Papin S, Paganetti P. Phosphorylation of nuclear Tau is modulated by distinct cellular pathways. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17702. [PMID: 30531974 PMCID: PMC6286375 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36374-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-translational protein modification controls the function of Tau as a scaffold protein linking a variety of molecular partners. This is most studied in the context of microtubules, where Tau regulates their stability as well as the distribution of cellular components to defined compartments. However, Tau is also located in the cell nucleus; and is found to protect DNA. Quantitative assessment of Tau modification in the nucleus when compared to the cytosol may elucidate how subcellular distribution and function of Tau is regulated. We undertook an unbiased approach by combing bimolecular fluorescent complementation and mass spectrometry in order to show that Tau phosphorylation at specific residues is increased in the nucleus of proliferating pluripotent neuronal C17.2 and neuroblastoma SY5Y cells. These findings were validated with the use of nuclear targeted Tau and subcellular fractionation, in particular for the phosphorylation at T181, T212 and S404. We also report that the DNA damaging drug Etoposide increases the translocation of Tau to the nucleus whilst reducing its phosphorylation. We propose that overt phosphorylation of Tau, a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders defined as tauopathies, may negatively regulate the function of nuclear Tau in protecting against DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Ulrich
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Torricella-Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Agnese Salvadè
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Torricella-Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Paul Boersema
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETHZ, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tito Calì
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Foglieni
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Torricella-Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Martina Sola
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Torricella-Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Paola Picotti
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETHZ, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Papin
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Torricella-Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Paganetti
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Cantonale Ospedaliero, Torricella-Taverne, Switzerland.
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27
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Benhelli-Mokrani H, Mansuroglu Z, Chauderlier A, Albaud B, Gentien D, Sommer S, Schirmer C, Laqueuvre L, Josse T, Buée L, Lefebvre B, Galas MC, Souès S, Bonnefoy E. Genome-wide identification of genic and intergenic neuronal DNA regions bound by Tau protein under physiological and stress conditions. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:11405-11422. [PMID: 30321409 PMCID: PMC6265482 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are neurodegenerative disorders for which there is presently no cure. They are named after the abnormal oligomerization/aggregation of the neuronal microtubule-associated Tau protein. Besides its role as a microtubule-associated protein, a DNA-binding capacity and a nuclear localization for Tau protein has been described in neurons. While questioning the potential role of Tau-DNA binding in the development of tauopathies, we have carried out a large-scale analysis of the interaction of Tau protein with the neuronal genome under physiological and heat stress conditions using the ChIP-on-chip technique that combines Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) with DNA microarray (chip). Our findings show that Tau protein specifically interacts with genic and intergenic DNA sequences of primary culture of neurons with a preference for DNA regions positioned beyond the ±5000 bp range from transcription start site. An AG-rich DNA motif was found recurrently present within Tau-interacting regions and 30% of Tau-interacting regions overlapped DNA sequences coding for lncRNAs. Neurological processes affected in AD were enriched among Tau-interacting regions with in vivo gene expression assays being indicative of a transcriptional repressor role for Tau protein, which was exacerbated in neurons displaying nuclear pathological oligomerized forms of Tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Benhelli-Mokrani
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Zeyni Mansuroglu
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Alban Chauderlier
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Benoit Albaud
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Translational Research Departement, Genomics Platform, Paris, F-75248 France
| | - David Gentien
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Translational Research Departement, Genomics Platform, Paris, F-75248 France
| | - Sabrina Sommer
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Claire Schirmer
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Lucie Laqueuvre
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Thibaut Josse
- Université François Rabelais, Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, CNRS UMR 7261, Tours, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Bruno Lefebvre
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Marie-Christine Galas
- Université de Lille, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Lille, France
| | - Sylvie Souès
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
| | - Eliette Bonnefoy
- Université Paris Descartes, Centre Interdisciplinaire Chimie Biologie-Paris, Inserm UMRS1007, Paris, France
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28
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Rossi G, Redaelli V, Contiero P, Fabiano S, Tagliabue G, Perego P, Benussi L, Bruni AC, Filippini G, Farinotti M, Giaccone G, Buiatiotis S, Manzoni C, Ferrari R, Tagliavini F. Tau Mutations Serve as a Novel Risk Factor for Cancer. Cancer Res 2018; 78:3731-3739. [PMID: 29794074 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In addition to its well-recognized role in neurodegeneration, tau participates in maintenance of genome stability and chromosome integrity. In particular, peripheral cells from patients affected by frontotemporal lobar degeneration carrying a mutation in tau gene (genetic tauopathies), as well as cells from animal models, show chromosome numerical and structural aberrations, chromatin anomalies, and a propensity toward abnormal recombination. As genome instability is tightly linked to cancer development, we hypothesized that mutated tau may be a susceptibility factor for cancer. Here we conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing cancer incidence in families affected by genetic tauopathies to control families. In addition, we carried out a bioinformatics analysis to highlight pathways associated with the tau protein interactome. We report that the risk of developing cancer is significantly higher in families affected by genetic tauopathies, and a high proportion of tau protein interactors are involved in cellular processes particularly relevant to cancer. These findings disclose a novel role of tau as a risk factor for cancer, providing new insights in the various pathologic roles of mutated tau.Significance: This study reveals a novel role for tau as a risk factor for cancer, providing new insights beyond its role in neurodegeneration. Cancer Res; 78(13); 3731-9. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomina Rossi
- Unit of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy.
| | - Veronica Redaelli
- Unit of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Contiero
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Sabrina Fabiano
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Tagliabue
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Perego
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Luisa Benussi
- NeuroBioGen Lab-Memory Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Amalia C Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASPCZ, Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Graziella Filippini
- Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Mariangela Farinotti
- Neuroepidemiology - Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giaccone
- Unit of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Manzoni
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, United Kingdom.,Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Raffaele Ferrari
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
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29
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Federico C, Gil L, Bruno F, D'Amico AG, D'Agata V, Saccone S. Phosphorylated nucleolar Tau protein is related to the neuronal in vitro differentiation. Gene 2018; 664:1-11. [PMID: 29684490 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.04.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a multifunctional protein, originally identified as a cytoplasmic protein associated with microtubules. It is codified by the MAPT gene, and the alternative splicing, in the neuronal cells, results in six different isoforms. Tau was subsequently observed in the cell nucleus, where its function is not yet clearly understood. Here, we studied the MAPT gene and the cellular localization of the AT8 and Tau-1 epitopes of Tau protein, in the SK-N-BE cell line, which differentiates in neuronal-like cells after retinoic acid treatment. These epitopes correspond to the phosphorylated Ser202/Thr205 and unphosphorylated Pro189/Gly207 amino acid residues, respectively, possibly involved in conformational changes of the protein. Our results demonstrated the presence of the smaller Tau isoform (352 amino acids), whose amount increases in differentiated SK-N-BE cells, with Tau-1/AT8 nuclear distribution related to the differentiation process. Tau-1 showed a spot-like nucleolar localization, in both replicative and differentiated cells, while AT8 was only detected in the differentiated cells, diffusely occupying the entire nucleolar region. Moreover, in the replicative cells exposed to actinomycin-D, AT8 and Tau-1 move to the nucleolar periphery and colocalize, in few spots, with the upstream binding transcription factor (UBTF). Our results, also obtained with lymphocytes exposed to the mitogenic compound phytohaemagglutinin, indicate the AT8 epitope of Tau as a marker of neuronal cell differentiation, whose presence in the nucleolus appears to be related to rDNA transcriptional inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Laura Gil
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, University "Alfonso X el Sabio", Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesca Bruno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Agata Grazia D'Amico
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy; Department of Human Science and Promotion of Quality of Life, San Raffaele Open University of Rome, Italy
| | - Velia D'Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy.
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30
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Veloria JR, Li L, Breen GAM, Goux WJ. Novel Cell Model for Tauopathy Induced by a Cell-Permeable Tau-Related Peptide. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2734-2745. [PMID: 28837764 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, a cell penetrating peptide (CPP)-amyloid conjugate was prepared (T-peptide), where the amyloid-forming sequence was homologous to a nucleating sequence from human Tau protein (306VQIVYK311). Kinetic and biophysical studies showed the peptide formed long-lived oligomers which were taken up by endocytosis and localized in perinuclear vesicles and in the cytoplasm of murine hippocampal neuroblastoma cells and human HeLa cells. Thioflavin S (ThS) staining of amyloid colocalized with pathological phosphorylated Tau, suggesting that the peptide was able to seed endogenous wild-type Tau. Subsequent experiments showed that aggregates present in the lysosomes mediated lysosome membrane permeability (LMP). We observed a decrease in total Tau, irrespective of phosphorylation state, consistent with Tau fragmentation by lysosomal proteases. We found cytotoxicity of T-peptide could be abrogated by inhibitors of lysosomal hydrolases and caspases, consistent with a model where Tau fragments processed by the lysosome leak into the cytoplasm and induce toxicity in subsequent downstream steps. It is our hope that the T-peptide system may prove amenable to the evaluation of small molecule inhibitors of cytotoxicity, especially those which target either Tau aggregation or the lysosomal/autophagy system.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Veloria
- Department
of Biological Sciences and ‡Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Lin Li
- Department
of Biological Sciences and ‡Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Gail A. M. Breen
- Department
of Biological Sciences and ‡Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Warren J. Goux
- Department
of Biological Sciences and ‡Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
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31
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Arredondo LF, Aranda-Romo S, Rodríguez-Leyva I, Chi-Ahumada E, Saikaly SK, Portales-Pérez DP, González-Amaro R, Salgado-Bustamante M, Enriquez-Macias L, Eng W, Norman RA, Jimenez-Capdeville ME. Tau Protein in Oral Mucosa and Cognitive State: A Cross-sectional Study. Front Neurol 2017; 8:554. [PMID: 29081764 PMCID: PMC5645496 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the presence of abnormal aggregates of proteins in brain tissue. Among them, the presence of aggregates of phosphorylated Tau protein (p-Tau) is the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other major neurodegenerative disorders such as corticobasal degeneration and frontotemporal dementia among others. Although Tau protein has previously been assumed to be exclusive to the central nervous system, it is also found in peripheral tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a differential Tau expression in oral mucosa cells according to cognitive impairment. Eighty-one subjects were enrolled in the study and classified per Mini-Mental State Examination test score into control, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and severe cognitive impairment (SCI) groups. Immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence revealed the presence of Tau and four p-Tau forms in the cytoplasm and nucleus of oral mucosa cells. More positivity was present in subjects with cognitive impairment than in control subjects, both in the nucleus and cytoplasm, in a speckle pattern. The mRNA expression of Tau by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was higher in SCI as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). A significantly higher percentage of immunopositive cells in the SCI group was found via flow cytometry in comparison to controls and the MCI group (P < 0.01). These findings demonstrate the higher presence of p-Tau and Tau transcript in the oral mucosa of cognitively impaired subjects when compared with healthy subjects. The feasibility of p-Tau quantification by flow cytometry supports the prospective analysis of oral mucosa as a support tool for screening of proteinopathies in cognitively impaired patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Fernando Arredondo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Saray Aranda-Romo
- Clínica de Diagnóstico, Facultad de Estomatología, Universidad Autonóma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - Erika Chi-Ahumada
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Sami K Saikaly
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Diana P Portales-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Biologia Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.,Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Roberto González-Amaro
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Mariana Salgado-Bustamante
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Enriquez-Macias
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - William Eng
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Robert A Norman
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Maria E Jimenez-Capdeville
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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32
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Gil L, Federico C, Pinedo F, Bruno F, Rebolledo AB, Montoya JJ, Olazabal IM, Ferrer I, Saccone S. Aging dependent effect of nuclear tau. Brain Res 2017; 1677:129-137. [PMID: 28974363 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Tau protein is characterized by a complex pattern of phosphorylation and is localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Human AT100 nuclear tau, endowed by phosphorylation in Thr212/Ser214, was recently shown to decline in cornus ammonis 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus (DG) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but a defined function for this nuclear tau remains unclear. Here we show that AT100 progressively increases in the nuclei of neuronal and non-neuronal cells during aging, and decreases in the more severe AD stages, as recently shown, and in cancer cells (colorectal adenocarcinoma and breast cancer). AT100, in addition to a co-localization with the DAPI-positive heterochromatin, was detected in the nucleolus of pyramidal cells from the CA1 region, shown to be at its highest level in the more senescent cells and in the first stage of AD (ADI), and disappearing in the more severe AD cases (ADIV). Taking into account the nuclear distribution of AT100 during cell aging and its relation to the chromatin changes observed in degenerated neurons, as well as in cancerous cells, which are both cellular pathologies associated with age, we can consider the Thr212/Ser214 phosphorylated nuclear tau as a molecular marker of cell aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gil
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, University "Alfonso X el Sabio", Madrid, Spain
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Fernando Pinedo
- Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Department of Pathology, Alcorcon, Spain
| | - Francesca Bruno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Ana B Rebolledo
- Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Department of Pathology, Alcorcon, Spain
| | - Juan J Montoya
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, University "Alfonso X el Sabio", Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel M Olazabal
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, University "Alfonso X el Sabio", Madrid, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Institut Neuropatologia - Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Italy.
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33
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A role for Tau protein in maintaining ribosomal DNA stability and cytidine deaminase-deficient cell survival. Nat Commun 2017; 8:693. [PMID: 28947735 PMCID: PMC5612969 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00633-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells from Bloom’s syndrome patients display genome instability due to a defective BLM and the downregulation of cytidine deaminase. Here, we use a genome-wide RNAi-synthetic lethal screen and transcriptomic profiling to identify genes enabling BLM-deficient and/or cytidine deaminase-deficient cells to tolerate constitutive DNA damage and replication stress. We found a synthetic lethal interaction between cytidine deaminase and microtubule-associated protein Tau deficiencies. Tau is overexpressed in cytidine deaminase-deficient cells, and its depletion worsens genome instability, compromising cell survival. Tau is recruited, along with upstream-binding factor, to ribosomal DNA loci. Tau downregulation decreases upstream binding factor recruitment, ribosomal RNA synthesis, ribonucleotide levels, and affects ribosomal DNA stability, leading to the formation of a new subclass of human ribosomal ultrafine anaphase bridges. We describe here Tau functions in maintaining survival of cytidine deaminase-deficient cells, and ribosomal DNA transcription and stability. Moreover, our findings for cancer tissues presenting concomitant cytidine deaminase underexpression and Tau upregulation open up new possibilities for anti-cancer treatment. Cytidine deaminase (CDA) deficiency leads to genome instability. Here the authors find a synthetic lethal interaction between CDA and the microtubule-associated protein Tau deficiencies, and report that Tau depletion affects rRNA synthesis, ribonucleotide pool balance, and rDNA stability.
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34
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Arendt T, Stieler JT, Holzer M. Tau and tauopathies. Brain Res Bull 2016; 126:238-292. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 333] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Bukar Maina M, Al-Hilaly YK, Serpell LC. Nuclear Tau and Its Potential Role in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomolecules 2016; 6:9. [PMID: 26751496 PMCID: PMC4808803 DOI: 10.3390/biom6010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau protein, found in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, forms aggregates in neurons that constitutes one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). For nearly four decades, research efforts have focused more on tau’s role in physiology and pathology in the context of the microtubules, even though, for over three decades, tau has been localised in the nucleus and the nucleolus. Its nuclear and nucleolar localisation had stimulated many questions regarding its role in these compartments. Data from cell culture, mouse brain, and the human brain suggests that nuclear tau could be essential for genome defense against cellular distress. However, its nature of translocation to the nucleus, its nuclear conformation and interaction with the DNA and other nuclear proteins highly suggest it could play multiple roles in the nucleus. To find efficient tau-based therapies, there is a need to understand more about the functional relevance of the varied cellular distribution of tau, identify whether specific tau transcripts or isoforms could predict tau’s localisation and function and how they are altered in diseases like AD. Here, we explore the cellular distribution of tau, its nuclear localisation and function and its possible involvement in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Bukar Maina
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, East Sussex, UK.
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medical Science, Gombe State University, Gombe 760, Nigeria.
| | - Youssra K Al-Hilaly
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, East Sussex, UK.
- Chemistry Department, College of Sciences, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.
| | - Louise C Serpell
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, East Sussex, UK.
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Hernández-Ortega K, Garcia-Esparcia P, Gil L, Lucas JJ, Ferrer I. Altered Machinery of Protein Synthesis in Alzheimer's: From the Nucleolus to the Ribosome. Brain Pathol 2015; 26:593-605. [PMID: 26512942 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosomes and protein synthesis have been reported to be altered in the cerebral cortex at advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Modifications in the hippocampus with disease progression have not been assessed. Sixty-seven cases including middle-aged (MA) and AD stages I-VI were analyzed. Nucleolar chaperones nucleolin, nucleophosmin and nucleoplasmin 3, and upstream binding transcription factor RNA polymerase I gene (UBTF) mRNAs are abnormally regulated and their protein levels reduced in AD. Histone modifications dimethylated histone H3K9 (H3K9me2) and acetylated histone H3K12 (H3K12ac) are decreased in CA1. Nuclear tau declines in CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG), and practically disappears in neurons with neurofibrillary tangles. Subunit 28 ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) expression is altered in CA1 and DG in AD. Several genes encoding ribosomal proteins are abnormally regulated and protein levels of translation initiation factors eIF2α, eIF3η and eIF5, and elongation factor eEF2, are altered in the CA1 region in AD. These findings show alterations in the protein synthesis machinery in AD involving the nucleolus, nucleus and ribosomes in the hippocampus in AD some of them starting at first stages (I-II) preceding neuron loss. These changes may lie behind reduced numbers of dendritic branches and reduced synapses of CA1 and DG neurons which cause hippocampal atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Hernández-Ortega
- Institute of Neuropathology, Service of Pathologic Anatomy, IDIBELL-Bellvitge University Hospital, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Neuropathology, CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Garcia-Esparcia
- Institute of Neuropathology, Service of Pathologic Anatomy, IDIBELL-Bellvitge University Hospital, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Neuropathology, CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Gil
- Department of Genetics, Medical School, Alfonso X el Sabio University (UAX), Villanueva de la Cañada; Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas (CIB), CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - José J Lucas
- Neuropathology, CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biology "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO) CSIC/UAM, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Institute of Neuropathology, Service of Pathologic Anatomy, IDIBELL-Bellvitge University Hospital, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Neuropathology, CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Madrid, Spain
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Morrow KA, Ochoa CD, Balczon R, Zhou C, Cauthen L, Alexeyev M, Schmalzer KM, Frank DW, Stevens T. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzymes U and Y induce a transmissible endothelial proteinopathy. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2015; 310:L337-53. [PMID: 26637633 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00103.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that Pseudomonas aeruginosa type 3 secretion system effectors exoenzymes Y and U (ExoY and ExoU) induce release of a high-molecular-weight endothelial tau, causing transmissible cell injury characteristic of an infectious proteinopathy. Both the bacterial delivery of ExoY and ExoU and the conditional expression of an activity-attenuated ExoU induced time-dependent pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell gap formation that was paralleled by the loss of intracellular tau and the concomitant appearance of high-molecular-weight extracellular tau. Transfer of the high-molecular-weight tau in filtered supernatant to naïve endothelial cells resulted in intracellular accumulation of tau clusters, which was accompanied by cell injury, interendothelial gap formation, decreased endothelial network stability in Matrigel, and increased lung permeability. Tau oligomer monoclonal antibodies captured monomeric tau from filtered supernatant but did not retrieve higher-molecular-weight endothelial tau and did not rescue the injurious effects of tau. Enrichment and transfer of high-molecular-weight tau to naïve cells was sufficient to cause injury. Thus we provide the first evidence for a pathophysiological stimulus that induces release and transmissibility of high-molecular-weight endothelial tau characteristic of an endothelial proteinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Adam Morrow
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Cristhiaan D Ochoa
- Physician-Scientist Training Program, Department of Medicine, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ron Balczon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Chun Zhou
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Laura Cauthen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Mikhail Alexeyev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Katherine M Schmalzer
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Dara W Frank
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Center for Infectious Disease Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Troy Stevens
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Department of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama;
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Rossi G, Tagliavini F. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration: old knowledge and new insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms of tau mutations. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:192. [PMID: 26528178 PMCID: PMC4604311 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases which includes tauopathies. In the central nervous system (CNS) tau is the major microtubule-associated protein (MAP) of neurons, promoting assembly and stabilization of microtubules (MTs) required for morphogenesis and axonal transport. Primary tauopathies are characterized by deposition of abnormal fibrils of tau in neuronal and glial cells, leading to neuronal death, brain atrophy and eventually dementia. In genetic tauopathies mutations of tau gene impair the ability of tau to bind to MTs, alter the normal ratio among tau isoforms and favor fibril formation. Recently, additional functions have been ascribed to tau and different pathogenetic mechanisms are then emerging. In fact, a role of tau in DNA protection and genome stability has been reported and chromosome aberrations have been found associated with tau mutations. Furthermore, newly structurally and functionally characterized mutations have suggested novel pathological features, such as a tendency to form oligomeric rather than fibrillar aggregates. Tau mutations affecting axonal transport and plasma membrane interaction have also been described. In this article, we will review the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying tau mutations, focusing in particular on the less common aspects, so far poorly investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomina Rossi
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Milano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Milano, Italy
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Multhaup G, Huber O, Buée L, Galas MC. Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Metabolites APP Intracellular Fragment (AICD), Aβ42, and Tau in Nuclear Roles. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:23515-22. [PMID: 26296890 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r115.677211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolites (amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides) and Tau are the main components of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the two histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease. Consequently, intense research has focused upon deciphering their physiological roles to understand their altered state in Alzheimer disease pathophysiology. Recently, the impact of APP metabolites (APP intracellular fragment (AICD) and Aβ) and Tau on the nucleus has emerged as an important, new topic. Here we discuss (i) how AICD, Aβ, and Tau reach the nucleus and how AICD and Aβ control protein expression at the transcriptional level, (ii) post-translational modifications of AICD, Aβ, and Tau, and (iii) what these three molecules have in common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Multhaup
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada,
| | - Otmar Huber
- the Institute of Biochemistry II, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, D-07743 Jena, Germany, and
| | - Luc Buée
- the Jean Pierre Aubert Research Centre, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Marie-Christine Galas
- the Jean Pierre Aubert Research Centre, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, INSERM, CHU-Lille, UMR-S 1172, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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40
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Camero S, Benítez MJ, Cuadros R, Hernández F, Ávila J, Jiménez JS. Thermodynamics of the interaction between Alzheimer's disease related tau protein and DNA. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104690. [PMID: 25126942 PMCID: PMC4134230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau hyperphosphorylation can be considered as one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and other tauophaties. Besides its well-known role as a microtubule associated protein, Tau displays a key function as a protector of genomic integrity in stress situations. Phosphorylation has been proven to regulate multiple processes including nuclear translocation of Tau. In this contribution, we are addressing the physicochemical nature of DNA-Tau interaction including the plausible influence of phosphorylation. By means of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) we measured the equilibrium constant and the free energy, enthalpy and entropy changes associated to the Tau-DNA complex formation. Our results show that unphosphorylated Tau binding to DNA is reversible. This fact is in agreement with the protective role attributed to nuclear Tau, which stops binding to DNA once the insult is over. According to our thermodynamic data, oscillations in the concentration of dephosphorylated Tau available to DNA must be the variable determining the extent of Tau binding and DNA protection. In addition, thermodynamics of the interaction suggest that hydrophobicity must represent an important contribution to the stability of the Tau-DNA complex. SPR results together with those from Tau expression in HEK cells show that phosphorylation induces changes in Tau protein which prevent it from binding to DNA. The phosphorylation-dependent regulation of DNA binding is analogous to the Tau-microtubules binding inhibition induced by phosphorylation. Our results suggest that hydrophobicity may control Tau location and DNA interaction and that impairment of this Tau-DNA interaction, due to Tau hyperphosphorylation, could contribute to Alzheimer's pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Camero
- Departamento de Química Física Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - María J. Benítez
- Departamento de Química Física Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Cuadros
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan S. Jiménez
- Departamento de Química Física Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Stevens TC, Ochoa CD, Morrow KA, Robson MJ, Prasain N, Zhou C, Alvarez DF, Frank DW, Balczon R, Stevens T. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme Y impairs endothelial cell proliferation and vascular repair following lung injury. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2014; 306:L915-24. [PMID: 24705722 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00135.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Exoenzyme Y (ExoY) is a Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin that is introduced into host cells through the type 3 secretion system (T3SS). Once inside the host cell cytoplasm, ExoY generates cyclic nucleotides that cause tau phosphorylation and microtubule breakdown. Microtubule breakdown causes interendothelial cell gap formation and tissue edema. Although ExoY transiently induces interendothelial cell gap formation, it remains unclear whether ExoY prevents repair of the endothelial cell barrier. Here, we test the hypothesis that ExoY intoxication impairs recovery of the endothelial cell barrier following gap formation, decreasing migration, proliferation, and lung repair. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) were infected with P. aeruginosa strains for 6 h, including one possessing an active ExoY (PA103 exoUexoT::Tc pUCPexoY; ExoY(+)), one with an inactive ExoY (PA103ΔexoUexoT::Tc pUCPexoY(K81M); ExoY(K81M)), and one that lacks PcrV required for a functional T3SS (ΔPcrV). ExoY(+) induced interendothelial cell gaps, whereas ExoY(K81M) and ΔPcrV did not promote gap formation. Following gap formation, bacteria were removed and endothelial cell repair was examined. PMVECs were unable to repair gaps even 3-5 days after infection. Serum-stimulated growth was greatly diminished following ExoY intoxication. Intratracheal inoculation of ExoY(+) and ExoY(K81M) caused severe pneumonia and acute lung injury. However, whereas the pulmonary endothelial cell barrier was functionally improved 1 wk following ExoY(K81M) infection, pulmonary endothelium was unable to restrict the hyperpermeability response to elevated hydrostatic pressure following ExoY(+) infection. In conclusion, ExoY is an edema factor that chronically impairs endothelial cell barrier integrity following lung injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor C Stevens
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama;
| | - Cristhiaan D Ochoa
- Physician-Scientist Training Program, Department of Medicine, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - K Adam Morrow
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Matthew J Robson
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Nutan Prasain
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Chun Zhou
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Diego F Alvarez
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Department of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Dara W Frank
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Center for Infectious Disease Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Ron Balczon
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Troy Stevens
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Department of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama; Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
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Lu J, Li T, He R, Bartlett PF, Götz J. Visualizing the microtubule-associated protein tau in the nucleus. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2014; 57:422-31. [PMID: 24643416 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-014-4635-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although tau is mainly known as an axonal microtubule-associated protein, many studies indicate that it is not restricted to this subcellular compartment. Assessing tau's subcellular distribution, however, is not trivial as is evident from transgenic mouse studies. When human tau is over-expressed, it can be immunohistochemically localized to axons and the somatodendritic domain, modeling what is found in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Yet, in wild-type mice, despite its abundance, tau is difficult to visualize even in the axon. It is even more challenging to detect this protein in the nucleus, where tau has been proposed to protect DNA from damage. To establish a framework for future studies into tau's nuclear functions, we compared several methods to visualize endogenous nuclear tau in cell lines and mouse brain. While depending on the fixation and permeabilization protocol, we were able to detect nuclear tau in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, we failed to do so in N2a murine neuroblastoma cells. As a second method we used subcellular fractionation of mouse tissue and found that in the nucleus tau is mainly present in a hypophosphorylated form. When either full-length or truncated human tau was expressed, both accumulated in the cytoplasm, but were also found in the nuclear fraction. Because subcellular fractionation methods have their limitations, we finally isolated nuclei to probe for nuclear tau and found that the nuclei were free of cytoplasmic contamination. Together our analysis identifies several protocols for detecting tau in the nucleus where it is found in a less phosphorylated form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lu
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Pathological implications of nucleic acid interactions with proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Biophys Rev 2014; 6:97-110. [PMID: 28509960 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-013-0132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding disorders (PMDs) refer to a group of diseases related to the misfolding of particular proteins that aggregate and deposit in the cells and tissues of humans and other mammals. The mechanisms that trigger protein misfolding and aggregation are still not fully understood. Increasing experimental evidence indicates that abnormal interactions between PMD-related proteins and nucleic acids (NAs) can induce conformational changes. Here, we discuss these protein-NA interactions and address the role of deoxyribonucleic (DNA) and ribonucleic (RNA) acid molecules in the conformational conversion of different proteins that aggregate in PMDs, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and prion diseases. Studies on the affinity, stability, and specificity of proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases and NAs are specifically addressed. A landscape of reciprocal effects resulting from the binding of prion proteins, amyloid-β peptides, tau proteins, huntingtin, and α-synuclein are presented here to clarify the possible role of NAs, not only as encoders of genetic information but also in triggering PMDs.
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Rossi G, Conconi D, Panzeri E, Paoletta L, Piccoli E, Ferretti MG, Mangieri M, Ruggerone M, Dalprà L, Tagliavini F. Mutations in MAPT give rise to aneuploidy in animal models of tauopathy. Neurogenetics 2013; 15:31-40. [PMID: 24218087 PMCID: PMC3968519 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-013-0380-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a major microtubule-associated protein in brain neurons. Its misfolding and accumulation cause neurodegenerative diseases characterized by brain atrophy and dementia, named tauopathies. Genetic forms are caused by mutations of microtubule-associated protein tau gene (MAPT). Tau is expressed also in nonneural tissues such as lymphocytes. Tau has been recently recognized as a multifunctional protein, and in particular, some findings supported a role in genome stability. In fact, peripheral cells of patients affected by frontotemporal dementia carrying different MAPT mutations showed structural and numerical chromosome aberrations. The aim of this study was to assess chromosome stability in peripheral cell from two animal models of genetic tauopathy, JNPL3 and PS19 mouse strains expressing the human tau carrying the P301L and P301S mutations, respectively, to confirm the previous data on humans. After demonstrating the presence of mutated tau in spleen, we performed standard cytogenetic analysis of splenic lymphocytes from homozygous and hemizygous JNPL3, hemizygous PS19, and relevant controls. Losses and gains of chromosomes (aneuploidy) were evaluated. We detected a significantly higher level of aneuploidy in JNPL3 and PS19 than in control mice. Moreover, in JNPL3, the aneuploidy was higher in homozygotes than in hemizygotes, demonstrating a gene dose effect, which appeared also to be age independent. Our results show that mutated tau is associated with chromosome instability. It is conceivable to hypothesize that in genetic tauopathies the aneuploidy may be present also in central nervous system, possibly contributing to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomina Rossi
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133, Milan, Italy,
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Simón D, Hernández F, Avila J. The involvement of cholinergic neurons in the spreading of tau pathology. Front Neurol 2013; 4:74. [PMID: 23785352 PMCID: PMC3683623 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Long time ago, it was described the selective loss of cholinergic neurons during the development of Alzheimer disease (AD). Recently, it has been suggested that tau protein may play a role in that loss of cholinergic neurons through a mechanism involving the interaction of extracellular tau with M1/M3 muscarinic receptors present in the cholinergic neurons. This interaction between tau and muscarinic receptors may be a way, although not the only one, to explain the spreading of tau pathology occurring in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Simón
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM Madrid, Spain ; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas Madrid, Spain
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Mendoza J, Sekiya M, Taniguchi T, Iijima KM, Wang R, Ando K. Global analysis of phosphorylation of tau by the checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2 in vitro. J Proteome Res 2013; 12:2654-65. [PMID: 23550703 DOI: 10.1021/pr400008f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau is thought to contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. We previously showed that DNA damage-activated cell cycle checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2 phosphorylate tau at an AD-related site and enhance tau toxicity, suggesting potential roles of these kinases in AD. The purpose of this study is to systematically identify which sites in tau are directly phosphorylated by Chk1 and Chk2. Using recombinant human tau phosphorylated by Chk1 and Chk2 in vitro, we first analyzed tau phosphorylation at the AD-related sites by Western blot with phospho-tau-specific antibodies. Second, to globally identify phosphorylated sites in tau, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS(3)) was employed. These systematic analyses identified a total of 27 Ser/Thr residues as Chk1- or Chk2- target sites. None of them were proline-directed kinase targets. Many of these sites are located within the microtubule-binding domain and C-terminal domain, whose phosphorylation has been shown to reduce tau binding to microtubules and/or has been implicated in tau toxicity. Among these 27 sites, 13 sites have been identified to be phosphorylated in AD brains. Since DNA damage is accumulated in diseased brains, Chk1 and Chk2 may be involved in tau phosphorylation and toxicity in AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhoana Mendoza
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, Box 1498, New York, New York 10029, United States
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Abstract
Tauopathies are age-related neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by the presence of aggregates of abnormally phosphorylated tau. As tau was originally discovered as a microtubule-associated protein, it has been hypothesized that neurodegeneration results from a loss of the ability of tau to associate with microtubules. However, tau has been found to have other functions aside from the promotion and stabilization of microtubule assembly. It is conceivable that such functions may be affected by the abnormal phosphorylation of tau and might have consequences for neuronal function or viability. This chapter provides an overview of tau structure, functions, and its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Hanger DP, Noble W. Functional implications of glycogen synthase kinase-3-mediated tau phosphorylation. Int J Alzheimers Dis 2011; 2011:352805. [PMID: 21776376 PMCID: PMC3139124 DOI: 10.4061/2011/352805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is primarily a neuronal microtubule-associated protein that has functions related to the stabilisation of microtubules. Phosphorylation of tau is an important dynamic and regulatory element involved in the binding of tau to tubulin. Thus, highly phosphorylated tau is more likely to be present in the cytosolic compartment of neurons, whereas reduced phosphate burden allows tau to bind to and stabilise the microtubule cytoskeleton. Highly phosphorylated forms of tau are deposited in the brain in a range of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration associated with Pick bodies. A key candidate kinase for both physiological and pathological tau phosphorylation is glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). Multiple phosphorylation sites have been identified on tau exposed to GSK-3 in vitro and in cells. In this review, we highlight recent data suggesting a role for GSK-3 activity on physiological tau function and on tau dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane P Hanger
- Department of Neuroscience (P037), MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
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Sultan A, Nesslany F, Violet M, Bégard S, Loyens A, Talahari S, Mansuroglu Z, Marzin D, Sergeant N, Humez S, Colin M, Bonnefoy E, Buée L, Galas MC. Nuclear tau, a key player in neuronal DNA protection. J Biol Chem 2010; 286:4566-75. [PMID: 21131359 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.199976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 288] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau, a neuronal protein involved in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease, which is primarily described as a microtubule-associated protein, has also been observed in the nuclei of neuronal and non-neuronal cells. However, the function of the nuclear form of Tau in neurons has not yet been elucidated. In this work, we demonstrate that acute oxidative stress and mild heat stress (HS) induce the accumulation of dephosphorylated Tau in neuronal nuclei. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we demonstrate that the capacity of endogenous Tau to interact with neuronal DNA increased following HS. Comet assays performed on both wild-type and Tau-deficient neuronal cultures showed that Tau fully protected neuronal genomic DNA against HS-induced damage. Interestingly, HS-induced DNA damage observed in Tau-deficient cells was completely rescued after the overexpression of human Tau targeted to the nucleus. These results highlight a novel role for nuclear Tau as a key player in early stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Sultan
- Inserm UMR837, Alzheimer and Tauopathies, 1 rue Michel Polonovski, 59045 Lille, France
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Leugers CJ, Lee G. Tau potentiates nerve growth factor-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and neurite initiation without a requirement for microtubule binding. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:19125-34. [PMID: 20375017 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.105387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein Tau is known to bind to and stabilize microtubules, thereby regulating microtubule dynamics. However, recent evidence has indicated that Tau can also interact with various components of intracellular signaling pathways, leading to the possibility that Tau might have a role in signal transduction. Here we provide evidence that during growth factor stimulation of neuronal cells, Tau has functions in advance of the neurite elongation stage. Using Tau-depleted neuronal cell lines, we demonstrate that Tau is required for neurite initiation in a manner that does not involve its microtubule binding function. In addition, we demonstrate that Tau potentiates AP-1 transcription factor activation in response to nerve growth factor (NGF). The effect of Tau on AP-1 activation is mediated through its ability to potentiate the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which occurs in response to both NGF and epidermal growth factor. Phosphorylation of Tau at Thr-231 also occurs in response to NGF and is required for Tau to impact on MAPK signaling, whereas the ability of Tau to bind to microtubules is not required. Together, these findings indicate a new functional role for Tau in early neuronal development independent of its established role in microtubule stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad J Leugers
- Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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