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Nakaya T. Release of FUS into the extracellular space is regulated by its amino-terminal prion-like domain. FEBS Lett 2024. [PMID: 39737526 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.15086] [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: 08/22/2024] [Revised: 11/20/2024] [Accepted: 11/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/01/2025]
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a causative factor of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is believed to propagate pathologically by transmission from cell to cell. However, the mechanism underlying FUS release from cells, which is a critical step for the propagation system, remains poorly understood. This study conducted an analysis of the release of human and mouse FUS from neurons, revealing that human FUS is significantly released into the media compared to its mouse counterpart. Further study using chimeric FUS proteins identified the amino-terminal region of human FUS as essential for its release. These findings indicate that human FUS is released directly from neurons and underscore the novel functional role of its amino-terminal region in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Nakaya
- School of Pharmacy at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, Fukuoka, Japan
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2
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Catterson JH, Mouofo EN, López De Toledo Soler I, Lean G, Dlamini S, Liddell P, Voong G, Katsinelos T, Wang YC, Schoovaerts N, Verstreken P, Spires-Jones TL, Durrant CS. Drosophila appear resistant to trans-synaptic tau propagation. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae256. [PMID: 39130515 PMCID: PMC11316205 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, prompting extensive efforts to pinpoint novel therapeutic targets for effective intervention. Among the hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease is the development of neurofibrillary tangles comprised of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, whose progressive spread throughout the brain is associated with neuronal death. Trans-synaptic propagation of tau has been observed in mouse models, and indirect evidence for tau spread via synapses has been observed in human Alzheimer's disease. Halting tau propagation is a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease; thus, a scalable model system to screen for modifiers of tau spread would be very useful for the field. To this end, we sought to emulate the trans-synaptic spread of human tau in Drosophila melanogaster. Employing the trans-Tango circuit mapping technique, we investigated whether tau spreads between synaptically connected neurons. Immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging were used to look for tau propagation. Examination of hundreds of flies expressing four different human tau constructs in two distinct neuronal populations reveals a robust resistance in Drosophila to the trans-synaptic spread of human tau. This resistance persisted in lines with concurrent expression of amyloid-β, in lines with global human tau knock-in to provide a template for human tau in downstream neurons, and with manipulations of temperature. These negative data are important for the field as we establish that Drosophila expressing human tau in subsets of neurons are unlikely to be useful to perform screens to find mechanisms to reduce the trans-synaptic spread of tau. The inherent resistance observed in Drosophila may serve as a valuable clue, offering insights into strategies for impeding tau spread in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Catterson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Edmond N Mouofo
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | | | - Gillian Lean
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Stella Dlamini
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Phoebe Liddell
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Graham Voong
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Taxiarchis Katsinelos
- Schaller Research Group at the University of Heidelberg and the DKFZ, German Cancer Research Center, Proteostasis in Neurodegenerative Disease (B180), INF 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, INF 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yu-Chun Wang
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nils Schoovaerts
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrik Verstreken
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Department of Neurosciences, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Claire S Durrant
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
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3
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Yoshida S, Hasegawa T. Deciphering the prion-like behavior of pathogenic protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurochem Int 2022; 155:105307. [PMID: 35181393 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are hitherto classified based on their core clinical features, the anatomical distribution of neurodegeneration, and the cell populations mainly affected. On the other hand, the wealth of neuropathological, genetic, molecular and biochemical studies have identified the existence of distinct insoluble protein aggregates in the affected brain regions. These findings have spread the use of a collective term, proteinopathy, for neurodegenerative disorders with particular type of structurally altered protein accumulation. Particularly, a recent breakthrough in this field came with the discovery that these protein aggregates can transfer from one cell to another, thereby converting normal proteins to potentially toxic, misfolded species in a prion-like manner. In this review, we focus specifically on the molecular and cellular basis that underlies the seeding activity and transcellular spreading phenomenon of neurodegeneration-related protein aggregates, and discuss how these events contribute to the disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Yoshida
- Division of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience & Sensory Organs, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 9808574, Japan; Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Yonezawa Hospital, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-1202, Japan
| | - Takafumi Hasegawa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience & Sensory Organs, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 9808574, Japan.
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4
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Phenotypic diversity in ALS and the role of poly-conformational protein misfolding. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:41-55. [PMID: 32930869 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02222-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In many types of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS), mutations cause proteins to gain toxic properties that mediate neurodegenerative processes. It is becoming increasingly clear that the proteins involved in ALS, and those responsible for a host of other neurodegenerative diseases, share many characteristics with a growing number of prion diseases. ALS is a heterogenous disease in which the majority of cases are sporadic in their etiology. Studies investigating the inherited forms of the disease are now beginning to provide evidence that some of this heterogeneity may be due to the existence of distinct conformations that ALS-linked proteins can adopt to produce the equivalent of prion strains. In this review, we discuss the in vitro and in vivo evidence that has been generated to better understand the characteristics of these proteins and how their tertiary structure may impact the disease phenotype.
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Tittelmeier J, Nachman E, Nussbaum-Krammer C. Molecular Chaperones: A Double-Edged Sword in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:581374. [PMID: 33132902 PMCID: PMC7572858 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.581374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant accumulation of misfolded proteins into amyloid deposits is a hallmark in many age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Pathological inclusions and the associated toxicity appear to spread through the nervous system in a characteristic pattern during the disease. This has been attributed to a prion-like behavior of amyloid-type aggregates, which involves self-replication of the pathological conformation, intercellular transfer, and the subsequent seeding of native forms of the same protein in the neighboring cell. Molecular chaperones play a major role in maintaining cellular proteostasis by assisting the (re)-folding of cellular proteins to ensure their function or by promoting the degradation of terminally misfolded proteins to prevent damage. With increasing age, however, the capacity of this proteostasis network tends to decrease, which enables the manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, there has been a plethora of studies investigating how and when chaperones interact with disease-related proteins, which have advanced our understanding of the role of chaperones in protein misfolding diseases. This review article focuses on the steps of prion-like propagation from initial misfolding and self-templated replication to intercellular spreading and discusses the influence that chaperones have on these various steps, highlighting both the positive and adverse consequences chaperone action can have. Understanding how chaperones alleviate and aggravate disease progression is vital for the development of therapeutic strategies to combat these debilitating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tittelmeier
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eliana Nachman
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Nussbaum-Krammer
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
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6
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Zakharova M. Modern approaches in gene therapy of motor neuron diseases. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:2634-2655. [PMID: 32638429 DOI: 10.1002/med.21705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron disorders are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by muscle weakness, loss of ambulation, respiratory insufficiency, leading to an early death. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are the most common and fatal motor neuron diseases. The last 3 years became very successful for novel gene therapy approaches in SMA in infants. Two innovative drugs-nusinersen (Spinraza) and onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) have been approved by health authorities. The numerous molecular and genetic overlaps between different neurodegenerative diseases are of great importance in the development of innovative therapeutic strategies, including viral vector therapy and RNA modulating approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Zakharova
- Sixth Neurology Department (Department of Neuroinfectious Diseases), Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia
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7
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Feuillette S, Charbonnier C, Frebourg T, Campion D, Lecourtois M. A Connected Network of Interacting Proteins Is Involved in Human-Tau Toxicity in Drosophila. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:68. [PMID: 32116515 PMCID: PMC7026268 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the presence of aggregates of abnormally phosphorylated Tau. Deciphering the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead from the alteration of Tau biology to neuronal death depends on the identification of Tau cellular partners. Combining genetic and transcriptomic analyses in Drosophila, we identified 77 new modulators of human Tau-induced toxicity, bringing to 301 the number of Tau genetic interactors identified so far in flies. Network analysis showed that 229 of these genetic modulators constitute a connected network. The addition of 77 new genes strengthened the network structure, increased the intergenic connectivity and brought up key hubs with high connectivities, namely Src64B/FYN, Src42A/FRK, kuz/ADAM10, heph/PTBP1, scrib/SCRIB, and Cam/CALM3. Interestingly, we established for the first time a genetic link between Tau-induced toxicity and ADAM10, a recognized Alzheimer Disease protective factor. In addition, our data support the importance of the presynaptic compartment in mediating Tau toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Feuillette
- UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CNR-MAJ, F 76000, Department of Genetics, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie Université, Rouen, France
| | - Camille Charbonnier
- UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CNR-MAJ, F 76000, Department of Genetics, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie Université, Rouen, France
| | - Thierry Frebourg
- UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CNR-MAJ, F 76000, Department of Genetics, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie Université, Rouen, France
| | - Dominique Campion
- UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CNR-MAJ, F 76000, Department of Genetics, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie Université, Rouen, France.,Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
| | - Magalie Lecourtois
- UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, CNR-MAJ, F 76000, Department of Genetics, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie Université, Rouen, France
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8
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Mejzini R, Flynn LL, Pitout IL, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Akkari PA. ALS Genetics, Mechanisms, and Therapeutics: Where Are We Now? Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1310. [PMID: 31866818 PMCID: PMC6909825 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 484] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The scientific landscape surrounding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) continues to shift as the number of genes associated with the disease risk and pathogenesis, and the cellular processes involved, continues to grow. Despite decades of intense research and over 50 potentially causative or disease-modifying genes identified, etiology remains unexplained and treatment options remain limited for the majority of ALS patients. Various factors have contributed to the slow progress in understanding and developing therapeutics for this disease. Here, we review the genetic basis of ALS, highlighting factors that have contributed to the elusiveness of genetic heritability. The most commonly mutated ALS-linked genes are reviewed with an emphasis on disease-causing mechanisms. The cellular processes involved in ALS pathogenesis are discussed, with evidence implicating their involvement in ALS summarized. Past and present therapeutic strategies and the benefits and limitations of the model systems available to ALS researchers are discussed with future directions for research that may lead to effective treatment strategies outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Mejzini
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Loren L. Flynn
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ianthe L. Pitout
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Steve D. Wilton
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - P. Anthony Akkari
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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9
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Monahan ZT, Rhoads SN, Yee DS, Shewmaker FP. Yeast Models of Prion-Like Proteins That Cause Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Reveal Pathogenic Mechanisms. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:453. [PMID: 30618605 PMCID: PMC6297178 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many proteins involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are remarkably similar to proteins that form prions in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These ALS-associated proteins are not orthologs of yeast prion proteins, but are similar in having long, intrinsically disordered domains that are rich in hydrophilic amino acids. These so-called prion-like domains are particularly aggregation-prone and are hypothesized to participate in the mislocalization and misfolding processes that occur in the motor neurons of ALS patients. Methods developed for characterizing yeast prions have been adapted to studying ALS-linked proteins containing prion-like domains. These yeast models have yielded major discoveries, including identification of new ALS genetic risk factors, new ALS-causing gene mutations and insights into how disease mutations enhance protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Frank P. Shewmaker
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Polanco JC, Li C, Bodea LG, Martinez-Marmol R, Meunier FA, Götz J. Amyloid-β and tau complexity — towards improved biomarkers and targeted therapies. Nat Rev Neurol 2017; 14:22-39. [DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2017.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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