1
|
Wlodarczyk J, Bhattacharyya R, Dore K, Ho GPH, Martin DDO, Mejias R, Hochrainer K. Altered Protein Palmitoylation as Disease Mechanism in Neurodegenerative Disorders. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1225242024. [PMID: 39358031 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1225-24.2024] [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: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Palmitoylation, a lipid-based posttranslational protein modification, plays a crucial role in regulating various aspects of neuronal function through altering protein membrane-targeting, stabilities, and protein-protein interaction profiles. Disruption of palmitoylation has recently garnered attention as disease mechanism in neurodegeneration. Many proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and associated neuronal dysfunction, including but not limited to amyloid precursor protein, β-secretase (BACE1), postsynaptic density protein 95, Fyn, synaptotagmin-11, mutant huntingtin, and mutant superoxide dismutase 1, undergo palmitoylation, and recent evidence suggests that altered palmitoylation contributes to the pathological characteristics of these proteins and associated disruption of cellular processes. In addition, dysfunction of enzymes that catalyze palmitoylation and depalmitoylation has been connected to the development of neurological disorders. This review highlights some of the latest advances in our understanding of palmitoylation regulation in neurodegenerative diseases and explores potential therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Wlodarczyk
- Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Raja Bhattacharyya
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Kim Dore
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, UCSD, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Gary P H Ho
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Dale D O Martin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Rebeca Mejias
- Department of Physiology, School of Biology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, 41012 Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Sevilla, IBIS/Universidad de Sevilla/Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/Junta de Andalucía/CSIC, Seville 41013, Spain
| | - Karin Hochrainer
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10065
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hu D, Li Y, Wang X, Zou H, Li Z, Chen W, Meng Y, Wang Y, Li Q, Liao F, Wu K, Wu J, Li G, Wang W. Palmitoylation of NLRP3 Modulates Inflammasome Activation and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Development. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 213:481-493. [PMID: 38949555 PMCID: PMC11299489 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant activity of NLRP3 has been shown associations with severe diseases. Palmitoylation is a kind of protein post-translational modification, which has been shown to regulate cancer development and the innate immune system. Here, we showed that NLRP3 is palmitoylated at Cys419 and that palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC17 is the predominant enzyme that mediates NLRP3 palmitoylation and promotes NLRP3 activation by interacting with NLRP3 and facilitating NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7)-NLRP3 interactions. Blockade of NLRP3 palmitoylation by a palmitoylation inhibitor, 2-bromopalmitate, effectively inhibited NLRP3 activation in vitro. Also, in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model in mice, 2-bromopalmitate application could attenuate weight loss, improve the survival rate, and rescue pathological changes in the colon of mice. Overall, our study reveals that palmitoylation of NLPR3 modulates inflammasome activation and inflammatory bowel disease development. We propose that drugs targeting NLRP3 palmitoylation could be promising candidates in the treatment of NLRP3-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dingwen Hu
- Clinical Experimental Center, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuting Li
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianyang Wang
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haimei Zou
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zonghui Li
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weijie Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Meng
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingchong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Liao
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kailang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianguo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Geng Li
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbiao Wang
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bonavita R, Di Martino R, Cortone G, Prodomo A, Di Gennaro M, Scerra G, Panico V, Nuzzo S, Salvatore M, Williams SV, Vitale F, Caporaso MG, D’Agostino M, Pisani FM, Fleming A, Renna M. A method for the analysis of the oligomerization profile of the Huntington's disease-associated, aggregation-prone mutant huntingtin protein by isopycnic ultracentrifugation. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1420691. [PMID: 38993838 PMCID: PMC11236693 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1420691] [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: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Conformational diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases as well as ataxias and fronto-temporal disorders, are part of common class of neurological disorders characterised by the aggregation and progressive accumulation of mutant proteins which display aberrant conformation. In particular, Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by mutations leading to an abnormal expansion in the polyglutamine (poly-Q) tract of the huntingtin protein (HTT), leading to the formation of inclusion bodies in neurons of affected patients. Furthermore, recent experimental evidence is challenging the conventional view of the disease by revealing the ability of mutant HTT to be transferred between cells by means of extracellular vesicles (EVs), allowing the mutant protein to seed oligomers involving both the mutant and wild type forms of the protein. There is still no successful strategy to treat HD. In addition, the current understanding of the biological processes leading to the oligomerization and aggregation of proteins bearing the poly-Q tract has been derived from studies conducted on isolated poly-Q monomers and oligomers, whose structural properties are still unclear and often inconsistent. Here we describe a standardised biochemical approach to analyse by isopycnic ultracentrifugation the oligomerization of the N-terminal fragment of mutant HTT. The dynamic range of our method allows one to detect large and heterogeneous HTT complexes. Hence, it could be harnessed for the identification of novel molecular determinants responsible for the aggregation and the prion-like spreading properties of HTT in the context of HD. Equally, it provides a tool to test novel small molecules or bioactive compounds designed to inhibit the aggregation of mutant HTT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Bonavita
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Di Martino
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology “G. Salvatore”, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cortone
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonello Prodomo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Di Gennaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Endocrinology and Experimental Oncology “G. Salvatore”, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Scerra
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentino Panico
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Sarah V. Williams
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fulvia Vitale
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Gabriella Caporaso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo D’Agostino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca M. Pisani
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Angeleen Fleming
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Maurizio Renna
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martin DDO, Sanders SS. Let's get fat: emergence of S-acylation as a therapeutic target in Huntington disease. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1385-1392. [PMID: 38695682 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231290] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Protein mislocalization is a key initial step in neurodegeneration, regardless of etiology, and has been linked to changes in the dynamic addition of saturated fatty acids to proteins, a process known as S-acylation. With the advent of new techniques to study S-acylation and the recent discovery of new enzymes that facilitate protein deacylation, novel small molecules are emerging as potential new therapeutic treatments. Huntington disease (HD) is a devastating, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric deficits caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene. The protein that is mutated in HD, huntingtin, is less S-acylated which is associated with mutant HTT aggregation and cytotoxicity. Recent exciting findings indicate that restoring S-acylation in HD models using small molecule inhibitors of the deacylation enzymes is protective. Herein, we set out to describe the known roles of S-acylation in HD and how it can be targeted for therapeutic design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dale D O Martin
- NeurdyPhagy Lab, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shaun S Sanders
- NeuroPalm Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
S Mesquita F, Abrami L, Linder ME, Bamji SX, Dickinson BC, van der Goot FG. Mechanisms and functions of protein S-acylation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:488-509. [PMID: 38355760 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00700-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, protein S-acylation (often referred to as S-palmitoylation) has emerged as an important regulator of vital signalling pathways. S-Acylation is a reversible post-translational modification that involves the attachment of a fatty acid to a protein. Maintenance of the equilibrium between protein S-acylation and deacylation has demonstrated profound effects on various cellular processes, including innate immunity, inflammation, glucose metabolism and fat metabolism, as well as on brain and heart function. This Review provides an overview of current understanding of S-acylation and deacylation enzymes, their spatiotemporal regulation by sophisticated multilayered mechanisms, and their influence on protein function, cellular processes and physiological pathways. Furthermore, we examine how disruptions in protein S-acylation are associated with a broad spectrum of diseases from cancer to autoinflammatory disorders and neurological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco S Mesquita
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laurence Abrami
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maurine E Linder
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Shernaz X Bamji
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - F Gisou van der Goot
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liao D, Huang Y, Liu D, Zhang H, Shi X, Li X, Luo P. The role of s-palmitoylation in neurological diseases: implication for zDHHC family. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1342830. [PMID: 38293675 PMCID: PMC10824933 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1342830] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
S-palmitoylation is a reversible posttranslational modification, and the palmitoylation reaction in human-derived cells is mediated by the zDHHC family, which is composed of S-acyltransferase enzymes that possess the DHHC (Asp-His-His-Cys) structural domain. zDHHC proteins form an autoacylation intermediate, which then attaches the fatty acid to cysteine a residue in the target protein. zDHHC proteins sublocalize in different neuronal structures and exert dif-ferential effects on neurons. In humans, many zDHHC proteins are closely related to human neu-rological disor-ders. This review focuses on a variety of neurological disorders, such as AD (Alz-heimer's disease), HD (Huntington's disease), SCZ (schizophrenia), XLID (X-linked intellectual disability), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and glioma. In this paper, we will discuss and summarize the research progress regarding the role of zDHHC proteins in these neu-rological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Liao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yutao Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Haofuzi Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xinyu Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhong Q, Xiao X, Qiu Y, Xu Z, Chen C, Chong B, Zhao X, Hai S, Li S, An Z, Dai L. Protein posttranslational modifications in health and diseases: Functions, regulatory mechanisms, and therapeutic implications. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e261. [PMID: 37143582 PMCID: PMC10152985 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) refer to the breaking or generation of covalent bonds on the backbones or amino acid side chains of proteins and expand the diversity of proteins, which provides the basis for the emergence of organismal complexity. To date, more than 650 types of protein modifications, such as the most well-known phosphorylation, ubiquitination, glycosylation, methylation, SUMOylation, short-chain and long-chain acylation modifications, redox modifications, and irreversible modifications, have been described, and the inventory is still increasing. By changing the protein conformation, localization, activity, stability, charges, and interactions with other biomolecules, PTMs ultimately alter the phenotypes and biological processes of cells. The homeostasis of protein modifications is important to human health. Abnormal PTMs may cause changes in protein properties and loss of protein functions, which are closely related to the occurrence and development of various diseases. In this review, we systematically introduce the characteristics, regulatory mechanisms, and functions of various PTMs in health and diseases. In addition, the therapeutic prospects in various diseases by targeting PTMs and associated regulatory enzymes are also summarized. This work will deepen the understanding of protein modifications in health and diseases and promote the discovery of diagnostic and prognostic markers and drug targets for diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhong
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xina Xiao
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yijie Qiu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Chunyu Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Baochen Chong
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xinjun Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Shan Hai
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Shuangqing Li
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Zhenmei An
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Lunzhi Dai
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismGeneral Practice Ward/International Medical Center WardGeneral Practice Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ramzan F, Abrar F, Mishra GG, Liao LMQ, Martin DDO. Lost in traffic: consequences of altered palmitoylation in neurodegeneration. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1166125. [PMID: 37324388 PMCID: PMC10268010 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1166125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the first molecular events in neurodegenerative diseases, regardless of etiology, is protein mislocalization. Protein mislocalization in neurons is often linked to proteostasis deficiencies leading to the build-up of misfolded proteins and/or organelles that contributes to cellular toxicity and cell death. By understanding how proteins mislocalize in neurons, we can develop novel therapeutics that target the earliest stages of neurodegeneration. A critical mechanism regulating protein localization and proteostasis in neurons is the protein-lipid modification S-acylation, the reversible addition of fatty acids to cysteine residues. S-acylation is more commonly referred to as S-palmitoylation or simply palmitoylation, which is the addition of the 16-carbon fatty acid palmitate to proteins. Like phosphorylation, palmitoylation is highly dynamic and tightly regulated by writers (i.e., palmitoyl acyltransferases) and erasers (i.e., depalmitoylating enzymes). The hydrophobic fatty acid anchors proteins to membranes; thus, the reversibility allows proteins to be re-directed to and from membranes based on local signaling factors. This is particularly important in the nervous system, where axons (output projections) can be meters long. Any disturbance in protein trafficking can have dire consequences. Indeed, many proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases are palmitoylated, and many more have been identified in palmitoyl-proteomic studies. It follows that palmitoyl acyl transferase enzymes have also been implicated in numerous diseases. In addition, palmitoylation can work in concert with cellular mechanisms, like autophagy, to affect cell health and protein modifications, such as acetylation, nitrosylation, and ubiquitination, to affect protein function and turnover. Limited studies have further revealed a sexually dimorphic pattern of protein palmitoylation. Therefore, palmitoylation can have wide-reaching consequences in neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
9
|
Santarelli S, Londero C, Soldano A, Candelaresi C, Todeschini L, Vernizzi L, Bellosta P. Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases induced by proteinopathies. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1082047. [PMID: 37274187 PMCID: PMC10232775 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1082047] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathies are a large group of neurodegenerative diseases caused by both genetic and sporadic mutations in particular genes which can lead to alterations of the protein structure and to the formation of aggregates, especially toxic for neurons. Autophagy is a key mechanism for clearing those aggregates and its function has been strongly associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), hence mutations in both pathways have been associated with the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly those induced by protein misfolding and accumulation of aggregates. Many crucial discoveries regarding the molecular and cellular events underlying the role of autophagy in these diseases have come from studies using Drosophila models. Indeed, despite the physiological and morphological differences between the fly and the human brain, most of the biochemical and molecular aspects regulating protein homeostasis, including autophagy, are conserved between the two species.In this review, we will provide an overview of the most common neurodegenerative proteinopathies, which include PolyQ diseases (Huntington's disease, Spinocerebellar ataxia 1, 2, and 3), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (C9orf72, SOD1, TDP-43, FUS), Alzheimer's disease (APP, Tau) Parkinson's disease (a-syn, parkin and PINK1, LRRK2) and prion diseases, highlighting the studies using Drosophila that have contributed to understanding the conserved mechanisms and elucidating the role of autophagy in these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Santarelli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Chiara Londero
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Alessia Soldano
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Carlotta Candelaresi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Leonardo Todeschini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Luisa Vernizzi
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Paola Bellosta
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Prowse ENP, Chaudhary AR, Sharon D, Hendricks AG. Huntingtin S421 phosphorylation increases kinesin and dynein engagement on early endosomes and lysosomes. Biophys J 2023; 122:1168-1184. [PMID: 36772794 PMCID: PMC10111264 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntingtin (HTT) is a scaffolding protein that recruits motor proteins to vesicular cargoes, enabling it to regulate kinesin-1, dynein, and myosin-VI-dependent transport. To maintain the native stoichiometry of HTT with its interacting partners, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to induce a phosphomimetic mutation of the endogenous HTT at S421 (HTT-S421D). Using single-particle tracking, optical tweezers, and immunofluorescence, we examined the effects of this mutation on the motility of early endosomes and lysosomes. In HTT-S421D cells, lysosomes exhibit longer displacements and higher processive fractions compared with wild-type (HTT-WT) cells. Kinesins and dyneins exert greater forces on early endosomes and lysosomes in cells expressing HTT-S421D. In addition, endosomes bind to microtubules faster and are more resistant to detachment under load. The recruitment of kinesins and dyneins to microtubules is enhanced in HTT-S421D cells. In contrast, overexpression of HTT had variable effects on the processivity, displacement, and directional bias of both early endosomes and lysosomes. These data indicate that phosphorylation of the endogenous HTT causes early endosomes and lysosomes to move longer distances and more processively by recruiting and activating both kinesin-1 and dynein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily N P Prowse
- Bioengineering Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - David Sharon
- Bioengineering Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adam G Hendricks
- Bioengineering Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Buszka A, Pytyś A, Colvin D, Włodarczyk J, Wójtowicz T. S-Palmitoylation of Synaptic Proteins in Neuronal Plasticity in Normal and Pathological Brains. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030387. [PMID: 36766729 PMCID: PMC9913408 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein lipidation is a common post-translational modification of proteins that plays an important role in human physiology and pathology. One form of protein lipidation, S-palmitoylation, involves the addition of a 16-carbon fatty acid (palmitate) onto proteins. This reversible modification may affect the regulation of protein trafficking and stability in membranes. From multiple recent experimental studies, a picture emerges whereby protein S-palmitoylation is a ubiquitous yet discrete molecular switch enabling the expansion of protein functions and subcellular localization in minutes to hours. Neural tissue is particularly rich in proteins that are regulated by S-palmitoylation. A surge of novel methods of detection of protein lipidation at high resolution allowed us to get better insights into the roles of protein palmitoylation in brain physiology and pathophysiology. In this review, we specifically discuss experimental work devoted to understanding the impact of protein palmitoylation on functional changes in the excitatory and inhibitory synapses associated with neuronal activity and neuronal plasticity. The accumulated evidence also implies a crucial role of S-palmitoylation in learning and memory, and brain disorders associated with impaired cognitive functions.
Collapse
|
12
|
Lemarié FL, Sanders SS, Nguyen Y, Martin DDO, Hayden MR. Full-length huntingtin is palmitoylated at multiple sites and post-translationally myristoylated following caspase-cleavage. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1086112. [PMID: 36711022 PMCID: PMC9880554 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1086112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Huntington disease is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder which is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene that codes for an elongated polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin (HTT) protein. Huntingtin is subjected to multiple post-translational modifications which regulate its cellular functions and degradation. We have previously identified a palmitoylation site at cysteine 214 (C214), catalyzed by the enzymes ZDHHC17 and ZDHHC13. Reduced palmitoylation level of mutant huntingtin is linked to toxicity and loss of function. Moreover, we have described N-terminal myristoylation by the N-myristoyltransferases of a short fragment of huntingtin (HTT553-586) at glycine 553 (G553) following proteolysis at aspartate 552 (D552). Results: Here, we show that huntingtin is palmitoylated at numerous cysteines: C105, C433, C3134 and C3144. In addition, we confirm that full-length huntingtin is cleaved at D552 and post-translationally myristoylated at G553. Importantly, blocking caspase cleavage at the critical and pathogenic aspartate 586 (D586) significantly increases posttranslational myristoylation of huntingtin. In turn, myristoylation of huntingtin promotes the co-interaction between C-terminal and N-terminal huntingtin fragments, which is also protective. Discussion: This suggests that the protective effect of inhibiting caspase-cleavage at D586 may be mediated through post-translational myristoylation of huntingtin at G553.
Collapse
|
13
|
White A, McGlone A, Gomez-Pastor R. Protein Kinase CK2 and Its Potential Role as a Therapeutic Target in Huntington's Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1979. [PMID: 36009526 PMCID: PMC9406209 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene, for which no disease modifying therapies are currently available. Much of the recent research has focused on developing therapies to directly lower HTT expression, and while promising, these therapies have presented several challenges regarding administration and efficacy. Another promising therapeutic approach is the modulation of HTT post-translational modifications (PTMs) that are dysregulated in disease and have shown to play a key role in HTT toxicity. Among all PTMs, modulation of HTT phosphorylation has been proposed as an attractive therapeutic option due to the possibility of orally administering specific kinase effectors. One of the kinases described to participate in HTT phosphorylation is Protein Kinase CK2. CK2 has recently emerged as a target for the treatment of several neurological and psychiatric disorders, although its role in HD remains controversial. While pharmacological studies in vitro inhibiting CK2 resulted in reduced HTT phosphorylation and increased toxicity, genetic approaches in mouse models of HD have provided beneficial effects. In this review we discuss potential therapeutic approaches related to the manipulation of HTT-PTMs with special emphasis on the role of CK2 as a therapeutic target in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rocio Gomez-Pastor
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sassi M, Morgan AH, Davies JS. Ghrelin Acylation-A Post-Translational Tuning Mechanism Regulating Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11050765. [PMID: 35269387 PMCID: PMC8909677 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis—the generation of new functional neurones in the adult brain—is impaired in aging and many neurodegenerative disorders. We recently showed that the acylated version of the gut hormone ghrelin (acyl-ghrelin) stimulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis while the unacylated form of ghrelin inhibits it, thus demonstrating a previously unknown function of unacyl-ghrelin in modulating hippocampal plasticity. Analysis of plasma samples from Parkinson’s disease patients with dementia demonstrated a reduced acyl-ghrelin:unacyl-ghrelin ratio compared to both healthy controls and cognitively intact Parkinson’s disease patients. These data, from mouse and human studies, suggest that restoring acyl-ghrelin signalling may promote the activation of pathways to support memory function. In this short review, we discuss the evidence for ghrelin’s role in regulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis and the enzymes involved in ghrelin acylation and de-acylation as targets to treat mood-related disorders and dementia.
Collapse
|
15
|
Martinez-Banaclocha M. N-Acetyl-Cysteine: Modulating the Cysteine Redox Proteome in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020416. [PMID: 35204298 PMCID: PMC8869501 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020416] [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: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last twenty years, significant progress in understanding the pathophysiology of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases has been made. However, the prevention and treatment of these diseases remain without clinically significant therapeutic advancement. While we still hope for some potential genetic therapeutic approaches, the current reality is far from substantial progress. With this state of the issue, emphasis should be placed on early diagnosis and prompt intervention in patients with increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases to slow down their progression, poor prognosis, and decreasing quality of life. Accordingly, it is urgent to implement interventions addressing the psychosocial and biochemical disturbances we know are central in managing the evolution of these disorders. Genomic and proteomic studies have shown the high molecular intricacy in neurodegenerative diseases, involving a broad spectrum of cellular pathways underlying disease progression. Recent investigations indicate that the dysregulation of the sensitive-cysteine proteome may be a concurrent pathogenic mechanism contributing to the pathophysiology of major neurodegenerative diseases, opening new therapeutic opportunities. Considering the incidence and prevalence of these disorders and their already significant burden in Western societies, they will become a real pandemic in the following decades. Therefore, we propose large-scale investigations, in selected groups of people over 40 years of age with decreased blood glutathione levels, comorbidities, and/or mild cognitive impairment, to evaluate supplementation of the diet with low doses of N-acetyl-cysteine, a promising and well-tolerated therapeutic agent suitable for long-term use.
Collapse
|
16
|
Petropavlovskiy A, Kogut J, Leekha A, Townsend C, Sanders S. A sticky situation: regulation and function of protein palmitoylation with a spotlight on the axon and axon initial segment. Neuronal Signal 2021; 5:NS20210005. [PMID: 34659801 PMCID: PMC8495546 DOI: 10.1042/ns20210005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In neurons, the axon and axon initial segment (AIS) are critical structures for action potential initiation and propagation. Their formation and function rely on tight compartmentalisation, a process where specific proteins are trafficked to and retained at distinct subcellular locations. One mechanism which regulates protein trafficking and association with lipid membranes is the modification of protein cysteine residues with the 16-carbon palmitic acid, known as S-acylation or palmitoylation. Palmitoylation, akin to phosphorylation, is reversible, with palmitate cycling being mediated by substrate-specific enzymes. Palmitoylation is well-known to be highly prevalent among neuronal proteins and is well studied in the context of the synapse. Comparatively, how palmitoylation regulates trafficking and clustering of axonal and AIS proteins remains less understood. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the biochemical regulation of palmitoylation, its involvement in various neurological diseases, and the most up-to-date perspective on axonal palmitoylation. Through a palmitoylation analysis of the AIS proteome, we also report that an overwhelming proportion of AIS proteins are likely palmitoylated. Overall, our review and analysis confirm a central role for palmitoylation in the formation and function of the axon and AIS and provide a resource for further exploration of palmitoylation-dependent protein targeting to and function at the AIS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A. Petropavlovskiy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan A. Kogut
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arshia Leekha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charlotte A. Townsend
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shaun S. Sanders
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|