Establishment of STUB1/CHIP mutant induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient with Gordon Holmes syndrome/SCAR16

CHIP mutations affect the heat shock response differently in human fibroblasts and iPSC-derived neurons

C-terminus of HSC70-interacting protein (CHIP) encoded by the gene STUB1 is a co-chaperone and E3 ligase that acts as a key regulator of cellular protein homeostasis. Mutations in STUB1 cause autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia type 16 (SCAR16) with widespread neurodegeneration manifesting as spastic-ataxic gait disorder, dementia and epilepsy. CHIP^-/- mice display severe cerebellar atrophy, show high perinatal lethality and impaired heat stress tolerance. To decipher the pathomechanism underlying SCAR16, we investigated the heat shock response (HSR) in primary fibroblasts of three SCAR16 patients. We found impaired HSR induction and recovery compared to healthy controls. HSPA1A/B transcript levels (coding for HSP70) were reduced upon heat shock but HSP70 remained higher upon recovery in patient- compared to control-fibroblasts. As SCAR16 primarily affects the central nervous system we next investigated the HSR in cortical neurons (CNs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of SCAR16 patients. We found CNs of patients and controls to be surprisingly resistant to heat stress with high basal levels of HSP70 compared to fibroblasts. Although heat stress resulted in strong transcript level increases of many HSPs, this did not translate into higher HSP70 protein levels upon heat shock, independent of STUB1 mutations. Furthermore, STUB1(-/-) neurons generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing from an isogenic healthy control line showed a similar HSR to patients. Proteomic analysis of CNs showed dysfunctional protein (re)folding and higher basal oxidative stress levels in patients. Our results question the role of impaired HSR in SCAR16 neuropathology and highlight the need for careful selection of proper cell types for modeling human diseases.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP in normal cell function and in disease conditions

In eukaryotic cells, ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation is an essential mechanism for regulating protein functions. For example, critical signaling proteins play their roles by controlling different cellular functions. Once a signaling protein has been activated, its activity needs to be quickly downregulated by different mechanisms, including ubiquitination/proteasome regulation. Failure to regulate the activity or expression levels of these proteins may cause human diseases. Protein ubiquitination involves a cascade of biochemical processes and requires three types of ubiquitin enzymes: E1 activating enzyme, E2 conjugating enzyme, and E3 ligase. Among these enzymes, E3 ubiquitin ligases play a specific role in recognizing specific protein substrates. There are several structurally diverse groups of E3 ubiquitin ligases in eukaryotic cells, and one type of these E3 ligases is the U-box ubiquitin ligases. Carboxyl terminus of HSP70-interacting protein (CHIP) is a member of a family of U-box E3 ligases. It plays critical roles in multiple organs and tissues in the body. In this review article, we provide an update on some of the most recent discoveries about CHIP in normal physiological function and in disease.

Feedback inhibition of cAMP effector signaling by a chaperone-assisted ubiquitin system

Activation of G-protein coupled receptors elevates cAMP levels promoting dissociation of protein kinase A (PKA) holoenzymes and release of catalytic subunits (PKAc). This results in PKAc-mediated phosphorylation of compartmentalized substrates that control central aspects of cell physiology. The mechanism of PKAc activation and signaling have been largely characterized. However, the modes of PKAc inactivation by regulated proteolysis were unknown. Here, we identify a regulatory mechanism that precisely tunes PKAc stability and downstream signaling. Following agonist stimulation, the recruitment of the chaperone-bound E3 ligase CHIP promotes ubiquitylation and proteolysis of PKAc, thus attenuating cAMP signaling. Genetic inactivation of CHIP or pharmacological inhibition of HSP70 enhances PKAc signaling and sustains hippocampal long-term potentiation. Interestingly, primary fibroblasts from autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 16 (SCAR16) patients carrying germline inactivating mutations of CHIP show a dramatic dysregulation of PKA signaling. This suggests the existence of a negative feedback mechanism for restricting hormonally controlled PKA activities.

Generation of a homozygous CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout human iPSC line for the STUB1 locus

STUB1/CHIP is a central component of cellular protein homeostasis and interacts with key proteins involved in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. Missense and truncating mutations in STUB1 lead to SCAR16. For ideal in vitro disease modelling with isogenic controls, we generated a CHIP knockout cell line from a healthy control with no CHIP functionality, but remaining genomic integrity and verified pluripotency.