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Meyer-Schuman R, Marte S, Smith TJ, Feely SME, Kennerson M, Nicholson G, Shy ME, Koutmou KS, Antonellis A. A humanized yeast model reveals dominant-negative properties of neuropathy-associated alanyl-tRNA synthetase mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:2177-2191. [PMID: 37010095 PMCID: PMC10281750 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are essential enzymes that ligate tRNA molecules to cognate amino acids. Heterozygosity for missense variants or small in-frame deletions in six ARS genes causes dominant axonal peripheral neuropathy. These pathogenic variants reduce enzyme activity without significantly decreasing protein levels and reside in genes encoding homo-dimeric enzymes. These observations raise the possibility that neuropathy-associated ARS variants exert a dominant-negative effect, reducing overall ARS activity below a threshold required for peripheral nerve function. To test such variants for dominant-negative properties, we developed a humanized yeast assay to co-express pathogenic human alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AARS1) mutations with wild-type human AARS1. We show that multiple loss-of-function AARS1 mutations impair yeast growth through an interaction with wild-type AARS1, but that reducing this interaction rescues yeast growth. This suggests that neuropathy-associated AARS1 variants exert a dominant-negative effect, which supports a common, loss-of-function mechanism for ARS-mediated dominant peripheral neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Meyer-Schuman
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sheila Marte
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Tyler J Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shawna M E Feely
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Marina Kennerson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord General Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Garth Nicholson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord General Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Mike E Shy
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kristin S Koutmou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Anthony Antonellis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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2
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Kalotay E, Klugmann M, Housley GD, Fröhlich D. Dominant aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase disorders: lessons learned from in vivo disease models. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1182845. [PMID: 37274211 PMCID: PMC10234151 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1182845] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) play an essential role in protein synthesis, being responsible for ligating tRNA molecules to their corresponding amino acids in a reaction known as 'tRNA aminoacylation'. Separate ARSs carry out the aminoacylation reaction in the cytosol and in mitochondria, and mutations in almost all ARS genes cause pathophysiology most evident in the nervous system. Dominant mutations in multiple cytosolic ARSs have been linked to forms of peripheral neuropathy including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, distal hereditary motor neuropathy, and spinal muscular atrophy. This review provides an overview of approaches that have been employed to model each of these diseases in vivo, followed by a discussion of the existing animal models of dominant ARS disorders and key mechanistic insights that they have provided. In summary, ARS disease models have demonstrated that loss of canonical ARS function alone cannot fully account for the observed disease phenotypes, and that pathogenic ARS variants cause developmental defects within the peripheral nervous system, despite a typically later onset of disease in humans. In addition, aberrant interactions between mutant ARSs and other proteins have been shown to contribute to the disease phenotypes. These findings provide a strong foundation for future research into this group of diseases, providing methodological guidance for studies on ARS disorders that currently lack in vivo models, as well as identifying candidate therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Kalotay
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthias Klugmann
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Research Beyond Borders, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Gary D. Housley
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dominik Fröhlich
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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3
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Liu Y. Zebrafish as a Model Organism for Studying Pathologic Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases and other Neural Disorders. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s10571-023-01340-w. [PMID: 37004595 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01340-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish are widely considered an excellent vertebrate model for studying the pathogenesis of human diseases because of their transparency of embryonic development, easy breeding, high similarity with human genes, and easy gene manipulation. Previous studies have shown that zebrafish as a model organism provides an ideal operating platform for clarifying the pathological and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and related human diseases. This review mainly summarizes the achievements and prospects of zebrafish used as model organisms in the research of neurodegenerative diseases and other human diseases related to the nervous system in recent years. In the future study of human disease mechanisms, the application of the zebrafish model will continue to provide a valuable operating platform and technical support for investigating and finding better prevention and treatment of these diseases, which has broad application prospects and practical significance. Zebrafish models used in neurodegenerative diseases and other diseases related to the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Nursing and Health, Qingdao Huanghai University, Qingdao, 266427, China.
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4
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Qiu Y, Kenana R, Beharry A, Wilhelm SDP, Hsu SY, Siu VM, Duennwald M, Heinemann IU. Histidine supplementation can escalate or rescue HARS deficiency in a Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease model. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:810-824. [PMID: 36164730 PMCID: PMC9941834 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are essential enzymes responsible for charging amino acids onto cognate tRNAs during protein synthesis. In histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS), autosomal dominant mutations V133F, V155G, Y330C and S356N in the HARS catalytic domain cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 W (CMT2W), while tRNA-binding domain mutation Y454S causes recessive Usher syndrome type IIIB. In a yeast model, all human HARS variants complemented a genomic deletion of the yeast ortholog HTS1 at high expression levels. CMT2W associated mutations, but not Y454S, resulted in reduced growth. We show mistranslation of histidine to glutamine and threonine in V155G and S356N but not Y330C mutants in yeast. Mistranslating V155G and S356N mutants lead to accumulation of insoluble proteins, which was rescued by histidine. Mutants V133F and Y330C showed the most significant growth defect and decreased HARS abundance in cells. Here, histidine supplementation led to insoluble protein aggregation and further reduced viability, indicating histidine toxicity associated with these mutants. V133F proteins displayed reduced thermal stability in vitro, which was rescued by tRNA. Our data will inform future treatment options for HARS patients, where histidine supplementation may either have a toxic or compensating effect depending on the nature of the causative HARS variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Qiu
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Rosan Kenana
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Aruun Beharry
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Sarah D P Wilhelm
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Sung Yuan Hsu
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Victoria M Siu
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Martin Duennwald
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Ilka U Heinemann
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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5
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He J, Liu XX, Ma MM, Lin JJ, Fu J, Chen YK, Xu GR, Xu LQ, Fu ZF, Xu D, Chen WF, Cao CY, Shi Y, Zeng YH, Zhang J, Chen XC, Zhang RX, Wang N, Kennerson M, Fan DS, Chen WJ. Heterozygous Seryl-tRNA Synthetase 1 Variants Cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease. Ann Neurol 2023; 93:244-256. [PMID: 36088542 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite the increasing number of genes associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, many patients currently still lack appropriate genetic diagnosis for this disease. Autosomal dominant mutations in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) have been implicated in CMT. Here, we describe causal missense mutations in the gene encoding seryl-tRNA synthetase 1 (SerRS) for 3 families affected with CMT. METHODS Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 16 patients and 14 unaffected members of 3 unrelated families. The functional impact of the genetic variants identified was investigated using bioinformatic prediction tools and confirmed using cellular and biochemical assays. RESULTS Combined linkage analysis for the 3 families revealed significant linkage (Zmax LOD = 6.9) between the genomic co-ordinates on chromosome 1: 108681600-110300504. Within the linkage region, heterozygous SerRS missense variants segregated with the clinical phenotype in the 3 families. The mutant SerRS proteins exhibited reduced aminoacylation activity and abnormal SerRS dimerization, which suggests the impairment of total protein synthesis and induction of eIF2α phosphorylation. INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest the heterozygous SerRS variants identified represent a novel cause for autosomal dominant CMT. Mutant SerRS proteins are known to impact various molecular and cellular functions. Our findings provide significant advances on the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with ARS-related CMT. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:244-256.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin He
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Liu
- Department of Neurology of Peking University Third Hospital, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Ming Ma
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jing-Jing Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jun Fu
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi-Kun Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guo-Rong Xu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liu-Qing Xu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Fei Fu
- Public Technology Service Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wen-Feng Chen
- Institute of Life Sciences, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chun-Yan Cao
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yi-Heng Zeng
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ru-Xu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Marina Kennerson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney Local Health District and Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dong-Sheng Fan
- Department of Neurology of Peking University Third Hospital, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wan-Jin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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6
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Towards a Cure for HARS Disease. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020254. [PMID: 36833180 PMCID: PMC9956352 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS) ligates histidine to its cognate transfer RNA (tRNAHis). Mutations in HARS cause the human genetic disorders Usher syndrome type 3B (USH3B) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome type 2W (CMT2W). Treatment for these diseases remains symptomatic, and no disease specific treatments are currently available. Mutations in HARS can lead to destabilization of the enzyme, reduced aminoacylation, and decreased histidine incorporation into the proteome. Other mutations lead to a toxic gain-of-function and mistranslation of non-cognate amino acids in response to histidine codons, which can be rescued by histidine supplementation in vitro. We discuss recent advances in characterizing HARS mutations and potential applications of amino acid and tRNA therapy for future gene and allele specific therapy.
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7
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Singh J, Patten SA. Modeling neuromuscular diseases in zebrafish. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1054573. [PMID: 36583079 PMCID: PMC9794147 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1054573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases are a diverse group of conditions that affect the motor system and present some overlapping as well as distinct clinical manifestations. Although individually rare, the combined prevalence of NMDs is similar to Parkinson's. Over the past decade, new genetic mutations have been discovered through whole exome/genome sequencing, but the pathogenesis of most NMDs remains largely unexplored. Little information on the molecular mechanism governing the progression and development of NMDs accounts for the continual failure of therapies in clinical trials. Different aspects of the diseases are typically investigated using different models from cells to animals. Zebrafish emerges as an excellent model for studying genetics and pathogenesis and for developing therapeutic interventions for most NMDs. In this review, we describe the generation of different zebrafish genetic models mimicking NMDs and how they are used for drug discovery and therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaskaran Singh
- INRS – Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Shunmoogum A. Patten
- INRS – Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada,Departement de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Centre d'Excellence en Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines – Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Shunmoogum A. Patten,
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8
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Zhou XE, Schultz CR, Suino Powell K, Henrickson A, Lamp J, Brunzelle JS, Demeler B, Vega IE, Bachmann AS, Melcher K. Structure and Enzymatic Activity of an Intellectual Disability-Associated Ornithine Decarboxylase Variant, G84R. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:34665-34675. [PMID: 36188294 PMCID: PMC9520691 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of polyamines (PAs). PAs are required for proliferation, and increased ODC activity is associated with cancer and neural over-proliferation. ODC levels and activity are therefore tightly regulated, including through the ODC-specific inhibitor, antizyme AZ1. Recently, ODC G84R has been reported as a partial loss-of-function variant that is associated with intellectual disability and seizures. However, G84 is distant from both the catalytic center and the ODC homodimerization interface. To understand how G84R modulates ODC activity, we have determined the crystal structure of ODC G84R in both the presence and the absence of the cofactor pyridoxal 5-phosphate. The structures show that the replacement of G84 by arginine leads to hydrogen bond formation of R84 with F420, the last residue of the ODC C-terminal helix, a structural element that is involved in the AZ1-mediated proteasomal degradation of ODC. In contrast, the catalytic center is essentially indistinguishable from that of wildtype ODC. We therefore reanalyzed the catalytic activity of ODC G84R and found that it is rescued when the protein is purified in the presence of a reducing agent to mimic the reducing environment of the cytoplasm. This suggests that R84 may exert its neurological effects not through reducing ODC catalytic activity but through misregulation of its AZ1-mediated proteasomal degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- X. Edward Zhou
- Department
of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Chad R. Schultz
- Department
of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, United States
| | - Kelly Suino Powell
- Department
of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Amy Henrickson
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Jared Lamp
- Department
of Translational Neuroscience, Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit,
College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand
Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Joseph S. Brunzelle
- Northwestern
University Synchrotron Research Center, Life Sciences Collaborative
Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Borries Demeler
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United
States
| | - Irving E. Vega
- Department
of Translational Neuroscience, Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit,
College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand
Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - André S. Bachmann
- Department
of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, United States
| | - Karsten Melcher
- Department
of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
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9
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Memezawa S, Sato T, Ochiai A, Fukawa M, Sawaguchi S, Sango K, Miyamoto Y, Yamauchi J. The Antiepileptic Valproic Acid Ameliorates Charcot-Marie-Tooth 2W (CMT2W) Disease-Associated HARS1 Mutation-Induced Inhibition of Neuronal Cell Morphological Differentiation Through c-Jun N-terminal Kinase. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:2684-2702. [PMID: 35380399 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03587-z] [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: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hereditary peripheral neuropathies called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease affect the sensory nerves as well as motor neurons. CMT diseases are composed of a heterogeneous group of diseases. They are characterized by symptoms such as muscle weakness and wasting. Type 2 CMT (CMT2) disease is a neuropathy with blunted or disrupted neuronal morphological differentiation phenotypes including process formation of peripheral neuronal axons. In the early stages of CMT2, demyelination that occurs in Schwann cells (glial cells) is rarely observed. CMT2W is an autosomal-dominant disease and is responsible for the gene encoding histidyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (HARS1), which is a family molecule of cytoplasmic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and functions by ligating histidine to its cognate tRNA. Despite increasing knowledge of the relationship of mutations on responsible genes with diseases, it still remains unclear how each mutation affects neuronal differentiation. Here we show that in neuronal N1E-115 cells, a severe Asp364-to-Tyr (D364Y) mutation of HARS1 leads to formation of small aggregates of HARS1 proteins; in contrast, wild type proteins are distributed throughout cell bodies. Expression of D364Y mutant proteins inhibited process formation whereas expression of wild type proteins possessed the normal differentiation ability to grow processes. Pretreatment with the antiepileptic valproic acid recovered inhibition of process formation by D364Y mutant proteins through the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, these results indicate that the D364Y mutation of HARS1 causes HARS1 proteins to form small aggregates, inhibiting process growth, and that these effects are recovered by valproic acid. This could be a potential therapeutic drug for CMT2W at the cellular levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Memezawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Takanari Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Arisa Ochiai
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Miku Fukawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Sui Sawaguchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Kazunori Sango
- Diabetic Neuropathy Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Yuki Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Junji Yamauchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Neurology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan. .,Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Setagaya, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan.
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10
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Drosophila Models for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Related to Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101519. [PMID: 34680913 PMCID: PMC8536177 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) represent the largest cluster of proteins implicated in Charcot–Marie–Tooth neuropathy (CMT), the most common neuromuscular disorder. Dominant mutations in six aaRS cause different axonal CMT subtypes with common clinical characteristics, including progressive distal muscle weakness and wasting, impaired sensory modalities, gait problems and skeletal deformities. These clinical manifestations are caused by “dying back” axonal degeneration of the longest peripheral sensory and motor neurons. Surprisingly, loss of aminoacylation activity is not a prerequisite for CMT to occur, suggesting a gain-of-function disease mechanism. Here, we present the Drosophila melanogaster disease models that have been developed to understand the molecular pathway(s) underlying GARS1- and YARS1-associated CMT etiology. Expression of dominant CMT mutations in these aaRSs induced comparable neurodegenerative phenotypes, both in larvae and adult animals. Interestingly, recent data suggests that shared molecular pathways, such as dysregulation of global protein synthesis, might play a role in disease pathology. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the important function of nuclear YARS1 in transcriptional regulation and the binding properties of mutant GARS1 are also conserved and can be studied in D. melanogaster in the context of CMT. Taken together, the fly has emerged as a faithful companion model for cellular and molecular studies of aaRS-CMT that also enables in vivo investigation of candidate CMT drugs.
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11
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Zhou Z, Sun B, Nie A, Yu D, Bian M. Roles of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:599765. [PMID: 33330488 PMCID: PMC7729087 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.599765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) catalyze the ligation of amino acids to their cognate transfer RNAs (tRNAs), thus playing an important role in protein synthesis. In eukaryotic cells, these enzymes exist in free form or in the form of multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC). The latter contains nine cytoplasmic ARSs and three ARS-interacting multifunctional proteins (AIMPs). Normally, ARSs and AIMPs are regarded as housekeeping molecules without additional functions. However, a growing number of studies indicate that ARSs are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, especially tumorigenesis. Here, we introduce the roles of ARSs and AIMPs in certain cancers, such as colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we particularly focus on their potential clinical applications in cancer, aiming at providing new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhou
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bao Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institution of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Anzheng Nie
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dongsheng Yu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Meng Bian
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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12
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Meyer-Schuman R, Antonellis A. Evidence for a dominant-negative mechanism in HARS1-mediated peripheral neuropathy. FEBS J 2020; 288:91-94. [PMID: 32940403 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenic mechanism of neuropathy-associated aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) gene variants is poorly defined. Mullen et al. generate new models of pathogenic, dominant HARS1 mutations and show that they increase eIF2α phosphorylation and decrease protein translation in neurons. These results are consistent with a dominant-negative mechanism of ARS-mediated peripheral neuropathy. Comment on: https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.15449.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anthony Antonellis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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