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Tandon S, Aggarwal P, Sarkar S. Polyglutamine disorders: Pathogenesis and potential drug interventions. Life Sci 2024; 344:122562. [PMID: 38492921 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122562] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Polyglutamine/poly(Q) diseases are a group nine hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused due to abnormally expanded stretches of CAG trinucleotide in functionally distinct genes. All human poly(Q) diseases are characterized by the formation of microscopically discernable poly(Q) positive aggregates, the inclusion bodies. These toxic inclusion bodies are responsible for the impairment of several cellular pathways such as autophagy, transcription, cell death, etc., that culminate in disease manifestation. Although, these diseases remain largely without treatment, extensive research has generated mounting evidences that various events of poly(Q) pathogenesis can be developed as potential drug targets. The present review article briefly discusses the key events of disease pathogenesis, model system-based investigations that support the development of effective therapeutic interventions against pathogenesis of human poly(Q) disorders, and a comprehensive list of pharmacological and bioactive compounds that have been experimentally shown to alleviate poly(Q)-mediated neurotoxicity. Interestingly, due to the common cause of pathogenesis, all poly(Q) diseases share etiology, thus, findings from one disease can be potentially extrapolated to other poly(Q) diseases as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Tandon
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Prerna Aggarwal
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Surajit Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India.
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2
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Gamage YI, Pan J. Elucidating the Influence of Lipid Composition on Bilayer Perturbations Induced by the N-terminal Region of the Huntingtin Protein. BIOPHYSICA 2023; 3:582-597. [PMID: 38737720 PMCID: PMC11087071 DOI: 10.3390/biophysica3040040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the membrane interactions of the N-terminal 17 residues of the huntingtin protein (HttN) is essential for unraveling its role in cellular processes and its impact on huntingtin misfolding. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to examine the effects of lipid specificity in mediating bilayer perturbations induced by HttN. Across various lipid environments, the peptide consistently induced bilayer disruptions in the form of holes. Notably, our results unveiled that cholesterol enhanced bilayer perturbation induced by HttN, while phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids suppressed hole formation. Furthermore, anionic phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin lipids, along with cholesterol at high concentrations, promoted the formation of double-bilayer patches. This unique structure suggests that the synergy among HttN, anionic lipids, and cholesterol can enhance bilayer fusion, potentially by facilitating lipid intermixing between adjacent bilayers. Additionally, our AFM-based force spectroscopy revealed that HttN enhanced the mechanical stability of lipid bilayers, as evidenced by an elevated bilayer puncture force. These findings illuminate the complex interplay between HttN and lipid membranes and provide useful insights into the role of lipid composition in modulating membrane interactions with the huntingtin protein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jianjun Pan
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
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3
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An Y, Chen ZS, Chan H, Ngo J. Molecular insights into the interaction of CAG trinucleotide RNA repeats with nucleolin and its implication in polyglutamine diseases. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7655-7668. [PMID: 35776134 PMCID: PMC9303306 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a type of inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide expansion within the coding region of the disease-associated genes. We previously demonstrated that a pathogenic interaction between expanded CAG RNA and the nucleolin (NCL) protein triggers the nucleolar stress and neuronal cell death in polyQ diseases. However, mechanisms behind the molecular interaction remain unknown. Here, we report a 1.45 Å crystal structure of the r(CAG)5 oligo that comprises a full A'-form helical turn with widened grooves. Based on this structure, we simulated a model of r(CAG)5 RNA complexed with the RNA recognition motif 2 (RRM2) of NCL and identified NCL residues that are critical for its binding to CAG RNA. Combined with in vitro and in vivo site-directed mutagenesis studies, our model reveals that CAG RNA binds to NCL sites that are not important for other cellular functions like gene expression and rRNA synthesis regulation, indicating that toxic CAG RNA interferes with NCL functions by sequestering it. Accordingly, an NCL mutant that is aberrant in CAG RNA-binding could rescue RNA-induced cytotoxicity effectively. Taken together, our study provides new molecular insights into the pathogenic mechanism of polyQ diseases mediated by NCL-CAG RNA interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying An
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Center for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhefan S Chen
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jacky Chi Ki Ngo
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Center for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
- Center for Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
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4
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KPNB1 modulates the Machado-Joseph disease protein ataxin-3 through activation of the mitochondrial protease CLPP. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:401. [PMID: 35794401 PMCID: PMC9259533 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04372-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) is characterized by a pathological expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract within the ataxin-3 protein. Despite its primarily cytoplasmic localization, polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 accumulates in the nucleus and forms intranuclear aggregates in the affected neurons. Due to these histopathological hallmarks, the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery has garnered attention as an important disease relevant mechanism. Here, we report on MJD cell model-based analysis of the nuclear transport receptor karyopherin subunit beta-1 (KPNB1) and its implications in the molecular pathogenesis of MJD. Although directly interacting with both wild-type and polyQ-expanded ataxin-3, modulating KPNB1 did not alter the intracellular localization of ataxin-3. Instead, overexpression of KPNB1 reduced ataxin-3 protein levels and the aggregate load, thereby improving cell viability. On the other hand, its knockdown and inhibition resulted in the accumulation of soluble and insoluble ataxin-3. Interestingly, the reduction of ataxin-3 was apparently based on protein fragmentation independent of the classical MJD-associated proteolytic pathways. Label-free quantitative proteomics and knockdown experiments identified mitochondrial protease CLPP as a potential mediator of the ataxin-3-degrading effect induced by KPNB1. We confirmed reduction of KPNB1 protein levels in MJD by analyzing two MJD transgenic mouse models and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from MJD patients. Our results reveal a yet undescribed regulatory function of KPNB1 in controlling the turnover of ataxin-3, thereby highlighting a new potential target of therapeutic value for MJD.
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5
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Pradhan S, Gao R, Bush K, Zhang N, Wairkar YP, Sarkar PS. Polyglutamine Expansion in Huntingtin and Mechanism of DNA Damage Repair Defects in Huntington’s Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:837576. [PMID: 35444517 PMCID: PMC9013776 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.837576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that DNA repair deficiency and genome instability may be the impending signs of many neurological diseases. Genome-wide association (GWAS) studies have established a strong correlation between genes that play a role in DNA damage repair and many neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s disease (HD), and several other trinucleotides repeat expansion-related hereditary ataxias. Recently, many reports have documented a significant role played by the DNA repair processes in aging and in modifying many neurodegenerative diseases, early during their progression. Studies from our lab and others have now begun to understand the mechanisms that cause defective DNA repair in HD and surprisingly, many proteins that have a strong link to known neurodegenerative diseases seem to be important players in these cellular pathways. Mutations in huntingtin (HTT) gene that lead to polyglutamine repeat expansion at the N-terminal of HTT protein has been shown to disrupt transcription-coupled DNA repair process, a specialized DNA repair process associated with transcription. Due to the recent progress made in understanding the mechanisms of DNA repair in relation to HD, in this review, we will mainly focus on the mechanisms by which the wild-type huntingtin (HTT) protein helps in DNA repair during transcription, and the how polyglutamine expansions in HTT impedes this process in HD. Further studies that identify new players in DNA repair will help in our understanding of this process in neurons. Furthermore, it should help us understand how various DNA repair mechanism(s) coordinate to maintain the normal physiology of neurons, and provide insights for the development of novel drugs at prodromal stages of these neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subrata Pradhan
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Rui Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Keegan Bush
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yogesh P. Wairkar
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Partha S. Sarkar
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Partha S. Sarkar,
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6
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Depienne C, Mandel JL. 30 years of repeat expansion disorders: What have we learned and what are the remaining challenges? Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:764-785. [PMID: 33811808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tandem repeats represent one of the most abundant class of variations in human genomes, which are polymorphic by nature and become highly unstable in a length-dependent manner. The expansion of repeat length across generations is a well-established process that results in human disorders mainly affecting the central nervous system. At least 50 disorders associated with expansion loci have been described to date, with half recognized only in the last ten years, as prior methodological difficulties limited their identification. These limitations still apply to the current widely used molecular diagnostic methods (exome or gene panels) and thus result in missed diagnosis detrimental to affected individuals and their families, especially for disorders that are very rare and/or clinically not recognizable. Most of these disorders have been identified through family-driven approaches and many others likely remain to be identified. The recent development of long-read technologies provides a unique opportunity to systematically investigate the contribution of tandem repeats and repeat expansions to the genetic architecture of human disorders. In this review, we summarize the current and most recent knowledge about the genetics of repeat expansion disorders and the diversity of their pathophysiological mechanisms and outline the perspectives of developing personalized treatments in the future.
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7
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Current Status of Gene Therapy Research in Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084249. [PMID: 33921915 PMCID: PMC8074016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias (PolyQ SCAs) are a group of 6 rare autosomal dominant diseases, which arise from an abnormal CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of their causative gene. These neurodegenerative ataxic disorders are characterized by progressive cerebellar degeneration, which translates into progressive ataxia, the main clinical feature, often accompanied by oculomotor deficits and dysarthria. Currently, PolyQ SCAs treatment is limited only to symptomatic mitigation, and no therapy is available to stop or delay the disease progression, which culminates with death. Over the last years, many promising gene therapy approaches were investigated in preclinical studies and could lead to a future treatment to stop or delay the disease development. Here, we summed up the most promising of these therapies, categorizing them in gene augmentation therapy, gene silencing strategies, and gene edition approaches. While several of the reviewed strategies are promising, there is still a gap from the preclinical results obtained and their translation to clinical studies. However, there is an increase in the number of approved gene therapies, as well as a constant development in their safety and efficacy profiles. Thus, it is expected that in a near future some of the promising strategies reviewed here could be tested in a clinical setting and if successful provide hope for SCAs patients.
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8
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Minakawa EN, Popiel HA, Tada M, Takahashi T, Yamane H, Saitoh Y, Takahashi Y, Ozawa D, Takeda A, Takeuchi T, Okamoto Y, Yamamoto K, Suzuki M, Fujita H, Ito C, Yagihara H, Saito Y, Watase K, Adachi H, Katsuno M, Mochizuki H, Shiraki K, Sobue G, Toda T, Wada K, Onodera O, Nagai Y. Arginine is a disease modifier for polyQ disease models that stabilizes polyQ protein conformation. Brain 2021; 143:1811-1825. [PMID: 32436573 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of inherited neurodegenerative diseases that include Huntington's disease, various spinocerebellar ataxias, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, and dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy. They are caused by the abnormal expansion of a CAG repeat coding for the polyQ stretch in the causative gene of each disease. The expanded polyQ stretches trigger abnormal β-sheet conformational transition and oligomerization followed by aggregation of the polyQ proteins in the affected neurons, leading to neuronal toxicity and neurodegeneration. Disease-modifying therapies that attenuate both symptoms and molecular pathogenesis of polyQ diseases remain an unmet clinical need. Here we identified arginine, a chemical chaperone that facilitates proper protein folding, as a novel compound that targets the upstream processes of polyQ protein aggregation by stabilizing the polyQ protein conformation. We first screened representative chemical chaperones using an in vitro polyQ aggregation assay, and identified arginine as a potent polyQ aggregation inhibitor. Our in vitro and cellular assays revealed that arginine exerts its anti-aggregation property by inhibiting the toxic β-sheet conformational transition and oligomerization of polyQ proteins before the formation of insoluble aggregates. Arginine exhibited therapeutic effects on neurological symptoms and protein aggregation pathology in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, and two different mouse models of polyQ diseases. Arginine was also effective in a polyQ mouse model when administered after symptom onset. As arginine has been safely used for urea cycle defects and for mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acid and stroke syndrome patients, and efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier, a drug-repositioning approach for arginine would enable prompt clinical application as a promising disease-modifier drug for the polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiko N Minakawa
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Helena Akiko Popiel
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Clinical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Tada
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamane
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Saitoh
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Daisaku Ozawa
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akiko Takeda
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshihide Takeuchi
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuma Okamoto
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Clinical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Yamamoto
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Suzuki
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiromi Fujita
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chiyomi Ito
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroko Yagihara
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Watase
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Adachi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kentaro Shiraki
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Toda
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiji Wada
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Onodera
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagai
- Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Clinical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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9
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Miao S, Liang Y, Rundell S, Bhunia D, Devari S, Munyaradzi O, Bong D. Unnatural bases for recognition of noncoding nucleic acid interfaces. Biopolymers 2021; 112:e23399. [PMID: 32969496 PMCID: PMC7855516 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The notion of using synthetic heterocycles instead of the native bases to interface with DNA and RNA has been explored for nearly 60 years. Unnatural bases compatible with the DNA/RNA coding interface have the potential to expand the genetic code and co-opt the machinery of biology to access new macromolecular function; accordingly, this body of research is core to synthetic biology. While much of the literature on artificial bases focuses on code expansion, there is a significant and growing effort on docking synthetic heterocycles to noncoding nucleic acid interfaces; this approach seeks to illuminate major processes of nucleic acids, including regulation of transcription, translation, transport, and transcript lifetimes. These major avenues of research at the coding and noncoding interfaces have in common fundamental principles in molecular recognition. Herein, we provide an overview of foundational literature in biophysics of base recognition and unnatural bases in coding to provide context for the developing area of targeting noncoding nucleic acid interfaces with synthetic bases, with a focus on systems developed through iterative design and biophysical study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqin Miao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yufeng Liang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sarah Rundell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Debmalya Bhunia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Shekar Devari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Oliver Munyaradzi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dennis Bong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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10
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Liang JJH, McKinnon IA, Rankin CH. The contribution of C. elegans neurogenetics to understanding neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:527-548. [DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1803302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. H. Liang
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Issa A. McKinnon
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Catharine H. Rankin
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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11
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Prestori F, Moccia F, D’Angelo E. Disrupted Calcium Signaling in Animal Models of Human Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA). Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010216. [PMID: 31892274 PMCID: PMC6981692 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) constitute a heterogeneous group of more than 40 autosomal-dominant genetic and neurodegenerative diseases characterized by loss of balance and motor coordination due to dysfunction of the cerebellum and its efferent connections. Despite a well-described clinical and pathological phenotype, the molecular and cellular events that underlie neurodegeneration are still poorly undaerstood. Emerging research suggests that mutations in SCA genes cause disruptions in multiple cellular pathways but the characteristic SCA pathogenesis does not begin until calcium signaling pathways are disrupted in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Ca2+ signaling in Purkinje cells is important for normal cellular function as these neurons express a variety of Ca2+ channels, Ca2+-dependent kinases and phosphatases, and Ca2+-binding proteins to tightly maintain Ca2+ homeostasis and regulate physiological Ca2+-dependent processes. Abnormal Ca2+ levels can activate toxic cascades leading to characteristic death of Purkinje cells, cerebellar atrophy, and ataxia that occur in many SCAs. The output of the cerebellar cortex is conveyed to the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) by Purkinje cells via inhibitory signals; thus, Purkinje cell dysfunction or degeneration would partially or completely impair the cerebellar output in SCAs. In the absence of the inhibitory signal emanating from Purkinje cells, DCN will become more excitable, thereby affecting the motor areas receiving DCN input and resulting in uncoordinated movements. An outstanding advantage in studying the pathogenesis of SCAs is represented by the availability of a large number of animal models which mimic the phenotype observed in humans. By mainly focusing on mouse models displaying mutations or deletions in genes which encode for Ca2+ signaling-related proteins, in this review we will discuss the several pathogenic mechanisms related to deranged Ca2+ homeostasis that leads to significant Purkinje cell degeneration and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Prestori
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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12
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Lu Y, Zhao S, Zhou S, Chen SC, Luo T. Enantioselective syntheses and application of 4-epi-galiellalactone and the corresponding activity-based probe: from strained bicycles to strained tricycles. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 17:1886-1892. [PMID: 30183048 DOI: 10.1039/c8ob01915k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The [6,5,5] tricyclic fungal metabolite galiellalactone is a Michael acceptor that has been demonstrated to be a covalent inhibitor for Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3). Recognizing the ring strain associated with the skeleton of this natural product, we utilized 1R-5S-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one as the starting material and developed two novel approaches to accomplish the enantioselective total synthesis of the C4 epimer of galiellalactone in 5 and 7 steps, respectively, which capitalized on an efficient radical cyclization/fragmentation cascade reaction. Furthermore, an activity-based probe of 4-epi-galiellalactone with a terminal alkyne tag was successfully prepared to enable the experiments of activity-based protein profiling (ABPP). Through western blot and proteomic analysis, we not only confirmed the known target STAT3, but also identified a new target protein ataxin-7, which formed a covalent bond with the probe in intact cells via the Cys-129 residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Ministry of Education, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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13
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Yang M, Zhang Q, Wang Q, Sørensen KK, Boesen JT, Ma SY, Jensen KJ, Kwan KM, Ngo JCK, Chan HYE, Zuo Z. Brain-Targeting Delivery of Two Peptidylic Inhibitors for Their Combination Therapy in Transgenic Polyglutamine Disease Mice via Intranasal Administration. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:5781-5792. [PMID: 30392378 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine diseases are a set of progressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolding and aggregation of mutant CAG RNA and polyglutamin protein. To date, there is a lack of effective therapeutics that can counteract the polyglutamine neurotoxicity. Two peptidylic inhibitors, QBP1 and P3, targeting the protein and RNA toxicities, respectively, have been previously demonstrated by us with combinational therapeutic effects on the Drosophila polyglutamine disease model. However, their therapeutic efficacy has never been investigated in vivo in mammals. The current study aims to (a) develop a brain-targeting delivery system for both QBP1 and L1P3V8 (a lipidated variant of P3 with improved stability) and (b) evaluate their therapeutic effects on the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of polyglutamine disease. Compared with intravenous administration, intranasal administration of QBP1 significantly increased its brain-to-plasma ratio. In addition, employment of a chitosan-containing in situ gel for the intranasal administration of QBP1 notably improved its brain concentration for up to 10-fold. Further study on intranasal cotreatment with the optimized formulation of QBP1 and L1P3V8 in mice found no interference on the brain uptake of each other. Subsequent efficacy evaluation of 4-week daily QBP1 (16 μmol/kg) and L1P3V8 (6 μmol/kg) intranasal cotreatment in the R6/2 mice demonstrated a significant improvement on the motor coordination and explorative behavior of the disease mice, together with a full suppression on the RNA- and protein-toxicity markers in their brains. In summary, the current study developed an efficient intranasal cotreatment of the two peptidylic inhibitors, QBP1 and L1P3V8, for their brain-targeting, and such a novel therapeutic strategy was found to be effective on a transgenic polyglutamine disease mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengbi Yang
- School of Pharmacy , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Life Sciences , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
| | - Qianwen Wang
- School of Pharmacy , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
| | - Kasper K Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry , University of Copenhagen , Thorvaldsensvej 40 , 1871 Frederiksberg , Denmark
| | - Josephine T Boesen
- Department of Chemistry , University of Copenhagen , Thorvaldsensvej 40 , 1871 Frederiksberg , Denmark
| | - Sum Yi Ma
- School of Life Sciences , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
| | - Knud J Jensen
- Department of Chemistry , University of Copenhagen , Thorvaldsensvej 40 , 1871 Frederiksberg , Denmark
| | - Kin Ming Kwan
- School of Life Sciences , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China.,Partner State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
| | - Jacky Chi Ki Ngo
- School of Life Sciences , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- School of Life Sciences , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China.,Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
| | - Zhong Zuo
- School of Pharmacy , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, Hong Kong , SAR , China
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14
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Park H, Miyazaki H, Yamanaka T, Nukina N. Non-coding RNA Neat1 and Abhd11os expressions are dysregulated in medium spiny neurons of Huntington disease model mice. Neurosci Res 2018; 147:58-63. [PMID: 30391555 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Huntington Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by expanded CAG repeats in the exon1 of huntingtin gene (HTT). The mutant HTT affects the transcriptional profile of neurons by disrupting the activities of transcriptional machinery and alters expression of many genes. In this study, we identified dysregulated non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in medium spiny neurons of 4-week-old HD model mouse. Also, we observed the intracellular localizations of Abhd11os and Neat1 ncRNAs by ViewRNA in situ hybridization, which could provide more precise detection, suggesting that it is a useful method to investigate the expression changes of genes with low expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongsun Park
- Laboratory of Structural Neuropathology, Doshisha University Graduate School of Brain Science, 1-3 Miyakodanitatara, Kyotanabe-shi, Kyoto, 610-0394, Japan
| | - Haruko Miyazaki
- Laboratory of Structural Neuropathology, Doshisha University Graduate School of Brain Science, 1-3 Miyakodanitatara, Kyotanabe-shi, Kyoto, 610-0394, Japan.
| | - Tomoyuki Yamanaka
- Laboratory of Structural Neuropathology, Doshisha University Graduate School of Brain Science, 1-3 Miyakodanitatara, Kyotanabe-shi, Kyoto, 610-0394, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Nukina
- Laboratory of Structural Neuropathology, Doshisha University Graduate School of Brain Science, 1-3 Miyakodanitatara, Kyotanabe-shi, Kyoto, 610-0394, Japan.
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15
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Abstract
Polyglutamine diseases are hereditary degenerative disorders of the nervous system that have remained, to this date, untreatable. Promisingly, investigation into their molecular etiology and the development of increasingly perfected tools have contributed to the design of novel strategies with therapeutic potential. Encouraging studies have explored gene therapy as a means to counteract cell demise and loss in this context. The current chapter addresses the two main focuses of research in the area: the characteristics of the systems used to deliver nucleic acids to cells and the molecular and cellular actions of the therapeutic agents. Vectors used in gene therapy have to satisfyingly reach the tissues and cell types of interest, while eliciting the lowest toxicity possible. Both viral and non-viral systems have been developed for the delivery of nucleic acids to the central nervous system, each with its respective advantages and shortcomings. Since each polyglutamine disease is caused by mutation of a single gene, many gene therapy strategies have tried to halt degeneration by silencing the corresponding protein products, usually recurring to RNA interference. The potential of small interfering RNAs, short hairpin RNAs and microRNAs has been investigated. Overexpression of protective genes has also been evaluated as a means of decreasing mutant protein toxicity and operate beneficial alterations. Recent gene editing tools promise yet other ways of interfering with the disease-causing genes, at the most upstream points possible. Results obtained in both cell and animal models encourage further delving into this type of therapeutic strategies and support the future use of gene therapy in the treatment of polyglutamine diseases.
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16
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Peptide based therapeutics and their use for the treatment of neurodegenerative and other diseases. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 103:574-581. [PMID: 29677544 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioactive peptides are actively involved in different biological functions and importantly contribute to human health, and the use of peptides as therapeutics has a long successful history in disease management. A number of peptides have wide-ranging therapeutic effects, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antithrombotic effects. Neurodegenerative diseases are typically caused by abnormal aggregations of proteins or peptides, and the depositions of these aggregates in or on neurons, disrupt signaling and eventually kill neurons. During recent years, research on short peptides has advanced tremendously. This review offers a brief introduction to peptide based therapeutics and their application in disease management and provides an overview of peptide vaccines, and toxicity related issues. In addition, the importance of peptides in the management of different neurodegenerative diseases and their therapeutic applications is discussed. The present review provides an understanding of peptides and their applications for the management of different diseases, but with focus on neurodegenerative diseases. The role of peptides as anti-cancer, antimicrobial and antidiabetic agents has also been discussed.
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Abstract
The dominant polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders are a group of progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disorders, which are caused by unstable expanded CAG trinucleotide repeats in the coding regions of their respective causative genes. The most prevalent polyQ disorders worldwide are Huntington’s disease and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling and noncoding RNA regulation, regulate gene expression or genome function. Epigenetic dysregulation has been suggested to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of polyQ disorders. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of epigenetic changes present in several representative polyQ disorders and discuss the potentiality of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for the clinic therapy of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tie-Shan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Caixia Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomics & Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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18
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Abstract
Epigenetics is a growing field of knowledge that is changing our understanding of pathologic processes. For many cerebellar disorders, recent discoveries of epigenetic mechanisms help us to understand their pathophysiology. In this chapter, a short explanation of each epigenetic mechanism (including methylation, histone modification, and miRNA) is followed by references to those cerebellar disorders in which relevant epigenetic advances have been made. The importance of normal timing and distribution of methylation during neurodevelopment is explained. Abnormal methylation and altered gene expression in the developing cerebellum have been related to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, Rett syndrome, and fragile X syndrome. DNA packaging by histones is another important epigenetic mechanism in cerebellar functioning. Current knowledge of histone abnormalities in cerebellar diseases such as Friedreich ataxia and spinocerebellar ataxias is reviewed, including implications for new therapeutic approaches to these degenerative diseases. Finally, micro RNAs, the third mechanism to modulate DNA expression, and their role in normal cerebellar development and disease are described. Understanding how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms interact not only in normal cerebellar development but also in disease is a great challenge. However, such understanding will lead to promising new therapeutic possibilities as is already occurring in other areas of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Serrano
- Pediatric Neurology Department and Pediatric Institute for Genetic Medicine and Rare Diseases, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; and Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.
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19
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Duarte-Silva S, Maciel P. Pharmacological Therapies for Machado-Joseph Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:369-394. [PMID: 29427114 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is the most common autosomal dominant ataxia worldwide. MJD integrates a large group of disorders known as polyglutamine diseases (polyQ). To date, no effective treatment exists for MJD and other polyQ diseases. Nevertheless, researchers are making efforts to find treatment possibilities that modify the disease course or alleviate disease symptoms. Since neuroimaging studies in mutation carrying individuals suggest that in nervous system dysfunction begins many years before the onset of any detectable symptoms, the development of therapeutic interventions becomes of great importance, not only to slow progression of manifest disease but also to delay, or ideally prevent, its onset. Potential therapeutic targets for MJD and polyQ diseases can be divided into (i) those that are aimed at the polyQ proteins themselves, namely gene silencing, attempts to enhance mutant protein degradation or inhibition/prevention of aggregation; and (ii) those that intercept the toxic downstream effects of the polyQ proteins, such as mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, transcriptional abnormalities, UPS impairment, excitotoxicity, or activation of cell death. The existence of relevant animal models and the recent contributions towards the identification of putative molecular mechanisms underlying MJD are impacting on the development of new drugs. To date only a few preclinical trials were conducted, nevertheless some had very promising results and some candidate drugs are close to being tested in humans. Clinical trials for MJD are also very few to date and their results not very promising, mostly due to trial design constraints. Here, we provide an overview of the pharmacological therapeutic strategies for MJD studied in animal models and patients, and of their possible translation into the clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
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20
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Halbach MV, Gispert S, Stehning T, Damrath E, Walter M, Auburger G. Atxn2 Knockout and CAG42-Knock-in Cerebellum Shows Similarly Dysregulated Expression in Calcium Homeostasis Pathway. THE CEREBELLUM 2017; 16:68-81. [PMID: 26868665 PMCID: PMC5243904 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-016-0762-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder with preferential affection of Purkinje neurons, which are known as integrators of calcium currents. The expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) domain in the RNA-binding protein ataxin-2 (ATXN2) is responsible for this disease, but the causal roles of deficient ATXN2 functions versus aggregation toxicity are still under debate. Here, we studied mouse mutants with Atxn2 knockout (KO) regarding their cerebellar global transcriptome by microarray and RT-qPCR, in comparison with data from Atxn2-CAG42-knock-in (KIN) mouse cerebellum. Global expression downregulations involved lipid and growth signaling pathways in good agreement with previous data. As a novel effect, downregulations of key factors in calcium homeostasis pathways (the transcription factor Rora, transporters Itpr1 and Atp2a2, as well as regulator Inpp5a) were observed in the KO cerebellum, and some of them also occurred subtly early in KIN cerebellum. The ITPR1 protein levels were depleted from soluble fractions of cerebellum in both mutants, but accumulated in its membrane-associated form only in the SCA2 model. Coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated no association of ITPR1 with Q42-expanded or with wild-type ATXN2. These findings provide evidence that the physiological functions and protein interactions of ATXN2 are relevant for calcium-mediated excitation of Purkinje cells as well as for ATXN2-triggered neurotoxicity. These insights may help to understand pathogenesis and tissue specificity in SCA2 and other polyQ ataxias like SCA1, where inositol regulation of calcium flux and RORalpha play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Vanessa Halbach
- Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Goethe University Medical School, Building 89, 3rd floor, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Suzana Gispert
- Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Goethe University Medical School, Building 89, 3rd floor, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tanja Stehning
- Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Goethe University Medical School, Building 89, 3rd floor, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ewa Damrath
- Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Goethe University Medical School, Building 89, 3rd floor, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Walter
- Institute for Medical Genetics, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Georg Auburger
- Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Goethe University Medical School, Building 89, 3rd floor, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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21
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Amato D, Canneva F, Nguyen HP, Bauer P, Riess O, von Hörsten S, Müller CP. Capturing schizophrenia-like prodromal symptoms in a spinocerebellar ataxia-17 transgenic rat. J Psychopharmacol 2017; 31:461-473. [PMID: 27856682 DOI: 10.1177/0269881116675510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The polyglutamine disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) is a neurodegenerative disease leading to severe neurological symptoms during development. Additionally, patients affected by SCA17 display psychosis earlier than their motor disorders. OBJECTIVE Here the putative psychotic phenotype and endophenotype of transgenic SCA17 rats was examined. METHODS The expression of schizophrenia-like symptoms was evaluated over a longitudinal period before and after the onset of neurological symptoms in SCA17. To this end, transgenic SCA17 rats' monoamine neurotransmission was investigated along with their locomotion at baseline and in response to amphetamine using in-vivo microdialysis in free moving conditions, their sensorimotor gating using pre-pulse inhibition of startle reaction, and their object memory using the novel object recognition test as an index of cognitive impairments. RESULTS Presymptomatic SCA17 rats displayed dysregulated monoamine levels at baseline and in response to amphetamine compared with control wild-type (wt) rats. At that stage, neither amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion nor sensorimotor gating differed from that in wt rats. Symptomatic SCA17 rats developed sensorimotor gating deficits and also showed an impaired object memory, while their monoaminergic responses remained supersensitive to amphetamine. CONCLUSIONS The data of the present study demonstrate a neurochemical endophenotype in SCA17 rats resembling that of prodromal schizophrenia. These findings suggest that a sensitization of the monoamine systems arises early in adulthood in SCA17 rats and may predispose them to express schizophrenia-like symptoms later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Amato
- 1 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Fabio Canneva
- 2 Department of Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- 3 Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Rare Disease Center Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Bauer
- 3 Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Rare Disease Center Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- 3 Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Rare Disease Center Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- 2 Department of Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Christian P Müller
- 1 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
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22
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Cherubini M, Ginés S. Mitochondrial fragmentation in neuronal degeneration: Toward an understanding of HD striatal susceptibility. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 483:1063-1068. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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23
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Escalona-Rayo O, Fuentes-Vázquez P, Leyva-Gómez G, Cisneros B, Villalobos R, Magaña JJ, Quintanar-Guerrero D. Nanoparticulate strategies for the treatment of polyglutamine diseases by halting the protein aggregation process. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2017; 43:871-888. [PMID: 28142290 DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2017.1281949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a class of neurodegenerative disorders that cause cellular dysfunction and, eventually, neuronal death in specific regions of the brain. Neurodegeneration is linked to the misfolding and aggregation of expanded polyQ-containing proteins, and their inhibition is one of major therapeutic strategies used commonly. However, successful treatment has been limited to date because of the intrinsic properties of therapeutic agents (poor water solubility, low bioavailability, poor pharmacokinetic properties), and difficulty in crossing physiological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In order to solve these problems, nanoparticulate systems with dimensions of 1-1000 nm able to incorporate small and macromolecules with therapeutic value, to protect and deliver them directly to the brain, have recently been developed, but their use for targeting polyQ disease-mediated protein misfolding and aggregation remains scarce. This review provides an update of the polyQ protein aggregation process and the development of therapeutic strategies for halting it. The main features that a nanoparticulate system should possess in order to enhance brain delivery are discussed, as well as the different types of materials utilized to produce them. The final part of this review focuses on the potential application of nanoparticulate system strategies to improve the specific and efficient delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain for the treatment of polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Escalona-Rayo
- a Laboratorio de Investigación y Posgrado en Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) , Cuautitlán Izcalli , Mexico
| | - Paulina Fuentes-Vázquez
- a Laboratorio de Investigación y Posgrado en Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) , Cuautitlán Izcalli , Mexico
| | - Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
- b Laboratory of Connective Tissue , CENIAQ, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Bulmaro Cisneros
- c Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology , CINVESTAV-IPN , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Rafael Villalobos
- d División de Estudios de Posgrado (Tecnología Farmacéutica), Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) , Cuautitlán Izcalli , Mexico
| | - Jonathan J Magaña
- e Laboratory of Genomic Medicine, Department of Genetics , Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra , Mexico City , Mexico
| | - David Quintanar-Guerrero
- a Laboratorio de Investigación y Posgrado en Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) , Cuautitlán Izcalli , Mexico
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24
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Alves-Cruzeiro JMDC, Mendonça L, Pereira de Almeida L, Nóbrega C. Motor Dysfunctions and Neuropathology in Mouse Models of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2: A Comprehensive Review. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:572. [PMID: 28018166 PMCID: PMC5156697 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant ataxia caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the exon 1 of the gene ATXN2, conferring a gain of toxic function that triggers the appearance of the disease phenotype. SCA2 is characterized by several symptoms including progressive gait ataxia and dysarthria, slow saccadic eye movements, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairments, and psychological dysfunctions such as insomnia and depression, among others. The available treatments rely on palliative care, which mitigate some of the major symptoms but ultimately fail to block the disease progression. This persistent lack of effective therapies led to the development of several models in yeast, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, and mice to serve as platforms for testing new therapeutic strategies and to accelerate the research on the complex disease mechanisms. In this work, we review 4 transgenic and 1 knock-in mouse that exhibit a SCA2-related phenotype and discuss their usefulness in addressing different scientific problems. The knock-in mice are extremely faithful to the human disease, with late onset of symptoms and physiological levels of mutant ataxin-2, while the other transgenic possess robust and well-characterized motor impairments and neuropathological features. Furthermore, a new BAC model of SCA2 shows promise to study the recently explored role of non-coding RNAs as a major pathogenic mechanism in this devastating disorder. Focusing on specific aspects of the behavior and neuropathology, as well as technical aspects, we provide a highly practical description and comparison of all the models with the purpose of creating a useful resource for SCA2 researchers worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liliana Mendonça
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of CoimbraCoimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of CoimbraCoimbra, Portugal
| | - Clévio Nóbrega
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine and Center for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve Faro, Portugal
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25
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Esteves S, Duarte-Silva S, Maciel P. Discovery of Therapeutic Approaches for Polyglutamine Diseases: A Summary of Recent Efforts. Med Res Rev 2016; 37:860-906. [PMID: 27870126 DOI: 10.1002/med.21425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats in the coding region of specific genes. This leads to the production of pathogenic proteins containing critically expanded tracts of glutamines. Although polyQ diseases are individually rare, the fact that these nine diseases are irreversibly progressive over 10 to 30 years, severely impairing and ultimately fatal, usually implicating the full-time patient support by a caregiver for long time periods, makes their economic and social impact quite significant. This has led several researchers worldwide to investigate the pathogenic mechanism(s) and therapeutic strategies for polyQ diseases. Although research in the field has grown notably in the last decades, we are still far from having an effective treatment to offer patients, and the decision of which compounds should be translated to the clinics may be very challenging. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the most recent drug discovery efforts in the field of polyQ diseases, including the most relevant findings emerging from two different types of approaches-hypothesis-based candidate molecule testing and hypothesis-free unbiased drug screenings. We hereby summarize and reflect on the preclinical studies as well as all the clinical trials performed to date, aiming to provide a useful framework for increasingly successful future drug discovery and development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
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26
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Kino Y, Washizu C, Kurosawa M, Yamada M, Doi H, Takumi T, Adachi H, Katsuno M, Sobue G, Hicks GG, Hattori N, Shimogori T, Nukina N. FUS/TLS acts as an aggregation-dependent modifier of polyglutamine disease model mice. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35236. [PMID: 27739513 PMCID: PMC5064419 DOI: 10.1038/srep35236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
FUS/TLS is an RNA/DNA-binding protein associated with neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Previously, we found that a prion-like domain in the N-terminus of FUS/TLS mediates co-aggregation between FUS/TLS and mutant huntingtin, the gene product of Huntington's disease (HD). Here, we show that heterozygous knockout of FUS/TLS worsened the phenotypes of model mice of (HD, but not spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). This difference was correlated with the degree of pathological association between disease proteins and FUS/TLS. Co-aggregation between FUS/TLS and mutant huntingtin resulted in the depletion of free FUS/TLS protein in HD mice that was detected as a monomer in SDS-PAGE analysis. Recently, we found that FUS/TLS paralogs, TAF15 and EWS, were up-regulated in homozygous FUS/TLS knockout mice. These two proteins were up-regulated in both HD and FUS/TLS heterozygote mice, and were further elevated in HD-TLS+/- double mutant mice, consistent with the functional impairment of FUS/TLS. These results suggest that FUS/TLS sequestration by co-aggregation is a rate-limiting factor of disease phenotypes of HD and that inclusions may have an adverse aspect, rather than being simply benign or protective. In addition, our results highlight inclusions as repositories of potential modifiers of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Kino
- CREST(Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Saitama, Japan.,Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology , Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.,Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Neuropathology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chika Washizu
- Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology , Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masaru Kurosawa
- CREST(Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Saitama, Japan.,Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology , Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Mizuki Yamada
- Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology , Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Doi
- Department of Clinical Neurology and Stroke Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Toru Takumi
- CREST(Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory for Mental Biology, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Adachi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Geoffrey G Hicks
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomomi Shimogori
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Nukina
- CREST(Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Saitama, Japan.,Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology , Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory of Structural Neuropathology, Doshisha University Graduate School of Brain Science, Kyoto, Japan
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Differential roles of NF-Y transcription factor in ER chaperone expression and neuronal maintenance in the CNS. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34575. [PMID: 27687130 PMCID: PMC5043352 DOI: 10.1038/srep34575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) contains various types of neurons with different neuronal functions. In contrast to established roles of cell type-specific transcription factors on neuronal specification and maintenance, whether ubiquitous transcription factors have conserved or differential neuronal function remains uncertain. Here, we revealed that inactivation of a ubiquitous factor NF-Y in different sets of neurons resulted in cell type-specific neuropathologies and gene downregulation in mouse CNS. In striatal and cerebellar neurons, NF-Y inactivation led to ubiquitin/p62 pathologies with downregulation of an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone Grp94, as we previously observed by NF-Y deletion in cortical neurons. In contrast, NF-Y inactivation in motor neurons induced neuronal loss without obvious protein deposition. Detailed analysis clarified downregulation of another ER chaperone Grp78 in addition to Grp94 in motor neurons, and knockdown of both ER chaperones in motor neurons recapitulated the pathology observed after NF-Y inactivation. Finally, additional downregulation of Grp78 in striatal neurons suppressed ubiquitin accumulation induced by NF-Y inactivation, implying that selective ER chaperone downregulation mediates different neuropathologies. Our data suggest distinct roles of NF-Y in protein homeostasis and neuronal maintenance in the CNS by differential regulation of ER chaperone expression.
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Matos CA, Nóbrega C, Louros SR, Almeida B, Ferreiro E, Valero J, Pereira de Almeida L, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Carvalho AL. Ataxin-3 phosphorylation decreases neuronal defects in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 models. J Cell Biol 2016; 212:465-80. [PMID: 26880203 PMCID: PMC4754714 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201506025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ataxin-3, the protein involved in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 or Machado-Joseph disease, causes dendritic and synapse loss in cultured neurons when expanded, and mutation of phosphorylation site S12 reduces aggregation, neuronal loss, and synapse loss. Different neurodegenerative diseases are caused by aberrant elongation of repeated glutamine sequences normally found in particular human proteins. Although the proteins involved are ubiquitously distributed in human tissues, toxicity targets only defined neuronal populations. Changes caused by an expanded polyglutamine protein are possibly influenced by endogenous cellular mechanisms, which may be harnessed to produce neuroprotection. Here, we show that ataxin-3, the protein involved in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, also known as Machado-Joseph disease, causes dendritic and synapse loss in cultured neurons when expanded. We report that S12 of ataxin-3 is phosphorylated in neurons and that mutating this residue so as to mimic a constitutive phosphorylated state counters the neuromorphologic defects observed. In rats stereotaxically injected with expanded ataxin-3–encoding lentiviral vectors, mutation of serine 12 reduces aggregation, neuronal loss, and synapse loss. Our results suggest that S12 plays a role in the pathogenic pathways mediated by polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3 and that phosphorylation of this residue protects against toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Matos
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Clévio Nóbrega
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Susana R Louros
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Bruno Almeida
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular and Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Valero
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science and Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, E-48170 Zamudio, Spain
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular and Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Carvalho
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
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Ding Y, Adachi H, Katsuno M, Sahashi K, Kondo N, Iida M, Tohnai G, Nakatsuji H, Sobue G. BIIB021, a synthetic Hsp90 inhibitor, induces mutant ataxin-1 degradation through the activation of heat shock factor 1. Neuroscience 2016; 327:20-31. [PMID: 27058144 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.03.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in ataxin-1 (ATXN1). The pathological hallmarks of SCA1 are the loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells and neurons in the brainstem and the presence of nuclear aggregates containing the polyQ-expanded ATXN1 protein. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors have been shown to reduce polyQ-induced toxicity. This study was designed to examine the therapeutic effects of BIIB021, a purine-scaffold Hsp90 inhibitor, on the protein homeostasis of polyQ-expanded mutant ATXN1 in a cell culture model of SCA1. Our results demonstrated that BIIB021 activated heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) and suppressed the abnormal accumulation of ATXN1 and its toxicity. The pharmacological degradation of mutant ATXN1 via activated HSF1 was dependent on both the proteasome and autophagy systems. These findings indicate that HSF1 is a key molecule in the regulation of the protein homeostasis of the polyQ-expanded mutant ATXN1 and that Hsp90 has potential as a novel therapeutic target in patients with SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ding
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Adachi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan; Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kentaro Sahashi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Naohide Kondo
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Madoka Iida
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Genki Tohnai
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hideaki Nakatsuji
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan; Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
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30
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Jiang H, Huang J, Shen Y, Guo S, Wang L, Han C, Liu L, Ma K, Xia Y, Li J, Xu X, Xiong N, Wang T. RBD and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:2997-3006. [PMID: 27032389 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9831-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by enacting one's dreams during the REM sleep, with most of the dreams being violent or aggressive, so that patients often come to see the doctor complaining hurting themselves or bed partners during sleep. Prevalence of RBD, based on population, is 0.38-2.01 %, but much higher in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, especially synucleinopathies. RBD may herald the emergence of synucleinopathies by decades, such that it may be used as an effective early marker of neurodegenerative diseases. Pharmaceutical treatment of RBD includes clonazepam, melatonin, pramipexole, and some newly reported medications. In this review, we summarized the clinical and PSG features of RBD, the pathophysiology and the therapy of it, focusing on the correlation between neurodegenerative diseases and RBD, in order to emphasize the significance of RBD as an early marker of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Jinsha Huang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Shiyi Guo
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Luxi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Chao Han
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Kai Ma
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yun Xia
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoyun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Nian Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
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Lei LF, Yang GP, Wang JL, Chuang DM, Song WH, Tang BS, Jiang H. Safety and efficacy of valproic acid treatment in SCA3/MJD patients. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2016; 26:55-61. [PMID: 26997655 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is one of 10 known polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases. In Drosophila and rat models of polyQ diseases, histone deacetylation (HDAC) inhibitors improved locomotor function and survival time by increasing histone acetylation levels and modulating gene expression. Valproic acid (VPA) is a pan-HDAC inhibitor used clinically to treat bipolar and seizure disorders. We evaluated the clinical safety and efficacy of VPA treatment for SCA3/MJD patients. METHODS First, a randomized, open-label, dose-escalation method was used to evaluate tolerance to single-dose VPA administration in 12 SCA3/MJD patients. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups of four subjects, each with an oral dosage of 400 mg, 600 mg, or 800 mg (twice daily (bid) for one day). VPA was well-tolerated for one-dose by all patient groups. Second, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of multi-dose VPA (oral administration, twice daily (bid) for 12 weeks) in 36 SCA3/MJD patients. Patients received either low-dose VPA (800 mg/day), high-dose VPA (1200 mg/day), or placebo (n = 12 subjects per group). Symptoms were evaluated using the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). RESULTS Multi-dose VPA treatment improved SARA measures of locomotor function. Major adverse effects included dizziness and loss of appetite. CONCLUSIONS VPA is a potentially beneficial agent for the treatment of SCA3/MJD. These results also provide insight into possible future therapeutics for polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Fang Lei
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China; Department of Neurology, Xiangya 3rd Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Ping Yang
- Clinical Pharmacology Center, Xiangya 3rd Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Ling Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - De-Maw Chuang
- Molecular Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1363, USA
| | - Wei-Hong Song
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Research Center, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Bei-Sha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, People's Republic of China.
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32
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Zhang Q, Tsoi H, Peng S, Li PP, Lau KF, Rudnicki DD, Ngo JCK, Chan HYE. Assessing a peptidylic inhibitor-based therapeutic approach that simultaneously suppresses polyglutamine RNA- and protein-mediated toxicities in patient cells and Drosophila. Dis Model Mech 2016; 9:321-34. [PMID: 26839389 PMCID: PMC4833327 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.022350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases represent a group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders that are caused by abnormal expansion of CAG triplet nucleotides in disease genes. Recent evidence indicates that not only mutant polyQ proteins, but also their corresponding mutant RNAs, contribute to the pathogenesis of polyQ diseases. Here, we describe the identification of a 13-amino-acid peptide, P3, which binds directly and preferentially to long-CAG RNA within the pathogenic range. When administered to cell and Drosophila disease models, as well as to patient-derived fibroblasts, P3 inhibited expanded-CAG-RNA-induced nucleolar stress and suppressed neurotoxicity. We further examined the combined therapeutic effect of P3 and polyQ-binding peptide 1 (QBP1), a well-characterized polyQ protein toxicity inhibitor, on neurodegeneration. When P3 and QBP1 were co-administered to disease models, both RNA and protein toxicities were effectively mitigated, resulting in a notable improvement of neurotoxicity suppression compared with the P3 and QBP1 single-treatment controls. Our findings indicate that targeting toxic RNAs and/or simultaneous targeting of toxic RNAs and their corresponding proteins could open up a new therapeutic strategy for treating polyQ degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Laboratory of Drosophila Research, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Biochemistry Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Tsoi
- Laboratory of Drosophila Research, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Biochemistry Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shaohong Peng
- Laboratory of Drosophila Research, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Biochemistry Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pan P Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Program of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Kwok-Fai Lau
- Biochemistry Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Cell and Molecular Biology Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Molecular Biotechnology Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dobrila D Rudnicki
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Program of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jacky Chi-Ki Ngo
- Biochemistry Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Cell and Molecular Biology Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- Laboratory of Drosophila Research, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Biochemistry Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Cell and Molecular Biology Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China Molecular Biotechnology Program, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
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33
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He WT, Zheng XM, Zhang YH, Gao YG, Song AX, van der Goot FG, Hu HY. Cytoplasmic Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 19 (USP19) Modulates Aggregation of Polyglutamine-Expanded Ataxin-3 and Huntingtin through the HSP90 Chaperone. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147515. [PMID: 26808260 PMCID: PMC4726498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin-specific protease 19 (USP19) is one of the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) involved in regulating the ubiquitination status of substrate proteins. There are two major isoforms of USP19 with distinct C-termini; the USP19_a isoform has a transmembrane domain for anchoring to the endoplasmic reticulum, while USP19_b contains an EEVD motif. Here, we report that the cytoplasmic isoform USP19_b up-regulates the protein levels of the polyglutamine (polyQ)-containing proteins, ataxin-3 (Atx3) and huntingtin (Htt), and thus promotes aggregation of their polyQ-expanded species in cell models. Our data demonstrate that USP19_b may orchestrate the stability, aggregation and degradation of the polyQ-expanded proteins through the heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) chaperone system. USP19_b directly interacts with HSP90 through its N-terminal CS (CHORD and SGT1)/P23 domains. In conjunction with HSP90, the cytoplasmic USP19 may play a key role in triage decision for the disease-related polyQ-expanded substrates, suggesting a function of USP19 in quality control of misfolded proteins by regulating their protein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Tian He
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xue-Ming Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medical Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Hang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yong-Guang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ai-Xin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | | | - Hong-Yu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- * E-mail:
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34
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Ho CS, Khadka NK, She F, Cai J, Pan J. Polyglutamine aggregates impair lipid membrane integrity and enhance lipid membrane rigidity. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1858:661-70. [PMID: 26806158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Lipid membranes are suggested as the primary target of amyloid aggregates. We study aggregates formed by a polyglutamine (polyQ) peptide, and their disruptive effect on lipid membranes. Using solution atomic force microscopy (AFM), we observe polyQ oligomers coexisting with short fibrils, which have a twisted morphology that likely corresponds to two intertwined oligomer strings. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals that the content of β-sheet enriched aggregates increases with incubation time. Using fluorescence microscopy, we find that exposure to polyQ aggregates results in deflated morphology of giant unilamellar vesicles. PolyQ aggregates induced membrane disruption is further substantiated by time-dependent calcein leakage from the interior to the exterior of lipid vesicles. Detailed structural and mechanical perturbations of lipid membranes are revealed by solution AFM. We find that membrane disruption by polyQ aggregates proceeds by a two-step process, involving partial and full disruption. In addition to height contrast, the resulting partially and fully disrupted bilayers have distinct rigidity and adhesion force properties compared to the intact bilayer. Specifically, the bilayer rigidity increases as the intact bilayer becomes partially and fully disrupted. Surprisingly, the adhesion force first decreases and then increases during the disruption process. By resolving individual fibrils deposited on bilayer surface, we show that both the length and the number of fibrils can increase with incubation time. Our results highlight that membrane disruption could be the molecular basis of polyQ aggregates induced cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chian Sing Ho
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Nawal K Khadka
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Fengyu She
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Jianjun Pan
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States.
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Bowles KR, Brooks SP, Dunnett SB, Jones L. Huntingtin Subcellular Localisation Is Regulated by Kinase Signalling Activity in the StHdhQ111 Model of HD. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144864. [PMID: 26660732 PMCID: PMC4679340 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised primarily by motor abnormalities, and is caused by an expanded polyglutamine repeat in the huntingtin protein. Huntingtin dynamically shuttles between subcellular compartments, and the mutant huntingtin protein is mislocalised to cell nuclei, where it may interfere with nuclear functions, such as transcription. However, the mechanism by which mislocalisation of mutant huntingtin occurs is currently unknown. An immortalised embryonic striatal cell model of HD (StHdhQ111) was stimulated with epidermal growth factor in order to determine whether the subcellular localisation of huntingtin is dependent on kinase signalling pathway activation. Aberrant phosphorylation of AKT and MEK signalling pathways was identified in cells carrying mutant huntingtin. Activity within these pathways was found to contribute to the regulation of huntingtin and mutant huntingtin localisation, as well as to the expression of immediate-early genes. We propose that altered kinase signalling is a phenotype of Huntington's disease that occurs prior to cell death; specifically, that altered kinase signalling may influence huntingtin localisation, which in turn may impact upon nuclear processes such as transcriptional regulation. Aiming to restore the balance of activity between kinase signalling networks may therefore prove to be an effective approach to delaying Huntington's disease symptom development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R. Bowles
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis building, Maindy Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P. Brooks
- The Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen B. Dunnett
- The Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Lesley Jones
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis building, Maindy Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, United Kingdom
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Murphy RM. Q&A: repeat-containing proteins. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2015; 22:943-5. [DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Limited Effect of Chronic Valproic Acid Treatment in a Mouse Model of Machado-Joseph Disease. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141610. [PMID: 26505994 PMCID: PMC4624233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease, caused by a CAG repeat expansion within the coding region of ATXN3 gene, and which currently lacks effective treatment. In this work we tested the therapeutic efficacy of chronic treatment with valproic acid (VPA) (200mg/kg), a compound with known neuroprotection activity, and previously shown to be effective in cell, fly and nematode models of MJD. We show that chronic VPA treatment in the CMVMJD135 mouse model had limited effects in the motor deficits of these mice, seen mostly at late stages in the motor swimming, beam walk, rotarod and spontaneous locomotor activity tests, and did not modify the ATXN3 inclusion load and astrogliosis in affected brain regions. However, VPA chronic treatment was able to increase GRP78 protein levels at 30 weeks of age, one of its known neuroprotective effects, confirming target engagement. In spite of limited results, the use of another dosage of VPA or of VPA in a combined therapy with molecules targeting other pathways, cannot be excluded as potential strategies for MJD therapeutics.
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Nóbrega C, Carmo-Silva S, Albuquerque D, Vasconcelos-Ferreira A, Vijayakumar UG, Mendonça L, Hirai H, de Almeida LP. Re-establishing ataxin-2 downregulates translation of mutant ataxin-3 and alleviates Machado-Joseph disease. Brain 2015; 138:3537-54. [PMID: 26490332 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the polyQ-expanded ataxin-3 (encoded by ATXN3), for which no therapy is available. With the aim of clarifying the mechanism of neurodegeneration, we hypothesized that the abnormally long polyQ tract would interact aberrantly with ataxin-2 (encoded by ATXN2), another polyQ protein whose function has recently been linked to translational regulation. Using patient's samples and cellular and animal's models we found that in Machado-Joseph disease: (i) ataxin-2 levels are reduced; and (ii) its subcellular localization is changed towards the nucleus. Restoring ataxin-2 levels by lentiviral-mediated overexpression: (i) reduced mutant ataxin-3 levels; and (ii) rescued behaviour defects and neuropathology in a transgenic mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease. Conversely (i) mutating the ataxin-2 motif that enables binding to its natural interactor and translation activator poly(A)-binding protein; or (ii) overexpressing poly(A)-binding protein, had opposite effects, increasing mutant ataxin-3 translation and aggregation. This work suggests that in Machado-Joseph disease, mutant ataxin-3 drives an abnormal reduction of ataxin-2 levels, which overactivates poly(A)-binding protein, increases translation of mutant ataxin-3 and other proteins and aggravates Machado-Joseph disease. Re-establishment of ataxin-2 levels reduces mutant ataxin-3 and alleviates Machado-Joseph disease pathogenesis opening a new avenue for therapeutic intervention in this and potentially other polyQ disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clévio Nóbrega
- 1 CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, FMUC, 3004- 504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sara Carmo-Silva
- 1 CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, FMUC, 3004- 504 Coimbra, Portugal 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - David Albuquerque
- 3 Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004- 517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Vasconcelos-Ferreira
- 1 CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, FMUC, 3004- 504 Coimbra, Portugal 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Udaya-Geetha Vijayakumar
- 1 CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, FMUC, 3004- 504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Liliana Mendonça
- 1 CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, FMUC, 3004- 504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Hirokazu Hirai
- 4 Department of Neurophysiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- 1 CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, FMUC, 3004- 504 Coimbra, Portugal 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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Xu Z, Tito AJ, Rui YN, Zhang S. Studying polyglutamine diseases in Drosophila. Exp Neurol 2015; 274:25-41. [PMID: 26257024 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a family of dominantly transmitted neurodegenerative disorders caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the protein-coding regions of the respective disease-causing genes. Despite their simple genetic basis, the etiology of these diseases is far from clear. Over the past two decades, Drosophila has proven to be successful in modeling this family of neurodegenerative disorders, including the faithful recapitulation of pathological features such as polyQ length-dependent formation of protein aggregates and progressive neuronal degeneration. Additionally, it has been valuable in probing the pathogenic mechanisms, in identifying and evaluating disease modifiers, and in helping elucidate the normal functions of disease-causing genes. Knowledge learned from this simple invertebrate organism has had a large impact on our understanding of these devastating brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Xu
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Antonio Joel Tito
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Programs in Human and Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Yan-Ning Rui
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Sheng Zhang
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; Programs in Human and Molecular Genetics and Neuroscience, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
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Chou AH, Chen YL, Chiu CC, Yuan SJ, Weng YH, Yeh TH, Lin YL, Fang JM, Wang HL. T1-11 and JMF1907 ameliorate polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3-induced neurodegeneration, transcriptional dysregulation and ataxic symptom in the SCA3 transgenic mouse. Neuropharmacology 2015; 99:308-17. [PMID: 26254860 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
More studies are required to develop therapeutic agents for treating spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), which is caused by mutant polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3 and is the most prevalent subtype of spinocerebellar ataxias. T1-11 [N6-(4-Hydroxybenzyl) adenosine], isolated from a Chinese medicinal herb Gastordia elata, is an adenosine A2A receptor agonist. SCA3 and Huntington's disease (HD) belong to a family of polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases. T1-11 exerted a therapeutic effect on HD transgenic mouse by decreasing protein level of polyglutamine-expanded huntingtin in the striatum. In the present study, we test the possibility that T1-11 or JMF1907 [N6-(3-Indolylethyl) adenosine], a synthetic analog of T1-11, alleviates pontine neuronal death, cerebellar transcriptional downregulation and ataxic symptom in the SCA3 transgenic mouse expressing HA-tagged polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3-Q79 (ataxin-3-Q79HA). Daily oral administration of T1-11 or JMF1907 prevented neuronal death of pontine nuclei in the SCA3 mouse with a dose-dependent manner. Oral application of T1-11 or JMF1907 reversed mutant ataxin-3-Q79-induced cerebellar transcriptional repression in the SCA3 transgenic mouse. T1-11 or JMF1907 ameliorated the symptom of motor incoordination displayed by SCA3 mouse. Oral administration of T1-11 or JMF1907 significantly decreased protein level of ataxin-3-Q79HA in the pontine nuclei or cerebellum of SCA3 mouse. T1-11 or JMF1907 significantly augmented the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome in the pontine nuclei or cerebellum of SCA3 mouse. Our results suggests that T1-11 and JMF1907 alleviate pontine neuronal death, cerebellar transcriptional downregulation and ataxic symptom of SCA3 transgenic mouse by augmenting the proteasome activity and reducing the protein level of polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3-Q79 in the pontine nuclei and cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Hsun Chou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ying-Ling Chen
- Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ching-Chi Chiu
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shin-Je Yuan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Hsin Weng
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tu-Hsueh Yeh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yun-Lian Lin
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jim-Min Fang
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Li Wang
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC; Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
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Kim AY, Seo JB, Kim WT, Choi HJ, Kim SY, Morrow G, Tanguay RM, Steller H, Koh YH. The pathogenic human Torsin A in Drosophila activates the unfolded protein response and increases susceptibility to oxidative stress. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:338. [PMID: 25903460 PMCID: PMC4415242 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1518-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dystonia1 (DYT1) dystonia is caused by a glutamic acid deletion (ΔE) mutation in the gene encoding Torsin A in humans (HTorA). To investigate the unknown molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying DYT1 dystonia, we performed an unbiased proteomic analysis. Results We found that the amount of proteins and transcripts of an Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident chaperone Heat shock protein cognate 3 (HSC3) and a mitochondria chaperone Heat Shock Protein 22 (HSP22) were significantly increased in the HTorAΔE– expressing brains compared to the normal HTorA (HTorAWT) expressing brains. The physiological consequences included an increased susceptibility to oxidative and ER stress compared to normal HTorAWT flies. The alteration of transcripts of Inositol-requiring enzyme-1 (IRE1)-dependent spliced X box binding protein 1(Xbp1), several ER chaperones, a nucleotide exchange factor, Autophagy related protein 8b (ATG8b) and components of the ER associated degradation (ERAD) pathway and increased expression of the Xbp1-enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein (eGFP) in HTorAΔE brains strongly indicated the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). In addition, perturbed expression of the UPR sensors and inducers in the HTorAΔEDrosophila brains resulted in a significantly reduced life span of the flies. Furthermore, the types and quantities of proteins present in the anti-HSC3 positive microsomes in the HTorAΔE brains were different from those of the HTorAWT brains. Conclusion Taken together, these data show that HTorAΔE in Drosophila brains may activate the UPR and increase the expression of HSP22 to compensate for the toxic effects caused by HTorAΔE in the brains. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1518-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Young Kim
- ILSONG Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, 1605-4 Gwanyangdong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggido, 431-060, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Gerontology, Graduate School of Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-702, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong Bok Seo
- Korea Basic Science Institute, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea.
| | - Won-Tae Kim
- National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-707, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hee Jeong Choi
- ILSONG Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, 1605-4 Gwanyangdong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggido, 431-060, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Gerontology, Graduate School of Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-702, Republic of Korea.
| | - Soo-Young Kim
- Korea Basic Science Institute, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-713, Republic of Korea.
| | - Genevieve Morrow
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry & Pathology, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Robert M Tanguay
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry & Pathology, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Hermann Steller
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Young Ho Koh
- ILSONG Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, 1605-4 Gwanyangdong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggido, 431-060, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Gerontology, Graduate School of Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, 200-702, Republic of Korea.
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Both ubiquitin ligases FBXW8 and PARK2 are sequestrated into insolubility by ATXN2 PolyQ expansions, but only FBXW8 expression is dysregulated. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121089. [PMID: 25790475 PMCID: PMC4366354 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in the course of various age-associated neurodegenerative diseases is well established. The single RING finger type E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase PARK2 is mutated in a Parkinson’s disease (PD) variant and was found to interact with ATXN2, a protein where polyglutamine expansions cause Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) or increase the risk for Levodopa-responsive PD and for the motor neuron disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We previously reported evidence for a transcriptional induction of the multi-subunit RING finger Skp1/Cul/F-box (SCF) type E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex component FBXW8 in global microarray profiling of ATXN2-expansion mouse cerebellum and demonstrated its role for ATXN2 degradation in vitro. Now, we documented co-localization in vitro and co-immunoprecipitations both in vitro and in vivo, which indicate associations of FBXW8 with ATXN2 and PARK2. Both FBXW8 and PARK2 proteins are driven into insolubility by expanded ATXN2. Whereas the FBXW8 transcript upregulation by ATXN2- expansion was confirmed also in qPCR of skin fibroblasts and blood samples of SCA2 patients, a FBXW8 expression dysregulation was not observed in ATXN2-deficient mice, nor was a PARK2 transcript dysregulation observed in any samples. Jointly, all available data suggest that the degradation of wildtype and mutant ATXN2 is dependent on FBXW8, and that ATXN2 accumulation selectively modulates FBXW8 levels, while PARK2 might act indirectly through FBXW8. The effects of ATXN2-expansions on FBXW8 expression in peripheral tissues like blood may become useful for clinical diagnostics.
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Vaccinia-Related Kinase 2 Controls the Stability of the Eukaryotic Chaperonin TRiC/CCT by Inhibiting the Deubiquitinating Enzyme USP25. Mol Cell Biol 2015; 35:1754-62. [PMID: 25755282 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01325-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones monitor the proper folding of misfolded proteins and function as the first line of defense against mutant protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. The eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC is a potent suppressor of mutant protein aggregation and toxicity in early stages of disease progression. Elucidation of TRiC functional regulation will enable us to better understand the pathological mechanisms of neurodegeneration. We have previously shown that vaccinia-related kinase 2 (VRK2) downregulates TRiC protein levels through the ubiquitin-proteasome system by recruiting the E3 ligase COP1. However, although VRK2 activity was necessary in TRiC downregulation, the phosphorylated substrate was not determined. Here, we report that USP25 is a novel TRiC interacting protein that is also phosphorylated by VRK2. USP25 catalyzed deubiquitination of the TRiC protein and stabilized the chaperonin, thereby reducing accumulation of misfolded polyglutamine protein aggregates. Notably, USP25 deubiquitinating activity was suppressed when VRK2 phosphorylated the Thr(680), Thr(727), and Ser(745) residues. Impaired USP25 deubiquitinating activity after VRK2-mediated phosphorylation may be a critical pathway in TRiC protein destabilization.
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Ajayi A, Yu X, Wahlo-Svedin C, Tsirigotaki G, Karlström V, Ström AL. Altered p53 and NOX1 activity cause bioenergetic defects in a SCA7 polyglutamine disease model. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2015; 1847:418-428. [PMID: 25647692 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is one of the nine neurodegenerative disorders caused by expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) domains. Common pathogenic mechanisms, including bioenergetics defects, have been suggested for these so called polyQ diseases. However, the exact molecular mechanism(s) behind the metabolic dysfunction is still unclear. In this study we identified a previously unreported mechanism, involving disruption of p53 and NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1) activity, by which the expanded SCA7 disease protein ATXN7 causes metabolic dysregulation. The NOX1 protein is known to promote glycolytic activity, whereas the transcription factor p53 inhibits this process and instead promotes mitochondrial respiration. In a stable inducible PC12 model of SCA7, p53 and mutant ATXN7 co-aggregated and the transcriptional activity of p53 was reduced, resulting in a 50% decrease of key p53 target proteins, like AIF and TIGAR. In contrast, the expression of NOX1 was increased approximately 2 times in SCA7 cells. Together these alterations resulted in a decreased respiratory capacity, an increased reliance on glycolysis for energy production and a subsequent 20% reduction of ATP in SCA7 cells. Restoring p53 function, or suppressing NOX1 activity, both reversed the metabolic dysfunction and ameliorated mutant ATXN7 toxicity. These results hence not only enhance the understanding of the mechanisms causing metabolic dysfunction in SCA7 disease, but also identify NOX1 as a novel potential therapeutic target in SCA7 and possibly other polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiodun Ajayi
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Xin Yu
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | - Galateia Tsirigotaki
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Victor Karlström
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Anna-Lena Ström
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Fan HC, Ho LI, Chi CS, Chen SJ, Peng GS, Chan TM, Lin SZ, Harn HJ. Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases: genetics to treatments. Cell Transplant 2015; 23:441-58. [PMID: 24816443 DOI: 10.3727/096368914x678454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by expanded cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats encoding a long polyQ tract in the respective proteins. To date, a total of nine polyQ disorders have been described: six spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) types 1, 2, 6, 7, 17; Machado-Joseph disease (MJD/SCA3); Huntington's disease (HD); dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA); and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, X-linked 1 (SMAX1/SBMA). PolyQ diseases are characterized by the pathological expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeat in the translated region of unrelated genes. The translated polyQ is aggregated in the degenerated neurons leading to the dysfunction and degeneration of specific neuronal subpopulations. Although animal models of polyQ disease for understanding human pathology and accessing disease-modifying therapies in neurodegenerative diseases are available, there is neither a cure nor prevention for these diseases, and only symptomatic treatments for polyQ diseases currently exist. Long-term pharmacological treatment is so far disappointing, probably due to unwanted complications and decreasing drug efficacy. Cellular transplantation of stem cells may provide promising therapeutic avenues for restoration of the functions of degenerative and/or damaged neurons in polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hueng-Chuen Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
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Huynen C, Willet N, Buell AK, Duwez AS, Jerôme C, Dumoulin M. Influence of the protein context on the polyglutamine length-dependent elongation of amyloid fibrils. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2014; 1854:239-48. [PMID: 25489872 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2014.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, including Huntington's disease, are neurodegenerative disorders associated with the abnormal expansion of a polyQ tract within nine proteins. The polyQ expansion is thought to be a major determinant in the development of neurotoxicity, triggering protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils, although non-polyQ regions play a modulating role. In this work, we investigate the relative importance of the polyQ length, its location within a host protein, and the conformational state of the latter in the amyloid fibril elongation. Model polyQ proteins made of the β-lactamase BlaP containing up to 79Q inserted at two different positions, and quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy were used for this purpose. We demonstrate that, independently of the polyQ tract location and the conformational state of the host protein, the relative elongation rate of fibrils increases linearly with the polyQ length. The slope of the linear fit is similar for both sets of chimeras (i.e., the elongation rate increases by ~1.9% for each additional glutamine), and is also similar to that previously observed for polyQ peptides. The elongation rate is, however, strongly influenced by the location of the polyQ tract within BlaP and the conformational state of BlaP. Moreover, comparison of our results with those previously reported for aggregation in solution indicates that these two parameters also modulate the ability of BlaP-polyQ chimeras to form the aggregation nucleus. Altogether our results suggest that non-polyQ regions are valuable targets in order to interfere with the process of amyloid fibril formation associated with polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Huynen
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Protein Folding, Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Willet
- Nanochemistry and Molecular Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Alexander K Buell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Anne-Sophie Duwez
- Nanochemistry and Molecular Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Christine Jerôme
- Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM), Department of Chemistry, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Mireille Dumoulin
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Protein Folding, Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
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Kurosawa M, Matsumoto G, Kino Y, Okuno M, Kurosawa-Yamada M, Washizu C, Taniguchi H, Nakaso K, Yanagawa T, Warabi E, Shimogori T, Sakurai T, Hattori N, Nukina N. Depletion of p62 reduces nuclear inclusions and paradoxically ameliorates disease phenotypes in Huntington's model mice. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:1092-105. [PMID: 25305080 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited genetic disease caused by mutant huntingtin (htt) protein with expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts. A neuropathological hallmark of HD is the presence of neuronal inclusions of mutant htt. p62 is an important regulatory protein in selective autophagy, a process by which aggregated proteins are degraded, and it is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders including HD. Here, we investigated the effect of p62 depletion in three HD model mice: R6/2, HD190QG and HD120QG mice. We found that loss of p62 in these models led to longer life spans and reduced nuclear inclusions, although cytoplasmic inclusions increased with polyQ length. In mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with or without p62, mutant htt with a nuclear localization signal (NLS) showed no difference in nuclear inclusion between the two MEF types. In the case of mutant htt without NLS, however, p62 depletion increased cytoplasmic inclusions. Furthermore, to examine the effect of impaired autophagy in HD model mice, we crossed R6/2 mice with Atg5 conditional knockout mice. These mice also showed decreased nuclear inclusions and increased cytoplasmic inclusions, similar to HD mice lacking p62. These data suggest that the genetic ablation of p62 in HD model mice enhances cytoplasmic inclusion formation by interrupting autophagic clearance of polyQ inclusions. This reduces polyQ nuclear influx and paradoxically ameliorates disease phenotypes by decreasing toxic nuclear inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Kurosawa
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan, Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, CREST (Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Gen Matsumoto
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, CREST (Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kino
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, CREST (Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Harumi Taniguchi
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakaso
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori 683-8504, Japan
| | - Toru Yanagawa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan and
| | - Eiji Warabi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan and
| | - Tomomi Shimogori
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Takashi Sakurai
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | | | - Nobuyuki Nukina
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Thalamus Development, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, CREST (Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
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48
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Kino Y, Washizu C, Kurosawa M, Oma Y, Hattori N, Ishiura S, Nukina N. Nuclear localization of MBNL1: splicing-mediated autoregulation and repression of repeat-derived aberrant proteins. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:740-56. [PMID: 25274774 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In some neurological diseases caused by repeat expansions such as myotonic dystrophy, the RNA-binding protein muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) accumulates in intranuclear inclusions containing mutant repeat RNA. The interaction between MBNL1 and mutant RNA in the nucleus is a key event leading to loss of MBNL function, yet the details of this effect have been elusive. Here, we investigated the mechanism and significance of MBNL1 nuclear localization. We found that MBNL1 contains two classes of nuclear localization signal (NLS), a classical bipartite NLS and a novel conformational NLS. Alternative splicing of exon 7 acts as a switch between these NLS types and couples MBNL1 activity and intracellular localization. Depending on its nuclear localization, MBNL1 promoted nuclear accumulation of mutant RNA containing a CUG or CAG repeat, some of which produced proteins containing homopolymeric tracts such as polyglutamine. Furthermore, MBNL1 repressed the expression of these homopolymeric proteins including those presumably produced through repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. These results suggest that nuclear retention of expanded RNA reflects a novel role of MBNL proteins in repressing aberrant protein expression and may provide pathological and therapeutic implications for a wide range of repeat expansion diseases associated with nuclear RNA retention and/or RAN translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Kino
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan CREST (Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Saitama 332-0012, Japan Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Neuropathology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan and
| | - Chika Washizu
- Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masaru Kurosawa
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan CREST (Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Saitama 332-0012, Japan Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yoko Oma
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Shoichi Ishiura
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Nukina
- Department of Neuroscience for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan CREST (Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology), JST, Saitama 332-0012, Japan Laboratory for Structural Neuropathology, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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49
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Katsuno M, Watanabe H, Yamamoto M, Sobue G. Potential therapeutic targets in polyglutamine-mediated diseases. Expert Rev Neurother 2014; 14:1215-28. [PMID: 25190502 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.2014.956727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine diseases are a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders that are caused by an abnormal expansion of a trinucleotide CAG repeat, which encodes a polyglutamine tract in the protein-coding region of the respective disease genes. To date, nine polyglutamine diseases are known, including Huntington's disease, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy and six forms of spinocerebellar ataxia. These diseases share a salient molecular pathophysiology including the aggregation of the mutant protein followed by the disruption of cellular functions such as transcriptional regulation and axonal transport. The intraneuronal accumulation of mutant protein and resulting cellular dysfunction are the essential targets for the development of disease-modifying therapies, some of which have shown beneficial effects in animal models. In this review, the current status of and perspectives on therapy development for polyglutamine diseases will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
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50
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Polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3 impairs long-term depression in Purkinje neurons of SCA3 transgenic mouse by inhibiting HAT and impairing histone acetylation. Brain Res 2014; 1583:220-9. [PMID: 25139423 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Our previous study using a transgenic mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) reported that disease-causing ataxin-3-Q79 caused cerebellar malfunction by inducing transcriptional downregulation. Long-term depression (LTD) of parallel fiber-Purkinje neuron glutamatergic transmission is believed to be a cellular mechanism for motor learning and motor coordination in the cerebellum. Downregulated mRNA expression of calcineurin B, IP3-R1, myosin Va and PLC β4, which are required for the induction of cerebellar LTD, led to an impairment of LTD induction in Purkinje neurons of SCA3 transgenic mouse. Our study suggested that ataxin-3-Q79 caused hypoacetylation of cerebellar histone H3 or H4 by inhibiting the activity of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) without affecting the activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC). Consistent with the hypothesis that hypoacetylated H3 or H4 histone associated with promoter regions of downregulated genes is the molecular mechanism underlying ataxin-3-Q79-induced transcriptional repression, chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed hypoacetylation of H3 or H4 histone associated with the proximal promoter of downregulated calcineurin B, IP3-R1, myosin Va or PLC β4 gene in the cerebellum of SCA3 mouse. HDAC inhibitor sodium butyrate reversed ataxin-3-Q79-induced hypoacetylation of histone H3 or H4 associated with the proximal promoter of calcineurin B, IP3-R1, myosin Va or PLC β4 gene. Sodium butyrate also prevented ataxin-3-Q79-induced impairment of LTD induction in Purkinje neurons of SCA3 mice. Our results suggest that polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-3-Q79 impairs HAT activity, leading to histone hypoacetylation, downregulated expression of cerebellar genes required for LTD induction and impaired induction of cerebellar LTD in the SCA3 transgenic mouse.
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