Genetic removal of eIF2α kinase PERK in mice enables hippocampal L-LTP independent of mTORC1 activity

The integrated stress response effector GADD34 is repurposed by neurons to promote stimulus-induced translation

Neuronal protein synthesis is required for long-lasting plasticity and long-term memory consolidation. Dephosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α is one of the key translational control events that is required to increase de novo protein synthesis that underlies long-lasting plasticity and memory consolidation. Here, we interrogate the molecular pathways of translational control that are triggered by neuronal stimulation with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which results in eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) dephosphorylation and increases in de novo protein synthesis. Primary rodent neurons exposed to BDNF display elevated translation of GADD34, which facilitates eIF2α dephosphorylation and subsequent de novo protein synthesis. Furthermore, GADD34 requires G-actin generated by cofilin to dephosphorylate eIF2α and enhance protein synthesis. Finally, GADD34 is required for BDNF-induced translation of synaptic plasticity-related proteins. Overall, we provide evidence that neurons repurpose GADD34, an effector of the integrated stress response, as an orchestrator of rapid increases in eIF2-dependent translation in response to plasticity-inducing stimuli.

Antagonists targeting eEF2 kinase rescue multiple aspects of pathophysiology in Alzheimer’s disease model mice

It is imperative to develop novel therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementia syndromes based on solid mechanistic studies. Maintenance of memory and synaptic plasticity relies on de novo protein synthesis, which is partially regulated by phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) via its kinase eEF2K. Abnormally increased eEF2 phosphorylation and impaired mRNA translation have been linked to AD. We recently reported that prenatal genetic suppression of eEF2K is able to prevent aging-related cognitive deficits in AD model mice, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting eEF2K/eEF2 signaling in AD. Here, we tested two structurally distinct small-molecule eEF2K inhibitors in two different lines of AD model mice after the onset of cognitive impairments. Our data revealed that treatment with eEF2K inhibitors improved AD-associated synaptic plasticity impairments and cognitive dysfunction, without altering brain amyloid β (Aβ) and tau pathology. Furthermore, eEF2K inhibition alleviated AD-associated defects in dendritic spine morphology, post-synaptic density formation, protein synthesis, and dendritic polyribosome assembly. Our results may offer critical therapeutic implications for AD, and the proof-of-principle study indicates translational implication of inhibiting eEF2K for AD and related dementia syndromes. Cover Image for this issue: https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15392.

Functionally distinct roles for eEF2K in the control of ribosome availability and p-body abundance

Processing bodies (p-bodies) are a prototypical phase-separated RNA-containing granule. Their abundance is highly dynamic and has been linked to translation. Yet, the molecular mechanisms responsible for coordinate control of the two processes are unclear. Here, we uncover key roles for eEF2 kinase (eEF2K) in the control of ribosome availability and p-body abundance. eEF2K acts on a sole known substrate, eEF2, to inhibit translation. We find that the eEF2K agonist nelfinavir abolishes p-bodies in sensory neurons and impairs translation. To probe the latter, we used cryo-electron microscopy. Nelfinavir stabilizes vacant 80S ribosomes. They contain SERBP1 in place of mRNA and eEF2 in the acceptor site. Phosphorylated eEF2 associates with inactive ribosomes that resist splitting in vitro. Collectively, the data suggest that eEF2K defines a population of inactive ribosomes resistant to recycling and protected from degradation. Thus, eEF2K activity is central to both p-body abundance and ribosome availability in sensory neurons.

Roles of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) in neuronal plasticity, cognition, and Alzheimer disease

Understanding the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying cognition and neuronal plasticity would provide insights into the pathogenesis of neuronal disorders characterized by cognitive syndromes such as Alzheimer disease (AD). Phosphorylation of the mRNA translational factor eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) by its specific kinase eEF2K is critically involved in protein synthesis regulation. In this review, we discussed recent studies on the roles of eEF2K/eEF2 signaling in the context of regulation/dysregulation of cognitive function and synaptic plasticity. We specifically focus on the discussion of recent evidence indicating suppression of eEF2K signaling as a potential novel therapeutic avenue for AD and related dementias (ADRDs).

Suppression of the kinase for elongation factor 2 alleviates mGluR-LTD impairments in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Impaired mRNA translation (protein synthesis) is linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. Recent studies revealed the role of increased phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) in AD-associated cognitive deficits. Phosphorylation of eEF2 (at the Thr56 site) by its only known kinase eEF2K leads to inhibition of general protein synthesis. AD is considered as a disease of "synaptic failure" characterized by impairments of synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). Deficiency of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5-dependent LTD (mGluR-LTD) is indicated in cognitive syndromes associated with various neurological disorders, including AD, but the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying the mGluR-LTD dysregulation in AD remain unclear. In this brief communication, we report genetic repression of eEF2K in aged APP/PS1 AD model mice prevented AD-associated hippocampal mGluR-LTD deficits. Using a pharmacological approach, we further observed that impairments of mGluR-LTD in APP/PS1 mice were rescued by treating hippocampal slices with a small molecule eEF2K antagonist NH125. Our findings, taken together, suggest a critical role of abnormal protein synthesis dysregulation at the elongation phase in AD-associated mGluR-LTD failure, thus providing insights into a mechanistic understanding of synaptic impairments in AD and other related dementia syndromes.

The Unfolded Protein Response and Autophagy as Drug Targets in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Neurons are polarized in structure with a cytoplasmic compartment extending into dendrites and a long axon that terminates at the synapse. The high level of compartmentalization imposes specific challenges for protein quality control in neurons making them vulnerable to disturbances that may lead to neurological dysfunctions including neuropsychiatric diseases. Synapse and dendrites undergo structural modulations regulated by neuronal activity involve key proteins requiring strict control of their turnover rates and degradation pathways. Recent advances in the study of the unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy processes have brought novel insights into the specific roles of these processes in neuronal physiology and synaptic signaling. In this review, we highlight recent data and concepts about UPR and autophagy in neuropsychiatric disorders and synaptic plasticity including a brief outline of possible therapeutic approaches to influence UPR and autophagy signaling in these diseases.

Repression of eEF2 kinase improves deficits in novel object recognition memory in aged mice

The normal aging process is commonly associated with mild cognitive deficits including memory decline. Previous studies indicate a role of dysregulated messenger ribonucleic acid translation capacity in cognitive defects associated with aging and aging-related diseases, including hyperphosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Phosphorylation of eEF2 by the kinase eEF2K inhibits its activity, hindering general protein synthesis. Here, we sought to determine whether cognitive deficits in aged mice can be improved by genetically deleting eEF2K (eEF2K KO) and consequently reduction of eEF2 phosphorylation. We found that suppression of eEF2K prevented aging-related deficits in novel object recognition memory. Interestingly, deletion of eEF2K did not alter overall protein synthesis in the hippocampus. Ultrastructural analysis revealed increase size and larger active zone lengths of postsynaptic densities in the hippocampus of aged eEF2K KO mice. Biochemical assays showed hippocampal eIF2α hyperphosphorylation in aged eEF2K KO mice, indicating inhibition of translation initiation. Our findings may provide insight into mechanistic understanding and thus development of novel therapeutic strategies for aging-related cognitive decline.

Brain-specific repression of AMPKα1 alleviates pathophysiology in Alzheimer's model mice

AMPK is a key regulator at the molecular level for maintaining energy metabolism homeostasis. Mammalian AMPK is a heterotrimeric complex, and its catalytic α subunit exists in 2 isoforms: AMPKα1 and AMPKα2. Recent studies suggest a role of AMPKα overactivation in Alzheimer's disease-associated (AD-associated) synaptic failure. However, whether AD-associated dementia can be improved by targeting AMPK remains unclear, and roles of AMPKα isoforms in AD pathophysiology are not understood. Here, we showed distinct disruption of hippocampal AMPKα isoform expression patterns in postmortem human AD patients and AD model mice. We further investigated the effects of brain- and isoform-specific AMPKα repression on AD pathophysiology. We found that repression of AMPKα1 alleviated cognitive deficits and synaptic failure displayed in 2 separate lines of AD model mice. In contrast, AMPKα2 suppression did not alter AD pathophysiology. Using unbiased mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis, we identified distinct patterns of protein expression associated with specific AMPKα isoform suppression in AD model mice. Further, AD-associated hyperphosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) was blunted with selective AMPKα1 inhibition. Our findings reveal isoform-specific roles of AMPKα in AD pathophysiology, thus providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies for AD and related dementia syndromes.

Direct Medial Entorhinal Cortex Input to Hippocampal CA3 Is Crucial for eEF2K Inhibitor-Induced Neuronal Oscillations in the Mouse Hippocampus

The hippocampal formation plays a vital role in memory formation and takes part in the control of the default neuronal network activity of the brain. It also represents an important structure to analyze drug-induced effects on subregion-specific synchronization of neuronal activity. However, the consequences of an altered functional state of synapses for subregion-specific synchronization of neuronal microcircuits remain to be fully understood. Therefore, we analyzed the direct interaction of neuronal microcircuits utilizing a genetically encoded calcium sensor (GCaMP6s) and local field potential (LFP) recording in acute hippocampal-entorhinal brain slices in response to a modulator of synaptic transmission. We observed that application of the eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF2K) inhibitor A484954, induced a large-scale synchronization of neuronal activity within different regions of the hippocampal formation. This effect was confirmed by the recording of extracellular LFPs. Further, in order to understand if the synchronized activity depended on interconnected hippocampal areas, we lesioned adjacent regions from each other. These experiments identified the origin of A484954-induced synchronized activity in the hippocampal CA3 subfield localized near the hilus of the dentate gyrus. Remarkably, the synchronization of neuronal activity in the hippocampus required an intact connection with the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC). In line with this observation, we detected an increase in neuronal activity in the MEC area after application of A484954. In summary, inhibition of eEF2K alters the intrinsic activity of interconnected neuronal microcircuits dominated by the MEC-CA3 afferents.

PERK, mTORC1 and eEF2 interplay during long term potentiation: An Editorial for 'Genetic removal of eIF2a kinase PERK in mice enables hippocampal L-LTP independent of mTORC1 activity' on page 133

This Editorial highlights a study by Zimmermann and coworkers in the current issue of Journal of Neurochemistry. The authors' link suppression of PKR-like endoplasmatic reticulum kinase (PERK) activity to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) dephosphorylation and mTORC1-independent high-frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) in acute hippocampal slices from PERK forebrain conditional knockout mice. The results suggest that functional interaction between the signaling pathways controlling different phases of the mRNA translation process is necessary for long-term plasticity in the hippocampus.

Genetic reduction of eEF2 kinase alleviates pathophysiology in Alzheimer's disease model mice

Molecular signaling mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear. Maintenance of memory and synaptic plasticity depend on de novo protein synthesis, dysregulation of which is implicated in AD. Recent studies showed AD-associated hyperphosphorylation of mRNA translation factor eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), which results in inhibition of protein synthesis. We tested to determine whether suppression of eEF2 phosphorylation could improve protein synthesis capacity and AD-associated cognitive and synaptic impairments. Genetic reduction of the eEF2 kinase (eEF2K) in 2 AD mouse models suppressed AD-associated eEF2 hyperphosphorylation and improved memory deficits and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) impairments without altering brain amyloid β (Aβ) pathology. Furthermore, eEF2K reduction alleviated AD-associated defects in dendritic spine morphology, postsynaptic density formation, de novo protein synthesis, and dendritic polyribosome assembly. Our results link eEF2K/eEF2 signaling dysregulation to AD pathophysiology and therefore offer a feasible therapeutic target.

PKR: A Kinase to Remember

Aging is a major risk factor for many diseases including metabolic syndrome, cancer, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Identifying mechanistic common denominators underlying the impact of aging is essential for our fundamental understanding of age-related diseases and the possibility to propose new ways to fight them. One can define aging biochemically as prolonged metabolic stress, the innate cellular and molecular programs responding to it, and the new stable or unstable state of equilibrium between the two. A candidate to play a role in the process is protein kinase R (PKR), first identified as a cellular protector against viral infection and today known as a major regulator of central cellular processes including mRNA translation, transcriptional control, regulation of apoptosis, and cell proliferation. Prolonged imbalance in PKR activation is both affected by biochemical and metabolic parameters and affects them in turn to create a feedforward loop. Here, we portray the central role of PKR in transferring metabolic information and regulating cellular function with a focus on cancer, inflammation, and brain function. Later, we integrate information from open data sources and discuss current knowledge and gaps in the literature about the signaling cascades upstream and downstream of PKR in different cell types and function. Finally, we summarize current major points and biological means to manipulate PKR expression and/or activation and propose PKR as a therapeutic target to shift age/metabolic-dependent undesired steady states.

UPR activation specifically modulates glutamate neurotransmission in the cerebellum of a mouse model of autism

An increasing number of rare mutations linked to autism spectrum disorders have been reported in genes encoding for proteins involved in synapse formation and maintenance, such as the post-synaptic cell adhesion proteins neuroligins. Most of the autism-linked mutations in the neuroligin genes map on the extracellular protein domain. The autism-linked substitution R451C in Neuroligin3 (NLGN3) induces a local misfolding of the extracellular domain, causing defective trafficking and retention of the mutant protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), due to misfolded proteins accumulating in the ER, has been implicated in pathological and physiological conditions of the nervous system. It was previously shown that the over-expression of R451C NLGN3 in a cellular system leads to the activation of the UPR. Here, we have investigated whether this protective cellular response is detectable in the knock-in mouse model of autism endogenously expressing R451C NLGN3. Our data showed up-regulation of UPR markers uniquely in the cerebellum of the R451C mice compared to WT littermates, at both embryonic and adult stages, but not in other brain regions. Miniature excitatory currents in the Purkinje cells of the R451C mice showed higher frequency than in the WT, which was rescued inhibiting the PERK branch of UPR. Taken together, our data indicate that the R451C mutation in neuroligin3 elicits UPR in vivo, which appears to trigger alterations of synaptic function in the cerebellum of a mouse model expressing the R451C autism-linked mutation.

ER Proteostasis Control of Neuronal Physiology and Synaptic Function

Neuronal proteostasis is maintained by the dynamic integration of different processes that regulate the synthesis, folding, quality control, and localization of proteins. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) serves as a fundamental pillar of the proteostasis network, and is emerging as a key compartment to sustain normal brain function. The unfolded protein response (UPR), the main mechanism that copes with ER stress, plays a central role in the quality control of many ion channels and receptors, in addition to crosstalk with signaling pathways that regulate connectivity, synapse formation, and neuronal plasticity. We provide here an overview of recent advances in the involvement of the UPR in maintaining neuronal proteostasis, and discuss its emerging role in brain development, neuronal physiology, and behavior, as well as the implications for neurodegenerative diseases involving cognitive decline.