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Theme 03 - In Vitro Experimental Models. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2022.2120679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Theme 05 - Human Cell Biology and Pathology (including iPSC studies). Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2022.2120681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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3
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Lao Z, Dong X, Liu X, Li F, Chen Y, Tang Y, Wei G. Insights into the Atomistic Mechanisms of Phosphorylation in Disrupting Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation and Aggregation of the FUS Low-Complexity Domain. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:3227-3238. [PMID: 35709363 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma (FUS), a nuclear RNA binding protein, can not only undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form dynamic biomolecular condensates but also aggregate into solid amyloid fibrils which are associated with the pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration diseases. Phosphorylation in the FUS low-complexity domain (FUS-LC) inhibits FUS LLPS and aggregation. However, it remains largely elusive what are the underlying atomistic mechanisms of this inhibitory effect and whether phosphorylation can disrupt preformed FUS fibrils, reversing the FUS gel/solid phase toward the liquid phase. Herein, we systematically investigate the impacts of phosphorylation on the conformational ensemble of the FUS37-97 monomer and dimer and the structure of the FUS37-97 fibril by performing extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Our simulations reveal three key findings: (1) phosphorylation shifts the conformations of FUS37-97 from the β-rich, fibril-competent state toward a helix-rich, fibril-incompetent state; (2) phosphorylation significantly weakens protein-protein interactions and enhances protein-water interactions, which disfavor FUS-LC LLPS as well as aggregation and facilitate the dissolution of the preformed FUS-LC fibril; and (3) the FUS37-97 peptide displays a high β-strand probability in the region spanning residues 52-67, and phosphorylation at S54 and S61 residues located in this region is crucial for the disruption of LLPS and aggregation of FUS-LC. This study may pave the way for ameliorating phase-separation-related pathologies via site-specific phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenghui Lao
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuewei Dong
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianshi Liu
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangying Li
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujie Chen
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiming Tang
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanghong Wei
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
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4
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Portz B, Lee BL, Shorter J. FUS and TDP-43 Phases in Health and Disease. Trends Biochem Sci 2021; 46:550-563. [PMID: 33446423 PMCID: PMC8195841 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The distinct prion-like domains (PrLDs) of FUS and TDP-43, modulate phase transitions that result in condensates with a range of material states. These assemblies are implicated in both health and disease. In this review, we examine how sequence, structure, post-translational modifications, and RNA can affect the self-assembly of these RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). We discuss how our emerging understanding of FUS and TDP-43 liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and aggregation, could be leveraged to design new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bede Portz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bo Lim Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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5
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Chiusa M, Hu W, Zienkiewicz J, Chen X, Zhang MZ, Harris RC, Vanacore RM, Bentz JA, Remuzzi G, Benigni A, Fogo AB, Luo W, Mili S, Wilson MH, Zent R, Hawiger J, Pozzi A. EGF receptor-mediated FUS phosphorylation promotes its nuclear translocation and fibrotic signaling. J Cell Biol 2021; 219:151955. [PMID: 32678881 PMCID: PMC7480104 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202001120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive accumulation of collagen leads to fibrosis. Integrin α1β1 (Itgα1β1) prevents kidney fibrosis by reducing collagen production through inhibition of the EGF receptor (EGFR) that phosphorylates cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins. To elucidate how the Itgα1β1/EGFR axis controls collagen synthesis, we analyzed the levels of nuclear tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in WT and Itgα1-null kidney cells. We show that the phosphorylation of the RNA-DNA binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) is higher in Itgα1-null cells. FUS contains EGFR-targeted phosphorylation sites and, in Itgα1-null cells, activated EGFR promotes FUS phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Nuclear FUS binds to the collagen IV promoter, commencing gene transcription that is reduced by inhibiting EGFR, down-regulating FUS, or expressing FUS mutated in the EGFR-targeted phosphorylation sites. Finally, a cell-penetrating peptide that inhibits FUS nuclear translocation reduces FUS nuclear content and collagen IV transcription. Thus, EGFR-mediated FUS phosphorylation regulates FUS nuclear translocation and transcription of a major profibrotic collagen gene. Targeting FUS nuclear translocation offers a new antifibrotic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Chiusa
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN
| | - Wen Hu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Jozef Zienkiewicz
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN.,Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | | | - Ming-Zhi Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Raymond C Harris
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN
| | - Roberto M Vanacore
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | | | - Giuseppe Remuzzi
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Ariela Benigni
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Agnes B Fogo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Wentian Luo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Stavroula Mili
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Matthew H Wilson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN
| | - Roy Zent
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN
| | - Jacek Hawiger
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN.,Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Ambra Pozzi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN
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6
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Mboukou A, Rajendra V, Kleinova R, Tisné C, Jantsch MF, Barraud P. Transportin-1: A Nuclear Import Receptor with Moonlighting Functions. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:638149. [PMID: 33681296 PMCID: PMC7930572 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.638149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transportin-1 (Trn1), also known as karyopherin-β2 (Kapβ2), is probably the best-characterized nuclear import receptor of the karyopherin-β family after Importin-β, but certain aspects of its functions in cells are still puzzling or are just recently emerging. Since the initial identification of Trn1 as the nuclear import receptor of hnRNP A1 ∼25 years ago, several molecular and structural studies have unveiled and refined our understanding of Trn1-mediated nuclear import. In particular, the understanding at a molecular level of the NLS recognition by Trn1 made a decisive step forward with the identification of a new class of NLSs called PY-NLSs, which constitute the best-characterized substrates of Trn1. Besides PY-NLSs, many Trn1 cargoes harbour NLSs that do not resemble the archetypical PY-NLS, which complicates the global understanding of cargo recognition by Trn1. Although PY-NLS recognition is well established and supported by several structures, the recognition of non-PY-NLSs by Trn1 is far less understood, but recent reports have started to shed light on the recognition of this type of NLSs. Aside from its principal and long-established activity as a nuclear import receptor, Trn1 was shown more recently to moonlight outside nuclear import. Trn1 has for instance been caught in participating in virus uncoating, ciliary transport and in modulating the phase separation properties of aggregation-prone proteins. Here, we focus on the structural and functional aspects of Trn1-mediated nuclear import, as well as on the moonlighting activities of Trn1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allegra Mboukou
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), UMR 8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Vinod Rajendra
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renata Kleinova
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carine Tisné
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), UMR 8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Michael F. Jantsch
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pierre Barraud
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), UMR 8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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7
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Sévigny M, Bourdeau Julien I, Venkatasubramani JP, Hui JB, Dutchak PA, Sephton CF. FUS contributes to mTOR-dependent inhibition of translation. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:18459-18473. [PMID: 33082139 PMCID: PMC7939483 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)-linked RNA-binding protein called FUS (fused in sarcoma) has been implicated in several aspects of RNA regulation, including mRNA translation. The mechanism by which FUS affects the translation of polyribosomes has not been established. Here we show that FUS can associate with stalled polyribosomes and that this association is sensitive to mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) kinase activity. Specifically, we show that FUS association with polyribosomes is increased by Torin1 treatment or when cells are cultured in nutrient-deficient media, but not when cells are treated with rapamycin, the allosteric inhibitor of mTORC1. Moreover, we report that FUS is necessary for efficient stalling of translation because deficient cells are refractory to the inhibition of mTOR-dependent signaling by Torin1. We also show that ALS-linked FUS mutants R521G and P525L associate abundantly with polyribosomes and decrease global protein synthesis. Importantly, the inhibitory effect on translation by FUS is impaired by mutations that reduce its RNA-binding affinity. These findings demonstrate that FUS is an important RNA-binding protein that mediates translational repression through mTOR-dependent signaling and that ALS-linked FUS mutants can cause a toxic gain of function in the cytoplasm by repressing the translation of mRNA at polyribosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Sévigny
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Bourdeau Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Janani Priya Venkatasubramani
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jeremy B Hui
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul A Dutchak
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chantelle F Sephton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
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8
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A combined NMR and EPR investigation on the effect of the disordered RGG regions in the structure and the activity of the RRM domain of FUS. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20956. [PMID: 33262375 PMCID: PMC7708983 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77899-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural disorder represents a key feature in the mechanism of action of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Recent insights revealed that intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) linking globular domains modulate their capability to interact with various sequences of RNA, but also regulate aggregation processes, stress-granules formation, and binding to other proteins. The FET protein family, which includes FUS (Fused in Sarcoma), EWG (Ewing Sarcoma) and TAF15 (TATA binding association factor 15) proteins, is a group of RBPs containing three different long IDRs characterized by the presence of RGG motifs. In this study, we present the characterization of a fragment of FUS comprising two RGG regions flanking the RNA Recognition Motif (RRM) alone and in the presence of a stem-loop RNA. From a combination of EPR and NMR spectroscopies, we established that the two RGG regions transiently interact with the RRM itself. These interactions may play a role in the recognition of stem-loop RNA, without a disorder-to-order transition but retaining high dynamics.
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9
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Johnson MA, Deng Q, Taylor G, McEachin ZT, Chan AWS, Root J, Bassell GJ, Kukar T. Divergent FUS phosphorylation in primate and mouse cells following double-strand DNA damage. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 146:105085. [PMID: 32950644 PMCID: PMC8064403 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a RNA/DNA protein involved in multiple nuclear and cytoplasmic functions including transcription, splicing, mRNA trafficking, and stress granule formation. To accomplish these many functions, FUS must shuttle between cellular compartments in a highly regulated manner. When shuttling is disrupted, FUS abnormally accumulates into cytoplasmic inclusions that can be toxic. Disrupted shuttling of FUS into the nucleus is a hallmark of ~10% of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) cases, the neuropathology that underlies frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Multiple pathways are known to disrupt nuclear/cytoplasmic shuttling of FUS. In earlier work, we discovered that double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) trigger DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) to phosphorylate FUS (p-FUS) at N-terminal residues leading to the cytoplasmic accumulation of FUS. Therefore, DNA damage may contribute to the development of FTLD pathology with FUS inclusions. In the present study, we examined how DSBs effect FUS phosphorylation in various primate and mouse cellular models. All cell lines derived from human and non-human primates exhibit N-terminal FUS phosphorylation following calicheamicin γ1 (CLM) induced DSBs. In contrast, we were unable to detect FUS phosphorylation in mouse-derived primary neurons or immortalized cell lines regardless of CLM treatment, duration, or concentration. Despite DNA damage induced by CLM treatment, we find that mouse cells do not phosphorylate FUS, likely due to reduced levels and activity of DNA-PK compared to human cells. Taken together, our work reveals that mouse-derived cellular models regulate FUS in an anomalous manner compared to primate cells. This raises the possibility that mouse models may not fully recapitulate the pathogenic cascades that lead to FTLD with FUS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Qiudong Deng
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Georgia Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Zachary T McEachin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Laboratory of Translational Cell Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Anthony W S Chan
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Jessica Root
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Gary J Bassell
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Department of Cell Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Laboratory of Translational Cell Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Thomas Kukar
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Department of Neurology, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
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10
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Zou ZY, Che CH, Feng SY, Fang XY, Huang HP, Liu CY. Novel FUS mutation Y526F causing rapidly progressive familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020; 22:73-79. [PMID: 32720527 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1797815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
FUS gene is one of the most common mutated genes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We sequenced for FUS mutations in a cohort of 15 familial ALS and 275 sporadic ALS of Chinese origin. All 15 exons of the FUS gene were sequenced by targeted next-generation sequencing in a cohort of 15 familial ALS indexes and 275 sporadic ALS patients of Chinese origin. One novel p.Y526F mutation in FUS was detected in one familial ALS proband. Another novel FUS p.Q140R variant and two known FUS mutations (p.R495Efs*33 and p.R521C) were identified in four sporadic ALS cases. The frequency of FUS mutation in our cohort is 6.7% in familial ALS and 1.5% in sporadic ALS. The familial ALS proband carrying the FUS p.Y526F mutation presented with juvenile-onset lower limbs weakness and demonstrated an aggressive course, with respiratory muscles involvement 6 months after onset. The other patients in the family all had limbs weakness and died 1-2 years after disease onset. Our results strengthen that FUS mutations are the most frequent genetic causes of young-onset aggressive ALS. Genetic testing of the FUS gene should be performed in early-onset ALS patients especially those with a rapid progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang-Yu Zou
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chun-Hui Che
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shu-Yan Feng
- Department of Neurophysiology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiu-Ying Fang
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hua-Pin Huang
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chang-Yun Liu
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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11
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Bajc Česnik A, Motaln H, Rogelj B. The Impact of ALS-Associated Genes hnRNPA1, MATR3, VCP and UBQLN2 on the Severity of TDP-43 Aggregation. Cells 2020; 9:cells9081791. [PMID: 32731393 PMCID: PMC7465640 DOI: 10.3390/cells9081791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by cytoplasmic inclusions of RNA-binding protein TDP-43. Despite decades of research and identification of more than 50 genes associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the cause of TDP-43 translocation from the nucleus and its aggregation in the cytoplasm still remains unknown. Our study addressed the impact of selected ALS-associated genes on TDP-43 aggregation behavior in wild-type and aggregation prone TDP-43 in vitro cell models. These were developed by deleting TDP-43 nuclear localization signal and stepwise shortening its low-complexity region. The SH-SY5Y cells were co-transfected with the constructs of aggregation-prone TDP-43 and wild-type or mutant ALS-associated genes hnRNPA1, MATR3, VCP or UBQLN2. The investigated genes displayed a unique impact on TDP-43 aggregation, generating distinct types of cytoplasmic inclusions, similar to those already described as resembling prion strains, which could represent the basis for neurodegenerative disease heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Bajc Česnik
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.B.Č.); (H.M.)
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Helena Motaln
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.B.Č.); (H.M.)
| | - Boris Rogelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.B.Č.); (H.M.)
- Biomedical Research Institute BRIS, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +386-1-477-3611
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12
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Bitetto G, Di Fonzo A. Nucleo-cytoplasmic transport defects and protein aggregates in neurodegeneration. Transl Neurodegener 2020; 9:25. [PMID: 32616075 PMCID: PMC7333321 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-020-00205-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the ongoing process of uncovering molecular abnormalities in neurodegenerative diseases characterized by toxic protein aggregates, nucleo-cytoplasmic transport defects have an emerging role. Several pieces of evidence suggest a link between neuronal protein inclusions and nuclear pore complex (NPC) damage. These processes lead to oxidative stress, inefficient transcription, and aberrant DNA/RNA maintenance. The clinical and neuropathological spectrum of NPC defects is broad, ranging from physiological aging to a suite of neurodegenerative diseases. A better understanding of the shared pathways among these conditions may represent a significant step toward dissecting their underlying molecular mechanisms, opening the way to a real possibility of identifying common therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Bitetto
- IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Dino Ferrari Center, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Di Fonzo
- IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Dino Ferrari Center, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy.
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vidal
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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14
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Walters R, Manion J, Neely GG. Dissecting Motor Neuron Disease With Drosophila melanogaster. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:331. [PMID: 31031583 PMCID: PMC6473072 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) typically affects patients during the later stages of life, and thus, MND is having an increasingly devastating impact on diagnosed individuals, their families and society. The umbrella term MND refers to diseases which cause the progressive loss of upper and/or lower motor neurons and a subsequent decrease in motor ability such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The study of these diseases is complex and has recently involved the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, in the case of MND, it has been difficult to identify the complex genetics involved in subtypes, and functional investigation of new candidate disease genes is warranted. Drosophila is a powerful model for addressing these complex diseases. The UAS/Gal4/Gal80 system allows for the upregulation of Drosophila genes, the “knockdown” of genes and the ectopic expression of human genes or mutations in a tissue-specific manner; often resulting in Drosophila models which exhibit typical MND disease pathologies. These can then be further interrogated to identify disease-modifying genes or mutations and disease pathways. This review will discuss two common MNDs and the current Drosophila models which are being used to research their genetic basis and the different pathologies of MND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Walters
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John Manion
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - G Gregory Neely
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Rhoads SN, Monahan ZT, Yee DS, Leung AY, Newcombe CG, O'Meally RN, Cole RN, Shewmaker FP. The prionlike domain of FUS is multiphosphorylated following DNA damage without altering nuclear localization. Mol Biol Cell 2018; 29:1786-1797. [PMID: 29897835 PMCID: PMC6085830 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e17-12-0735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
FUS (fused in sarcoma) is an abundant, predominantly nuclear protein involved in RNA processing. Under various conditions, FUS functionally associates with RNA and other macromolecules to form distinct, reversible phase-separated liquid structures. Persistence of the phase-separated state and increased cytoplasmic localization are both hypothesized to predispose FUS to irreversible aggregation, which is a pathological hallmark of subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. We previously showed that phosphorylation of FUS’s prionlike domain suppressed phase separation and toxic aggregation, proportionally to the number of added phosphates. However, phosphorylation of FUS’s prionlike domain was previously reported to promote its cytoplasmic localization, potentially favoring pathological behavior. Here we used mass spectrometry and human cell models to further identify phosphorylation sites within FUS’s prionlike domain, specifically following DNA-damaging stress. In total, 28 putative sites have been identified, about half of which are DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) consensus sites. Custom antibodies were developed to confirm the phosphorylation of two of these sites (Ser-26 and Ser-30). Both sites were usually phosphorylated in a subpopulation of cellular FUS following a variety of DNA-damaging stresses but not necessarily equally or simultaneously. Importantly, we found DNA-PK–dependent multiphosphorylation of FUS’s prionlike domain does not cause cytoplasmic localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon N Rhoads
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Zachary T Monahan
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Debra S Yee
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Andrew Y Leung
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Cameron G Newcombe
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Robert N O'Meally
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins Mass Spectrometry and Proteomic Facility, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Robert N Cole
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins Mass Spectrometry and Proteomic Facility, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Frank P Shewmaker
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814
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Differential expression of microRNAs and other small RNAs in muscle tissue of patients with ALS and healthy age-matched controls. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5609. [PMID: 29618798 PMCID: PMC5884852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23139-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a late-onset disorder primarily affecting motor neurons and leading to progressive and lethal skeletal muscle atrophy. Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), can serve as important regulators of gene expression and can act both globally and in a tissue-/cell-type-specific manner. In muscle, miRNAs called myomiRs govern important processes and are deregulated in various disorders. Several myomiRs have shown promise for therapeutic use in cellular and animal models of ALS; however, the exact miRNA species differentially expressed in muscle tissue of ALS patients remain unknown. Following small RNA-Seq, we compared the expression of small RNAs in muscle tissue of ALS patients and healthy age-matched controls. The identified snoRNAs, mtRNAs and other small RNAs provide possible molecular links between insulin signaling and ALS. Furthermore, the identified miRNAs are predicted to target proteins that are involved in both normal processes and various muscle disorders and indicate muscle tissue is undergoing active reinnervation/compensatory attempts thus providing targets for further research and therapy development in ALS.
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Rhoads SN, Monahan ZT, Yee DS, Shewmaker FP. The Role of Post-Translational Modifications on Prion-Like Aggregation and Liquid-Phase Separation of FUS. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19030886. [PMID: 29547565 PMCID: PMC5877747 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19030886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Subcellular mislocalization and aggregation of the human FUS protein occurs in neurons of patients with subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. FUS is one of several RNA-binding proteins that can functionally self-associate into distinct liquid-phase droplet structures. It is postulated that aberrant interactions within the dense phase-separated state can potentiate FUS's transition into solid prion-like aggregates that cause disease. FUS is post-translationally modified at numerous positions, which affect both its localization and aggregation propensity. These modifications may influence FUS-linked pathology and serve as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon N Rhoads
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Zachary T Monahan
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Debra S Yee
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Frank P Shewmaker
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
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19
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Kamemura K. O-GlcNAc glycosylation stoichiometry of the FET protein family: only EWS is glycosylated with a high stoichiometry. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2017; 81:541-546. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1263148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Of the FET (fused in sarcoma [FUS]/Ewing sarcoma protein [EWS]/TATA binding protein-associated factor 15 [TAF15]) family of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle proteins, FUS and TAF15 are consistently and EWS variably found in inclusion bodies in neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration associated with FUS. It is speculated that dysregulation of FET proteins at the post-translational level is involved in their cytoplasmic deposition. Here, the O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) glycosylation stoichiometry of the FET proteins was chemoenzymatically analyzed, and it was found that only EWS is dynamically glycosylated with a high stoichiometry in the neural cell lines tested and in mouse brain. It was also confirmed that EWS, but not FUS and TAF15, is glycosylated with a high stoichiometry not only in the neural cells but also in the non-neural cell lines tested. These results indicate that O-GlcNAc glycosylation imparts a physicochemical property on EWS that is distinct from that of the other FET proteins in most of cell lineages or tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Kamemura
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama, Japan
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pathogenesis Converges on Defects in Protein Homeostasis Associated with TDP-43 Mislocalization and Proteasome-Mediated Degradation Overload. Curr Top Dev Biol 2017; 121:111-171. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Nolan M, Talbot K, Ansorge O. Pathogenesis of FUS-associated ALS and FTD: insights from rodent models. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:99. [PMID: 27600654 PMCID: PMC5011941 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0358-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruptions to genes linked to RNA processing and homeostasis are implicated in the pathogenesis of two pathologically related but clinically heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Mutations in the Fused-in-Sarcoma (FUS) gene encoding a 526 amino-acid RNA-binding protein are found in a small subset of ALS cases, but FUS mutations do not appear to be a direct cause of FTD. Structural and functional similarities between FUS and another ALS-related RNA-binding protein, TDP-43, highlight the potential importance of aberrant RNA processing in ALS/FTD, and this pathway is now a major focus of interest. Recently, several research groups have reported transgenic vertebrate models of FUSopathy, with varying results. Here, we discuss the evidence for FUS pathogenicity in ALS/FTD, review the experimental approaches used and phenotypic features of FUS rodent models reported to date, and outline their contribution to our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms. Further refinement of vertebrate models will likely aid our understanding of the role of FUS in both diseases.
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Prpar Mihevc S, Darovic S, Kovanda A, Bajc Česnik A, Župunski V, Rogelj B. Nuclear trafficking in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Brain 2016; 140:13-26. [PMID: 27497493 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration are two ends of a phenotypic spectrum of disabling, relentlessly progressive and ultimately fatal diseases. A key characteristic of both conditions is the presence of TDP-43 (encoded by TARDBP) or FUS immunoreactive cytoplasmic inclusions in neuronal and glial cells. This cytoplasmic mislocalization of otherwise predominantly nuclear RNA binding proteins implies a perturbation of the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling as a possible event in the pathogenesis. Compromised nucleocytoplasmic shuttling has recently also been associated with a hexanucleotide repeat expansion mutation in C9orf72, which is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and leads to accumulation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions. Mutation in C9orf72 may disrupt nucleocytoplasmic shuttling on the level of C9ORF72 protein, the transcribed hexanucleotide repeat RNA, and/or dipeptide repeat proteins translated form the hexanucleotide repeat RNA. These defects of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling may therefore, constitute the common ground of the underlying disease mechanisms in different molecular subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Prpar Mihevc
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Simona Darovic
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anja Kovanda
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ana Bajc Česnik
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vera Župunski
- 2 Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Rogelj
- 1 Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia .,2 Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,3 Biomedical Research Institute BRIS, Puhova 10, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and multiple sclerosis (MS) affect different neuronal cells, and have a variable age of onset, clinical symptoms, and pathological features. Despite the great progress in understanding the etiology of these disorders, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Among the processes affected in neurodegenerative diseases, alteration in RNA metabolism is emerging as a crucial player. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are involved at all stages of RNA metabolism and display a broad range of functions, including modulation of mRNA transcription, splicing, editing, export, stability, translation and localization and miRNA biogenesis, thus enormously impacting regulation of gene expression. On the other hand, aberrant regulation of RBP expression or activity can contribute to disease onset and progression. Recent reports identified mutations causative of neurological disorders in the genes encoding a family of RBPs named FET (FUS/TLS, EWS and TAF15). This review summarizes recent works documenting the involvement of FET proteins in the pathology of ALS, FTLD, essential tremor (ET) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, clinical implications of recent advances in FET research are critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Svetoni
- a University of Rome "Foro Italico," , Rome , Italy.,b Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Fondazione Santa Lucia , Rome , Italy
| | - Paola Frisone
- b Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Fondazione Santa Lucia , Rome , Italy
| | - Maria Paola Paronetto
- a University of Rome "Foro Italico," , Rome , Italy.,b Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Fondazione Santa Lucia , Rome , Italy
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