1
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Ikeda A, Meng H, Taniguchi D, Mio M, Funayama M, Nishioka K, Yoshida M, Li Y, Yoshino H, Inoshita T, Shiba-Fukushima K, Okubo Y, Sakurai T, Amo T, Aiba I, Saito Y, Saito Y, Murayama S, Atsuta N, Nakamura R, Tohnai G, Izumi Y, Morita M, Tamura A, Kano O, Oda M, Kuwabara S, Yamashita T, Sone J, Kaji R, Sobue G, Imai Y, Hattori N. CHCHD2 P14L, found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, exhibits cytoplasmic mislocalization and alters Ca 2+ homeostasis. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae319. [PMID: 39131911 PMCID: PMC11316225 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
CHCHD2 and CHCHD10, linked to Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia (ALS), respectively, are mitochondrial intermembrane proteins that form a heterodimer. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the CHCHD2 P14L variant, implicated in ALS, on mitochondrial function and its subsequent effects on cellular homeostasis. The missense variant of CHCHD2, P14L, found in a cohort of patients with ALS, mislocalized CHCHD2 to the cytoplasm, leaving CHCHD10 in the mitochondria. Drosophila lacking the CHCHD2 ortholog exhibited mitochondrial degeneration. In contrast, human CHCHD2 P14L, but not wild-type human CHCHD2, failed to suppress this degeneration, suggesting that P14L is a pathogenic variant. The mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering capacity was reduced in Drosophila neurons expressing human CHCHD2 P14L. The altered Ca2+-buffering phenotype was also observed in cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells expressing CHCHD2 P14L. In these cells, transient elevation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ facilitated the activation of calpain and caspase-3, accompanied by the processing and insolubilization of TDP-43. These observations suggest that CHCHD2 P14L causes abnormal Ca2+ dynamics and TDP-43 aggregation, reflecting the pathophysiology of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Ikeda
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hongrui Meng
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Research for Parkinson's Disease, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Daisuke Taniguchi
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Muneyo Mio
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Manabu Funayama
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Center for Genomic and Regenerative Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Kenya Nishioka
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yuanzhe Li
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hiroyo Yoshino
- Research Institute for Diseases of Old Age, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Inoshita
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Kahori Shiba-Fukushima
- Department of Drug Development for Parkinson's Disease, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yohei Okubo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Takashi Sakurai
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Taku Amo
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Defense Academy, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-8686, Japan
| | - Ikuko Aiba
- Department of Neurology, NHO Higashinagoya National Hospital, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 465-8620, Japan
| | - Yufuko Saito
- Department of Neurology, NHO Higashinagoya National Hospital, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 465-8620, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Brain Bank for Aging Research (Department of Neuropathology), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Brain Bank for Aging Research (Department of Neuropathology), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
- Brain Bank for Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naoki Atsuta
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Genki Tohnai
- Division of ALS Research, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yuishin Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Mitsuya Morita
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Asako Tamura
- Department of Neurology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Osamu Kano
- Department of Neurology, Toho University Faculty of Medicine, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan
| | - Masaya Oda
- Department of Neurology, Vihara Hananosato Hospital, Miyoshi, Hiroshima 728-0001, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuwabara
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Toru Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Jun Sone
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kaji
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yuzuru Imai
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Research for Parkinson's Disease, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Research for Parkinson's Disease, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Drug Development for Parkinson's Disease, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Neurodegenerative Disorders Collaborative Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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2
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Clayton EL, Huggon L, Cousin MA, Mizielinska S. Synaptopathy: presynaptic convergence in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2024; 147:2289-2307. [PMID: 38451707 PMCID: PMC11224618 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are common forms of neurodegenerative disease that share overlapping genetics and pathologies. Crucially, no significantly disease-modifying treatments are available for either disease. Identifying the earliest changes that initiate neuronal dysfunction is important for designing effective intervention therapeutics. The genes mutated in genetic forms of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have diverse cellular functions, and multiple disease mechanisms have been proposed for both. Identification of a convergent disease mechanism in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would focus research for a targetable pathway, which could potentially effectively treat all forms of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (both familial and sporadic). Synaptopathies are diseases resulting from physiological dysfunction of synapses, and define the earliest stages in multiple neuronal diseases, with synapse loss a key feature in dementia. At the presynapse, the process of synaptic vesicle recruitment, fusion and recycling is necessary for activity-dependent neurotransmitter release. The unique distal location of the presynaptic terminal means the tight spatio-temporal control of presynaptic homeostasis is dependent on efficient local protein translation and degradation. Recently, numerous publications have shown that mutations associated with frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis present with synaptopathy characterized by presynaptic dysfunction. This review will describe the complex local signalling and membrane trafficking events that occur at the presynapse to facilitate neurotransmission and will summarize recent publications linking frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetic mutations to presynaptic function. This evidence indicates that presynaptic synaptopathy is an early and convergent event in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and illustrates the need for further research in this area, to identify potential therapeutic targets with the ability to impact this convergent pathomechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Clayton
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Laura Huggon
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Michael A Cousin
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Sarah Mizielinska
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, UK
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3
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Gallo JM, Nishimura A, Haapasalo A. Editorial: Molecular mechanisms underlying C9orf72 neurodegeneration, volume II. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 17:1357319. [PMID: 38259506 PMCID: PMC10800391 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1357319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marc Gallo
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Agnes Nishimura
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Cicardi M, Hallgren J, Mawrie D, Krishnamurthy K, Markandaiah S, Nelson A, Kankate V, Anderson E, Pasinelli P, Pandey U, Eischen C, Trotti D. C9orf72 poly(PR) mediated neurodegeneration is associated with nucleolar stress. iScience 2023; 26:107505. [PMID: 37664610 PMCID: PMC10470315 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The ALS/FTD-linked intronic hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is aberrantly translated in the sense and antisense directions into dipeptide repeat proteins, among which poly proline-arginine (PR) displays the most aggressive neurotoxicity in-vitro and in-vivo. PR partitions to the nucleus when heterologously expressed in neurons and other cell types. We show that by lessening the nuclear accumulation of PR, we can drastically reduce its neurotoxicity. PR strongly accumulates in the nucleolus, a nuclear structure critical in regulating the cell stress response. We determined that, in neurons, PR caused nucleolar stress and increased levels of the transcription factor p53. Downregulating p53 levels also prevented PR-mediated neurotoxicity both in in-vitro and in-vivo models. We investigated if PR could induce the senescence phenotype in neurons. However, we did not observe any indications of such an effect. Instead, we found evidence for the induction of programmed cell death via caspase-3 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.E. Cicardi
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J.H. Hallgren
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D. Mawrie
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - K. Krishnamurthy
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S.S. Markandaiah
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A.T. Nelson
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - V. Kankate
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E.N. Anderson
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - P. Pasinelli
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - U.B. Pandey
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - C.M. Eischen
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D. Trotti
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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5
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McGoldrick P, Robertson J. Unraveling the impact of disrupted nucleocytoplasmic transport systems in C9orf72-associated ALS. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1247297. [PMID: 37720544 PMCID: PMC10501458 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1247297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases that are part of a common disease spectrum due to clinical, genetic, and pathological overlap. A prominent genetic factor contributing to both diseases is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in a non-coding region of the C9orf72 gene. This mutation in C9orf72 leads to nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic aggregation of Tar DNA-RNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43). TDP-43 pathology is characteristic of the majority of ALS cases, irrespective of disease causation, and is present in ~50% of FTD cases. Defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport involving the nuclear pore complex, the Ran-GTPase cycle, and nuclear transport factors have been linked with the mislocalization of TDP-43. Here, we will explore and discuss the implications of these system abnormalities of nucleocytoplasmic transport in C9orf72-ALS/FTD, as well as in other forms of familial and sporadic ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip McGoldrick
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Janice Robertson
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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6
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Miyagi T, Ueda K, Sugimoto M, Yagi T, Ito D, Yamazaki R, Narumi S, Hayamizu Y, Uji-i H, Kuroda M, Kanekura K. Differential toxicity and localization of arginine-rich C9ORF72 dipeptide repeat proteins depend on de-clustering of positive charges. iScience 2023; 26:106957. [PMID: 37332605 PMCID: PMC10275993 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine-rich dipeptide repeat proteins (R-DPRs), poly(PR) and poly(GR), translated from the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-causative C9ORF72 gene, contribute significantly to pathogenesis of ALS. Although both R-DPRs share many similarities, there are critical differences in their subcellular localization, phase separation, and toxicity mechanisms. We analyzed localization, protein-protein interactions, and phase separation of R-DPR variants and found that sufficient segregation of arginine charges is necessary for nucleolar distribution. Proline not only efficiently separated the charges, but also allowed for weak, but highly multivalent binding. In contrast, because of its high flexibility, glycine cannot fully separate the charges, and poly(GR) behaves similarly to the contiguous arginines, being trapped in the cytoplasm. We conclude that the amino acid that spaces the arginine charges determines the strength and multivalency of the binding, leading to differences in localization and toxicity mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamami Miyagi
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
| | - Koji Ueda
- Cancer Proteomics Group, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sugimoto
- Research and Development Center for Minimally Invasive Therapies, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, KEIO University, 246-2 Mizukami, Kakuganji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
| | - Takuya Yagi
- Department of Neurology, KEIO University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Department of Physiology, KEIO University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Rio Yamazaki
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
| | - Satoshi Narumi
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Yuhei Hayamizu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Uji-i
- Department of Nanomaterials and Nanoscopy, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10 Nishi 20, North Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven Celestijnenlaan 200F, Heverlee, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Masahiko Kuroda
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
| | - Kohsuke Kanekura
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
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7
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Vanecek AS, Mojsilovic-Petrovic J, Kalb RG, Tepe JJ. Enhanced Degradation of Mutant C9ORF72-Derived Toxic Dipeptide Repeat Proteins by 20S Proteasome Activation Results in Restoration of Proteostasis and Neuroprotection. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37015082 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in an intron of gene C9ORF72 is the most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. The HRE undergoes noncanonical translation (repeat-associated non-ATG translation) resulting in the production of five distinct dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins. Arginine-rich DPR proteins have shown to be toxic to motor neurons, and recent evidence suggests this toxicity is associated with disruption of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Here we report the ability of known 20S proteasome activator, TCH-165, to enhance the degradation of DPR proteins and overcome proteasome impairment evoked by DPR proteins. Furthermore, the 20S activator protects rodent motor neurons from DPR protein toxicity and restores proteostasis in cortical neuron cultures. This study suggests that 20S proteasome enhancers may have therapeutic efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases that display proteostasis defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison S Vanecek
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Jelena Mojsilovic-Petrovic
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Robert G Kalb
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Jetze J Tepe
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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8
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Figueiredo AS, Loureiro JR, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Silveira I. Advances in Nucleotide Repeat Expansion Diseases: Transcription Gets in Phase. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060826. [PMID: 36980167 PMCID: PMC10047669 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Unstable DNA repeat expansions and insertions have been found to cause more than 50 neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuromuscular disorders. One of the main hallmarks of repeat expansion diseases is the formation of abnormal RNA or protein aggregates in the neuronal cells of affected individuals. Recent evidence indicates that alterations of the dynamic or material properties of biomolecular condensates assembled by liquid/liquid phase separation are critical for the formation of these aggregates. This is a thermodynamically-driven and reversible local phenomenon that condenses macromolecules into liquid-like compartments responsible for compartmentalizing molecules required for vital cellular processes. Disease-associated repeat expansions modulate the phase separation properties of RNAs and proteins, interfering with the composition and/or the material properties of biomolecular condensates and resulting in the formation of abnormal aggregates. Since several repeat expansions have arisen in genes encoding crucial players in transcription, this raises the hypothesis that wide gene expression dysregulation is common to multiple repeat expansion diseases. This review will cover the impact of these mutations in the formation of aberrant aggregates and how they modify gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S. Figueiredo
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana R. Loureiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Silveira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-2240-8800
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9
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Al-Turki TM, Griffith JD. Mammalian telomeric RNA (TERRA) can be translated to produce valine-arginine and glycine-leucine dipeptide repeat proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221529120. [PMID: 36812212 PMCID: PMC9992779 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221529120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian telomeres consist of (TTAGGG)n repeats. Transcription of the C-rich strand generates a G-rich RNA, termed TERRA, containing G-quadruplex structures. Recent discoveries in several human nucleotide expansion diseases revealed that RNA transcripts containing long runs of 3 or 6 nt repeats which can form strong secondary structures can be translated in multiple frames to generate homopeptide or dipeptide repeat proteins, and multiple studies have shown them to be toxic in cells. We noted that the translation of TERRA would generate two dipeptide repeat proteins: highly charged repeating valine-arginine (VR)n and hydrophobic repeating glycine-leucine (GL)n. Here, we synthesized these two dipeptide proteins and raised polyclonal antibodies to VR. The VR dipeptide repeat protein binds nucleic acids and localizes strongly to replication forks in DNA. Both VR and GL form long 8-nm filaments with amyloid properties. Using labeled antibodies to VR and laser scanning confocal microscopy, threefold to fourfold more VR was observed in the nuclei of cell lines containing elevated TERRA as contrasted to a primary fibroblast line. Induction of telomere dysfunction via knockdown of TRF2 led to higher amounts of VR, and alteration of TERRA levels using a locked nucleic acid (LNA) GapmeR led to large nuclear VR aggregates. These observations suggest that telomeres, in particular in cells undergoing telomere dysfunction, may express two dipeptide repeat proteins with potentially strong biological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taghreed M. Al-Turki
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599-7295
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599-7295
| | - Jack D. Griffith
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599-7295
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599-7295
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10
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The Advance on Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)’s Neuropathology and Molecular Genetics. Mediators Inflamm 2022; 2022:5003902. [PMID: 36274975 PMCID: PMC9584734 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5003902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The morbidity of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), one of the most prevalent dementias praccox, is second to Alzheimer disease (AD). It is different with AD that FTD has a rapider course and a higher mortality. FTD has not yet been fully understood in terms of etiology or pathogenesis, but genetic factors are believed to be involved. In this paper, we were committed to providing a comprehensive overview to FTD in aspects of the neuropathology features and the relevant molecular genetics advances, so that there would be insights to those researchers in search of novel approaches in FTD diagnosis and treatment.
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Kanekura K, Kuroda M. How can we interpret the relationship between liquid-liquid phase separation and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? J Transl Med 2022; 102:912-918. [PMID: 36775420 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-022-00791-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the critical definitions of neurodegenerative diseases is the formation of insoluble intracellular inclusion body. These inclusions are found in various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Each inclusion body contains disease-specific proteins and is also resistant to common detergent treatments. These aggregates are generally ubiquitinated and thus recognized as misfolded by the organism. They are observed in residual neurons at the affected sites in each disease, suggesting a contribution to disease pathogenesis. The molecular mechanisms for the formation of these inclusion bodies remain unclear. Some proteins, such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutant that causes familial ALS, are highly aggregative due to altered folding caused by point mutations. Still, the aggregates observed in neurodegenerative diseases contain wild-type proteins. In recent years, it has been reported that the proteins responsible for neurodegenerative diseases undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In particular, the ALS/FTD causative proteins such as TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) and fused-in-sarcoma (FUS) undergo LLPS. LLPS increases the local concentration of these proteins, and these proteins eventually change their phase from liquid to solid (liquid-solid phase transition) due to abnormal folding during repetitive separation cycles into two phases and recovery to one phase. In addition to the inclusion body formation, sequestration of essential proteins into the LLPS droplets or changes in the LLPS status can directly impair neural functions and cause diseases. In this review, we will discuss the relationship between the LLPS observed in ALS causative proteins and the pathogenesis of the disease and outline potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohsuke Kanekura
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Masahiko Kuroda
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan
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Conti BA, Oppikofer M. Biomolecular condensates: new opportunities for drug discovery and RNA therapeutics. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:820-837. [PMID: 36028355 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates organize cellular functions in the absence of membranes. These membraneless organelles can form through liquid-liquid phase separation coalescing RNA and proteins into well-defined, yet dynamic, structures distinct from the surrounding cellular milieu. Numerous physiological and disease-causing processes link to biomolecular condensates, which could impact drug discovery in several ways. First, disruption of pathological condensates seeded by mutated proteins or RNAs may provide new opportunities to treat disease. Second, condensates may be leveraged to tackle difficult-to-drug targets lacking binding pockets whose function depends on phase separation. Third, condensate-resident small molecules and RNA therapeutics may display unexpected pharmacology. We discuss the potential impact of phase separation on drug discovery and RNA therapeutics, leveraging concrete examples, towards novel clinical opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A Conti
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariano Oppikofer
- Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA.
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Houghton OH, Mizielinska S, Gomez-Suaga P. The Interplay Between Autophagy and RNA Homeostasis: Implications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:838402. [PMID: 35573690 PMCID: PMC9096704 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.838402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia are neurodegenerative disorders that lie on a disease spectrum, sharing genetic causes and pathology, and both without effective therapeutics. Two pathways that have been shown to play major roles in disease pathogenesis are autophagy and RNA homeostasis. Intriguingly, there is an increasing body of evidence suggesting a critical interplay between these pathways. Autophagy is a multi-stage process for bulk and selective clearance of malfunctional cellular components, with many layers of regulation. Although the majority of autophagy research focuses on protein degradation, it can also mediate RNA catabolism. ALS/FTD-associated proteins are involved in many stages of autophagy and autophagy-mediated RNA degradation, particularly converging on the clearance of persistent pathological stress granules. In this review, we will summarise the progress in understanding the autophagy-RNA homeostasis interplay and how that knowledge contributes to our understanding of the pathobiology of ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- O H Houghton
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Mizielinska
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - P Gomez-Suaga
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom.,Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Enfermería y Terapia Ocupacional, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Cáceres, Spain
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C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion-Related Neuropathology Is Attenuated by Nasal Rifampicin in Mice. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051080. [PMID: 35625816 PMCID: PMC9138602 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-coding GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in C9orf72 gene is a dominant cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This intronic mutation elicits the formation of nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions containing RNA, RNA-binding proteins, and HRE-derived dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), leading to neurodegeneration via the gain-of-toxic function or loss-of-function of relevant proteins. Using C9-500 mice harboring ~500 repeats of the GGGGCC sequence in human C9orf72 gene, we investigated the effects of rifampicin against HRE-related pathological phenotypes. Rifampicin was administered intranasally to 4.5- to 5-month-old mice for 1 month, and their cognitive function and neuropathology were assessed by the Morris water maze test and immunohistochemical staining. Rifampicin treatment reduced the formation of RNA foci and cytoplasmic inclusions containing DPRs or phosphorylated TDP-43, and furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated double-strand RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) that regulates repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. Synapse loss in the hippocampus and neuronal loss and microglial activation in the prefrontal and motor cortices were also attenuated, and mouse memory was significantly improved. Our findings suggest a therapeutic potential of nasal rifampicin in the prevention of C9orf72-linked neurodegenerative disorders.
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Role of the Ubiquitin System in Stress Granule Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073624. [PMID: 35408984 PMCID: PMC8999021 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells react to various stress conditions with the rapid formation of membrane-less organelles called stress granules (SGs). SGs form by multivalent interactions between RNAs and RNA-binding proteins and are believed to protect stalled translation initiation complexes from stress-induced degradation. SGs contain hundreds of different mRNAs and proteins, and their assembly and disassembly are tightly controlled by post-translational modifications. The ubiquitin system, which mediates the covalent modification of target proteins with the small protein ubiquitin (‘ubiquitylation’), has been implicated in different aspects of SG metabolism, but specific functions in SG turnover have only recently emerged. Here, we summarize the evidence for the presence of ubiquitylated proteins at SGs, review the functions of different components of the ubiquitin system in SG formation and clearance, and discuss the link between perturbed SG clearance and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. We conclude that the ubiquitin system plays an important, medically relevant role in SG biology.
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Chandra S, Lusk CP. Emerging Connections between Nuclear Pore Complex Homeostasis and ALS. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1329. [PMID: 35163252 PMCID: PMC8835831 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) requires understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms that contribute to the motor neuron loss that defines the disease. As it causes the largest fraction of familial ALS cases, considerable effort has focused on hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the C9ORF72 gene, which encode toxic repeat RNA and dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins. Both the repeat RNA and DPRs interact with and perturb multiple elements of the nuclear transport machinery, including shuttling nuclear transport receptors, the Ran GTPase and the nucleoporin proteins (nups) that build the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Here, we consider recent work that describes changes to the molecular composition of the NPC in C9ORF72 model and patient neurons in the context of quality control mechanisms that function at the nuclear envelope (NE). For example, changes to NPC structure may be caused by the dysregulation of a conserved NE surveillance pathway mediated by the endosomal sorting complexes required for the transport protein, CHMP7. Thus, these studies are introducing NE and NPC quality control pathways as key elements in a pathological cascade that leads to C9ORF72 ALS, opening entirely new experimental avenues and possibilities for targeted therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C. Patrick Lusk
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, 295 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
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p53 Transactivation Domain Mediates Binding and Phase Separation with Poly-PR/GR. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111431. [PMID: 34768862 PMCID: PMC8583712 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the presence of poly-PR/GR dipeptide repeats, which are encoded by the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) gene. Recently, it was shown that poly-PR/GR alters chromatin accessibility, which results in the stabilization and enhancement of transcriptional activity of the tumor suppressor p53 in several neurodegenerative disease models. A reduction in p53 protein levels protects against poly-PR and partially against poly-GR neurotoxicity in cells. Moreover, in model organisms, a reduction of p53 protein levels protects against neurotoxicity of poly-PR. Here, we aimed to study the detailed molecular mechanisms of how p53 contributes to poly-PR/GR-mediated neurodegeneration. Using a combination of biophysical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, fluorescence polarization, turbidity assays, and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, we found that p53 physically interacts with poly-PR/GR and triggers liquid–liquid phase separation of p53. We identified the p53 transactivation domain 2 (TAD2) as the main binding site for PR25/GR25 and showed that binding of poly-PR/GR to p53 is mediated by a network of electrostatic and/or hydrophobic interactions. Our findings might help to understand the mechanistic role of p53 in poly-PR/GR-associated neurodegeneration.
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