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Zare A, Salehi S, Bader J, Schneider C, Fischer U, Veh A, Arampatzi P, Mann M, Briese M, Sendtner M. hnRNP R promotes O-GlcNAcylation of eIF4G and facilitates axonal protein synthesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7430. [PMID: 39198412 PMCID: PMC11358521 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51678-y] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Motoneurons critically depend on precise spatial and temporal control of translation for axon growth and the establishment and maintenance of neuromuscular connections. While defects in local translation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of motoneuron disorders, little is known about the mechanisms regulating axonal protein synthesis. Here, we report that motoneurons derived from Hnrnpr knockout mice show reduced axon growth accompanied by lowered synthesis of cytoskeletal and synaptic components in axons. Mutant mice display denervated neuromuscular junctions and impaired motor behavior. In axons, hnRNP R is a component of translation initiation complexes and, through interaction with O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (Ogt), modulates O-GlcNAcylation of eIF4G. Restoring axonal O-GlcNAc levels rescued local protein synthesis and axon growth defects of hnRNP R knockout motoneurons. Together, these findings demonstrate a function of hnRNP R in controlling the local production of key factors required for axon growth and formation of neuromuscular innervations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdolhossein Zare
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Saeede Salehi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Bader
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Cornelius Schneider
- Department of Biochemistry, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Utz Fischer
- Department of Biochemistry, Theodor Boveri Institute, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Veh
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- NNF Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Briese
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Michael Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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2
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Rzepnikowska W, Kaminska J, Kochański A. The molecular mechanisms that underlie IGHMBP2-related diseases. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2024; 50:e13005. [PMID: 39119929 DOI: 10.1111/nan.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Immunoglobulin Mu-binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2) pathogenic variants result in the fatal, neurodegenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) and the milder, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) type 2S (CMT2S) neuropathy. More than 20 years after the link between IGHMBP2 and SMARD1 was revealed, and 10 years after the discovery of the association between IGHMBP2 and CMT2S, the pathogenic mechanism of these diseases is still not well defined. The discovery that IGHMBP2 functions as an RNA/DNA helicase was an important step, but it did not reveal the pathogenic mechanism. Helicases are enzymes that use ATP hydrolysis to catalyse the separation of nucleic acid strands. They are involved in numerous cellular processes, including DNA repair and transcription; RNA splicing, transport, editing and degradation; ribosome biogenesis; translation; telomere maintenance; and homologous recombination. IGHMBP2 appears to be a multifunctional factor involved in several cellular processes that regulate gene expression. It is difficult to determine which processes, when dysregulated, lead to pathology. Here, we summarise our current knowledge of the clinical presentation of IGHMBP2-related diseases. We also overview the available models, including yeast, mice and cells, which are used to study the function of IGHMBP2 and the pathogenesis of the related diseases. Further, we discuss the structure of the IGHMBP2 protein and its postulated roles in cellular functioning. Finally, we present potential anomalies that may result in the neurodegeneration observed in IGHMBP2-related disease and highlight the most prominent ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Rzepnikowska
- Neuromuscular Unit, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
| | - Joanna Kaminska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kochański
- Neuromuscular Unit, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
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3
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Zaninello M, Schlegel T, Nolte H, Pirzada M, Savino E, Barth E, Klein I, Wüstenberg H, Uddin T, Wolff L, Wirth B, Lehmann HC, Cioni JM, Langer T, Rugarli EI. CLUH maintains functional mitochondria and translation in motoneuronal axons and prevents peripheral neuropathy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn2050. [PMID: 38809982 PMCID: PMC11135423 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn2050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Transporting and translating mRNAs in axons is crucial for neuronal viability. Local synthesis of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins protects long-lived axonal mitochondria from damage; however, the regulatory factors involved are largely unknown. We show that CLUH, which binds mRNAs encoding mitochondrial proteins, prevents peripheral neuropathy and motor deficits in the mouse. CLUH is enriched in the growth cone of developing spinal motoneurons and is required for their growth. The lack of CLUH affects the abundance of target mRNAs and the corresponding mitochondrial proteins more prominently in axons, leading to ATP deficits in the growth cone. CLUH interacts with ribosomal subunits, translation initiation, and ribosome recycling components and preserves axonal translation. Overexpression of the ribosome recycling factor ABCE1 rescues the mRNA and translation defects, as well as the growth cone size, in CLUH-deficient motoneurons. Thus, we demonstrate a role for CLUH in mitochondrial quality control and translational regulation in axons, which is essential for their development and long-term integrity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Zaninello
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Tim Schlegel
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Hendrik Nolte
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Mujeeb Pirzada
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Elisa Savino
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Esther Barth
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Ines Klein
- Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Hauke Wüstenberg
- Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Tesmin Uddin
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Lisa Wolff
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases Cologne (CESEK), University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne 50937, Germany
| | - Helmar C. Lehmann
- Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Jean-Michel Cioni
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Thomas Langer
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne 50931, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Elena I. Rugarli
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne 50931, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
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4
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Ibrahim MJ, Baiju V, Sen S, Chandran PP, Ashraf GM, Haque S, Ahmad F. Utilities of Isolated Nerve Terminals in Ex Vivo Analyses of Protein Translation in (Patho)physiological Brain States: Focus on Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:91-103. [PMID: 37582987 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03562-x] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Synapses are the cellular substrates of higher-order brain functions, and their dysfunction is an early and primary pathogenic mechanism across several neurological disorders. In particular, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is categorized by prodromal structural and functional synaptic deficits, prior to the advent of classical behavioral and pathological features. Recent research has shown that the development, maintenance, and plasticity of synapses depend on localized protein translation. Synaptosomes and synaptoneurosomes are biochemically isolated synaptic terminal preparations which have long been used to examine a variety of synaptic processes ex vivo in both healthy and pathological conditions. These ex vivo preparations preserve the mRNA species and the protein translational machinery. Hence, they are excellent in organello tools for the study of alterations in mRNA levels and protein translation in neuropathologies. Evaluation of synapse-specific basal and activity-driven de novo protein translation activity can be conveniently performed in synaptosomal/synaptoneurosomal preparations from both rodent and human brain tissue samples. This review gives a quick overview of the methods for isolating synaptosomes and synaptoneurosomes before discussing the studies that have utilized these preparations to study localized synapse-specific protein translation in (patho)physiological situations, with an emphasis on AD. While the review is not an exhaustive accumulation of all the studies evaluating synaptic protein translation using the synaptosomal model, the aim is to assemble the most relevant studies that have done so. The hope is to provide a suitable research platform to aid neuroscientists to utilize the synaptosomal/synaptoneurosomal models to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction within the specific confines of mRNA localization and protein translation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Jasim Ibrahim
- Department of Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Viswanath Baiju
- Department of Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Shivam Sen
- Department of Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Pranav Prathapa Chandran
- Department of Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- University of Sharjah, College of Health Sciences, and Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University City, 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, 45142, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Faraz Ahmad
- Department of Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014.
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5
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Ugalde MV, Alecki C, Rizwan J, Le P, Jacob-Tomas S, Xu JM, Minotti S, Wu T, Durham H, Yeo G. Localized molecular chaperone synthesis maintains neuronal dendrite proteostasis. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3673702. [PMID: 38168440 PMCID: PMC10760236 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3673702/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Proteostasis is maintained through regulated protein synthesis and degradation and chaperone-assisted protein folding. However, this is challenging in neuronal projections because of their polarized morphology and constant synaptic proteome remodeling. Using high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we discovered that neurons localize a subset of chaperone mRNAs to their dendrites and use microtubule-based transport to increase this asymmetric localization following proteotoxic stress. The most abundant dendritic chaperone mRNA encodes a constitutive heat shock protein 70 family member (HSPA8). Proteotoxic stress also enhanced HSPA8 mRNA translation efficiency in dendrites. Stress-mediated HSPA8 mRNA localization to the dendrites was impaired by depleting fused in sarcoma-an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-related protein-in cultured mouse motor neurons and expressing a pathogenic variant of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 in neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. These results reveal a crucial and unexpected neuronal stress response in which RNA-binding proteins increase the dendritic localization of HSPA8 mRNA to maintain proteostasis and prevent neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gene Yeo
- University of California, San Diego
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Madhwani KR, Sayied S, Ogata CH, Hogan CA, Lentini JM, Mallik M, Dumouchel JL, Storkebaum E, Fu D, O’Connor-Giles KM. tRNA modification enzyme-dependent redox homeostasis regulates synapse formation and memory. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.566895. [PMID: 38014328 PMCID: PMC10680711 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.566895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Post-transcriptional modification of RNA regulates gene expression at multiple levels. ALKBH8 is a tRNA modifying enzyme that methylates wobble uridines in specific tRNAs to modulate translation. Through methylation of tRNA-selenocysteine, ALKBH8 promotes selenoprotein synthesis and regulates redox homeostasis. Pathogenic variants in ALKBH8 have been linked to intellectual disability disorders in the human population, but the role of ALKBH8 in the nervous system is unknown. Through in vivo studies in Drosophila, we show that ALKBH8 controls oxidative stress in the brain to restrain synaptic growth and support learning and memory. ALKBH8 null animals lack wobble uridine methylation and exhibit a global reduction in protein synthesis, including a specific decrease in selenoprotein levels. Loss of ALKBH8 or independent disruption of selenoprotein synthesis results in ectopic synapse formation. Genetic expression of antioxidant enzymes fully suppresses synaptic overgrowth in ALKBH8 null animals, confirming oxidative stress as the underlying cause of dysregulation. ALKBH8 animals also exhibit associative learning and memory impairments that are reversed by pharmacological antioxidant treatment. Together, these findings demonstrate the critical role of tRNA modification in redox homeostasis in the nervous system and reveal antioxidants as a potential therapy for ALKBH8-associated intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shanzeh Sayied
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Caley A. Hogan
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jenna M. Lentini
- Department of Biology, Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Moushami Mallik
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, NL
| | | | - Erik Storkebaum
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, NL
| | - Dragony Fu
- Department of Biology, Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Kate M. O’Connor-Giles
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Carney Institute for Brain Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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7
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Alecki C, Rizwan J, Le P, Jacob-Tomas S, Xu S, Minotti S, Wu T, Durham H, Yeo GW, Vera M. Localized synthesis of molecular chaperones sustains neuronal proteostasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560761. [PMID: 37873158 PMCID: PMC10592939 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurons are challenged to maintain proteostasis in neuronal projections, particularly with the physiological stress at synapses to support intercellular communication underlying important functions such as memory and movement control. Proteostasis is maintained through regulated protein synthesis and degradation and chaperone-assisted protein folding. Using high-resolution fluorescent microscopy, we discovered that neurons localize a subset of chaperone mRNAs to their dendrites, particularly more proximal regions, and increase this asymmetric localization following proteotoxic stress through microtubule-based transport from the soma. The most abundant chaperone mRNA in dendrites encodes the constitutive heat shock protein 70, HSPA8. Proteotoxic stress in cultured neurons, induced by inhibiting proteasome activity or inducing oxidative stress, enhanced transport of Hspa8 mRNAs to dendrites and the percentage of mRNAs engaged in translation on mono and polyribosomes. Knocking down the ALS-related protein Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) and a dominant mutation in the heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (HNRNPA2B1) impaired stress-mediated localization of Hspa8 mRNA to dendrites in cultured murine motor neurons and human iPSC-derived neurons, respectively, revealing the importance of these RNA-binding proteins in maintaining proteostasis. These results reveal the increased dendritic localization and translation of the constitutive HSP70 Hspa8 mRNA as a crucial neuronal stress response to uphold proteostasis and prevent neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Alecki
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Javeria Rizwan
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Phuong Le
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Suleima Jacob-Tomas
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Stella Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Sandra Minotti
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Tad Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Heather Durham
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Gene W Yeo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maria Vera
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
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Wang S, Sun S. Translation dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases: a focus on ALS. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:58. [PMID: 37626421 PMCID: PMC10464328 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00642-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA translation is tightly controlled in eukaryotic cells to regulate gene expression and maintain proteome homeostasis. RNA binding proteins, translation factors, and cell signaling pathways all modulate the translation process. Defective translation is involved in multiple neurological diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and poses a major public health challenge worldwide. Over the past few years, tremendous advances have been made in the understanding of the genetics and pathogenesis of ALS. Dysfunction of RNA metabolisms, including RNA translation, has been closely associated with ALS. Here, we first introduce the general mechanisms of translational regulation under physiological and stress conditions and review well-known examples of translation defects in neurodegenerative diseases. We then focus on ALS-linked genes and discuss the recent progress on how translation is affected by various mutant genes and the repeat expansion-mediated non-canonical translation in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaopeng Wang
- Department of Physiology and Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Shuying Sun
- Department of Physiology and Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Ishiguro A, Ishihama A. Essential Roles and Risks of G-Quadruplex Regulation: Recognition Targets of ALS-Linked TDP-43 and FUS. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:957502. [PMID: 35898304 PMCID: PMC9309350 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.957502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A non-canonical DNA/RNA structure, G-quadruplex (G4), is a unique structure formed by two or more guanine quartets, which associate through Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding leading to form a square planar arrangement. A set of RNA-binding proteins specifically recognize G4 structures and play certain unique physiological roles. These G4-binding proteins form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) through a physicochemical phenomenon called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). G4-containing RNP granules are identified in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, but extensive studies have been performed in eukaryotes. We have been involved in analyses of the roles of G4-containing RNAs recognized by two G4-RNA-binding proteins, TDP-43 and FUS, which both are the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causative gene products. These RNA-binding proteins play the essential roles in both G4 recognition and LLPS, but they also carry the risk of agglutination. The biological significance of G4-binding proteins is controlled through unique 3D structure of G4, of which the risk of conformational stability is influenced by environmental conditions such as monovalent metals and guanine oxidation.
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Li L, Yu J, Ji SJ. Axonal mRNA localization and translation: local events with broad roles. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7379-7395. [PMID: 34698881 PMCID: PMC11072051 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03995-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) can be transported and targeted to different subcellular compartments and locally translated. Local translation is an evolutionally conserved mechanism that in mammals, provides an important tool to exquisitely regulate the subcellular proteome in different cell types, including neurons. Local translation in axons is involved in processes such as neuronal development, function, plasticity, and diseases. Here, we summarize the current progress on axonal mRNA transport and translation. We focus on the regulatory mechanisms governing how mRNAs are transported to axons and how they are locally translated in axons. We discuss the roles of axonally synthesized proteins, which either function locally in axons, or are retrogradely trafficked back to soma to achieve neuron-wide gene regulation. We also examine local translation in neurological diseases. Finally, we give a critical perspective on the remaining questions that could be answered to uncover the fundamental rules governing local translation, and discuss how this could lead to new therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichao Li
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Brain Research Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Brain Research Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Sheng-Jian Ji
- School of Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, Brain Research Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
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