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White AJ, Clark KA, Alexander KD, Ramalingam N, Young-Pearse TL, Dettmer U, Selkoe DJ, Ho GPH. A stem cell-based assay platform demonstrates alpha-synuclein dependent synaptic dysfunction in patient-derived cortical neurons. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:107. [PMID: 38773105 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00725-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αS)-rich Lewy bodies and neurites in the cerebral cortex correlate with the presence of dementia in Parkinson disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), but whether αS influences synaptic vesicle dynamics in human cortical neurons is unknown. Using a new iPSC-based assay platform for measuring synaptic vesicle cycling, we found that in human cortical glutamatergic neurons, increased αS from either transgenic expression or triplication of the endogenous locus in patient-derived neurons reduced synaptic vesicle cycling under both stimulated and spontaneous conditions. Thus, using a robust, easily adopted assay platform, we show for the first time αS-induced synaptic dysfunction in human cortical neurons, a key cellular substrate for PD dementia and DLB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J White
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Karis A Clark
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kellianne D Alexander
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nagendran Ramalingam
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tracy L Young-Pearse
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gary P H Ho
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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2
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Stillman NH, Joseph JA, Ahmed J, Baysah CZ, Dohoney RA, Ball TD, Thomas AG, Fitch TC, Donnelly CM, Kumar S. Protein mimetic 2D FAST rescues alpha synuclein aggregation mediated early and post disease Parkinson's phenotypes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3658. [PMID: 38688913 PMCID: PMC11061149 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47980-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Abberent protein-protein interactions potentiate many diseases and one example is the toxic, self-assembly of α-Synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons of patients with Parkinson's disease; therefore, a potential therapeutic strategy is the small molecule modulation of α-Synuclein aggregation. In this work, we develop an Oligopyridylamide based 2-dimensional Fragment-Assisted Structure-based Technique to identify antagonists of α-Synuclein aggregation. The technique utilizes a fragment-based screening of an extensive array of non-proteinogenic side chains in Oligopyridylamides, leading to the identification of NS132 as an antagonist of the multiple facets of α-Synuclein aggregation. We further identify a more cell permeable analog (NS163) without sacrificing activity. Oligopyridylamides rescue α-Synuclein aggregation mediated Parkinson's disease phenotypes in dopaminergic neurons in early and post disease Caenorhabditis elegans models. We forsee tremendous potential in our technique to identify lead therapeutics for Parkinson's disease and other diseases as it is expandable to other oligoamide scaffolds and a larger array of side chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas H Stillman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Johnson A Joseph
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Jemil Ahmed
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Program, Boettcher West, Room 228, 2050 E. Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
| | - Charles Zuwu Baysah
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Ryan A Dohoney
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Tyler D Ball
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Alexandra G Thomas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Tessa C Fitch
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Courtney M Donnelly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, F.W. Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA.
- The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave, Suite 579, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA.
- Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Program, Boettcher West, Room 228, 2050 E. Iliff Ave, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA.
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3
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Van Laar AD, Webb KR, Keeney MT, Van Laar VS, Zharikov A, Burton EA, Hastings TG, Glajch KE, Hirst WD, Greenamyre JT, Rocha EM. Transient exposure to rotenone causes degeneration and progressive parkinsonian motor deficits, neuroinflammation, and synucleinopathy. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:121. [PMID: 37567894 PMCID: PMC10421849 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00561-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) typically receive a diagnosis once they have developed motor symptoms, at which point there is already significant loss of substantia nigra dopamine neurons, α-synuclein accumulation in surviving neurons, and neuroinflammation. Consequently, the point of clinical presentation may be too late to initiate disease-modifying therapy. In contrast to this clinical reality, animal models often involve acute neurodegeneration and potential therapies are tested concurrently or shortly after the pathogenic insult has begun rather than later when diagnostic clinical symptoms emerge. Therefore, we sought to develop a model that reflects the clinical situation more accurately. Middle-aged rats (7-9 months-old) received a single daily intraperitoneal injection of rotenone for 5 consecutive days and were observed over the next 8-9 months. Rotenone-treated rats showed transient motor slowing and postural instability during exposure but recovered within 9 days of rotenone cessation. Rats remained without behavioral deficits for 3-4 months, then developed progressive motor abnormalities over the ensuing months. As motor abnormalities began to emerge 3 months after rotenone exposure, there was significant loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons and significant microglial activation. There was delayed accumulation of α-synuclein in neurons of the substantia nigra and frontal cortex, which was maximal at 9 months post-rotenone. In summary, a brief temporally-remote exposure to rotenone causes delayed and progressive behavioral and neuropathological changes similar to Parkinson's disease. This model mimics the human clinical situation, in which pathogenesis is well-established by the time diagnostic motor deficits appear. As such, this model may provide a more relevant experimental system in which to test disease-modifying therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber D Van Laar
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Katherine R Webb
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Matthew T Keeney
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Victor S Van Laar
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alevtina Zharikov
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Edward A Burton
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Teresa G Hastings
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kelly E Glajch
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Warren D Hirst
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - J Timothy Greenamyre
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Emily M Rocha
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Kuzkina A, Bargar C, Schmitt D, Rößle J, Wang W, Schubert AL, Tatsuoka C, Gunzler SA, Zou WQ, Volkmann J, Sommer C, Doppler K, Chen SG. Diagnostic value of skin RT-QuIC in Parkinson's disease: a two-laboratory study. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2021; 7:99. [PMID: 34782640 PMCID: PMC8593128 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-021-00242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin α-synuclein deposition is considered a potential biomarker for Parkinson's disease (PD). Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) is a novel, ultrasensitive, and efficient seeding assay that enables the detection of minute amounts of α-synuclein aggregates. We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of α-synuclein RT-QuIC assay of skin biopsy for diagnosing PD and to explore its correlation with clinical markers of PD in a two-center inter-laboratory comparison study. Patients with clinically diagnosed PD (n = 34), as well as control subjects (n = 30), underwent skin punch biopsy at multiple sites (neck, lower back, thigh, and lower leg). The skin biopsy samples (198 in total) were divided in half to be analyzed by RT-QuIC assay in two independent laboratories. The α-synuclein RT-QuIC assay of multiple skin biopsies supported the clinical diagnosis of PD with a diagnostic accuracy of 88.9% and showed a high degree of inter-rater agreement between the two laboratories (92.2%). Higher α-synuclein seeding activity in RT-QuIC was shown in patients with longer disease duration and more advanced disease stage and correlated with the presence of REM sleep behavior disorder, cognitive impairment, and constipation. The α-synuclein RT-QuIC assay of minimally invasive skin punch biopsy is a reliable and reproducible biomarker for Parkinson's disease. Moreover, α-synuclein RT-QuIC seeding activity in the skin may serve as a potential indicator of progression as it correlates with the disease stage and certain non-motor symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Kuzkina
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Connor Bargar
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Daniela Schmitt
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Rößle
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wen Wang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Anna-Lena Schubert
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Curtis Tatsuoka
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Steven A Gunzler
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Wen-Quan Zou
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jens Volkmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Sommer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Doppler
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Shu G Chen
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Hunt LC, Schadeberg B, Stover J, Haugen B, Pagala V, Wang YD, Puglise J, Barton ER, Peng J, Demontis F. Antagonistic control of myofiber size and muscle protein quality control by the ubiquitin ligase UBR4 during aging. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1418. [PMID: 33658508 PMCID: PMC7930053 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21738-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcopenia is a degenerative condition that consists in age-induced atrophy and functional decline of skeletal muscle cells (myofibers). A common hypothesis is that inducing myofiber hypertrophy should also reinstate myofiber contractile function but such model has not been extensively tested. Here, we find that the levels of the ubiquitin ligase UBR4 increase in skeletal muscle with aging, and that UBR4 increases the proteolytic activity of the proteasome. Importantly, muscle-specific UBR4 loss rescues age-associated myofiber atrophy in mice. However, UBR4 loss reduces the muscle specific force and accelerates the decline in muscle protein quality that occurs with aging in mice. Similarly, hypertrophic signaling induced via muscle-specific loss of UBR4/poe and of ESCRT members (HGS/Hrs, STAM, USP8) that degrade ubiquitinated membrane proteins compromises muscle function and shortens lifespan in Drosophila by reducing protein quality control. Altogether, these findings indicate that these ubiquitin ligases antithetically regulate myofiber size and muscle protein quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam C Hunt
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Bronwen Schadeberg
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jared Stover
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Benard Haugen
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Vishwajeeth Pagala
- Department of Structural Biology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yong-Dong Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jason Puglise
- College of Health & Human Performance Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Elisabeth R Barton
- College of Health & Human Performance Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Fabio Demontis
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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Yang X, Williams JK, Yan R, Mouradian MM, Baum J. Increased Dynamics of α-Synuclein Fibrils by β-Synuclein Leads to Reduced Seeding and Cytotoxicity. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17579. [PMID: 31772376 PMCID: PMC6879756 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54063-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αS) fibrils are toxic to cells and contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. β-Synuclein (βS), which co-localizes with αS, has been shown to provide a neuroprotective effect, but the molecular mechanism by which this occurs remains elusive. Here we show that αS fibrils formed in the presence of βS are less cytotoxic, exhibit reduced cell seeding capacity and are more resistant to fibril shedding compared to αS fibrils alone. Using solid-state NMR, we found that the overall structure of the core of αS fibrils when co-incubated with βS is minimally perturbed, however, the dynamics of Lys and Thr residues, located primarily in the imperfect KTKEGV repeats of the αS N-terminus, are increased. Our results suggest that amyloid fibril dynamics may play a key role in modulating toxicity and seeding. Thus, enhancing the dynamics of amyloid fibrils may be a strategy for future therapeutic targeting of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA
| | - Jonathan K Williams
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA
| | - Run Yan
- RWJMS Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, and Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA
| | - M Maral Mouradian
- RWJMS Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, and Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA
| | - Jean Baum
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA.
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Schaser AJ, Osterberg VR, Dent SE, Stackhouse TL, Wakeham CM, Boutros SW, Weston LJ, Owen N, Weissman TA, Luna E, Raber J, Luk KC, McCullough AK, Woltjer RL, Unni VK. Alpha-synuclein is a DNA binding protein that modulates DNA repair with implications for Lewy body disorders. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10919. [PMID: 31358782 PMCID: PMC6662836 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47227-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic protein that forms abnormal cytoplasmic aggregates in Lewy body disorders. Although nuclear alpha-synuclein localization has been described, its function in the nucleus is not well understood. We demonstrate that alpha-synuclein modulates DNA repair. First, alpha-synuclein colocalizes with DNA damage response components within discrete foci in human cells and mouse brain. Removal of alpha-synuclein in human cells leads to increased DNA double-strand break (DSB) levels after bleomycin treatment and a reduced ability to repair these DSBs. Similarly, alpha-synuclein knock-out mice show increased neuronal DSBs that can be rescued by transgenic reintroduction of human alpha-synuclein. Alpha-synuclein binds double-stranded DNA and helps to facilitate the non-homologous end-joining reaction. Using a new, in vivo imaging approach that we developed, we find that serine-129-phosphorylated alpha-synuclein is rapidly recruited to DNA damage sites in living mouse cortex. We find that Lewy inclusion-containing neurons in both mouse model and human-derived patient tissue demonstrate increased DSB levels. Based on these data, we propose a model whereby cytoplasmic aggregation of alpha-synuclein reduces its nuclear levels, increases DSBs, and may contribute to programmed cell death via nuclear loss-of-function. This model could inform development of new treatments for Lewy body disorders by targeting alpha-synuclein-mediated DNA repair mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison J Schaser
- Department of Neurology & Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Valerie R Osterberg
- Department of Neurology & Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Sydney E Dent
- Department of Neurology & Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Teresa L Stackhouse
- Department of Neurology & Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Colin M Wakeham
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Sydney W Boutros
- Departments of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurology, and Radiation Medicine and Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
| | - Leah J Weston
- Department of Neurology & Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Nichole Owen
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Tamily A Weissman
- Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR, 97219, USA
| | - Esteban Luna
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jacob Raber
- Departments of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurology, and Radiation Medicine and Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
| | - Kelvin C Luk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Amanda K McCullough
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Randall L Woltjer
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Vivek K Unni
- Department of Neurology & Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
- OHSU Parkinson Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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