Dataset Information

The ALS disease-associated mutant TDP-43 impairs mitochondrial dynamics and function in motor neurons.

ABSTRACT: Mutations in TDP-43 lead to familial ALS. Expanding evidence suggests that impaired mitochondrial dynamics likely contribute to the selective degeneration of motor neurons in SOD1-associated ALS. In this study, we investigated whether and how TDP-43 mutations might impact mitochondrial dynamics and function. We demonstrated that overexpression of wild-type TDP-43 resulted in reduced mitochondrial length and density in neurites of primary motor neurons, features further exacerbated by ALS-associated TDP-43 mutants Q331K and M337V. In contrast, suppression of TDP-43 resulted in significantly increased mitochondrial length and density in neurites, suggesting a specific role of TDP-43 in regulating mitochondrial dynamics. Surprisingly, both TDP-43 overexpression and suppression impaired mitochondrial movement. We further showed that abnormal localization of TDP-43 in cytoplasm induced substantial and widespread abnormal mitochondrial dynamics. TDP-43 co-localized with mitochondria in motor neurons and their colocalization was enhanced by ALS associated mutant. Importantly, co-expression of mitochondrial fusion protein mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) could abolish TDP-43 induced mitochondrial dynamics abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, these data suggest that mutant TDP-43 impairs mitochondrial dynamics through enhanced localization on mitochondria, which causes mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, abnormal mitochondrial dynamics is likely a common feature of ALS which could be potential new therapeutic targets to treat ALS.

SUBMITTER: Wang W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3820133 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The ALS disease-associated mutant TDP-43 impairs mitochondrial dynamics and function in motor neurons.

Wang Wenzhang W Li Li L Lin Wen-Lang WL Dickson Dennis W DW Petrucelli Leonard L Zhang Teng T Wang Xinglong X

Human molecular genetics 20130704 23

Mutations in TDP-43 lead to familial ALS. Expanding evidence suggests that impaired mitochondrial dynamics likely contribute to the selective degeneration of motor neurons in SOD1-associated ALS. In this study, we investigated whether and how TDP-43 mutations might impact mitochondrial dynamics and function. We demonstrated that overexpression of wild-type TDP-43 resulted in reduced mitochondrial length and density in neurites of primary motor neurons, features further exacerbated by ALS-associa ...[more]

PMID: 23827948

Similar Datasets

Project description:GGGGCC repeat expansions of C9ORF72 represent the most common genetic variant of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. We and others have proposed that RNA transcribed from the repeat sequence is toxic via sequestration of RNA-binding factors. Both GGGGCC-repeat (sense) and CCCCGG-repeat (antisense) molecules are detectable by fluorescence in situ hybridisation as RNA foci, but their relative expression pattern within the CNS and contribution to disease has not been determined. Blinded examination of CNS biosamples from ALS patients with a repeat expansion of C9ORF72 showed that antisense foci are present at a significantly higher frequency in cerebellar Purkinje neurons and motor neurons, whereas sense foci are present at a significantly higher frequency in cerebellar granule neurons. Consistent with this, inclusions containing sense or antisense derived dipeptide repeat proteins were present at significantly higher frequency in cerebellar granule neurons or motor neurons, respectively. Immunohistochemistry and UV-crosslinking studies showed that sense and antisense RNA molecules share similar interactions with SRSF2, hnRNP K, hnRNP A1, ALYREF, and hnRNP H/F. Together these data suggest that, although sense and antisense RNA molecules might be expected to be equally toxic via their shared protein binding partners, distinct patterns of expression in various CNS neuronal populations could lead to relative differences in their contribution to the pathogenesis of neuronal injury. Moreover in motor neurons, which are the primary target of pathology in ALS, the presence of antisense foci (? (2), p < 0.00001) but not sense foci (? (2), p = 0.75) correlated with mislocalisation of TDP-43, which is the hallmark of ALS neurodegeneration. This has implications for translational approaches to C9ORF72 disease, and furthermore interacting RNA-processing factors and transcriptional activators responsible for antisense versus sense transcription might represent novel therapeutic targets.

Dataset Information

The ALS disease-associated mutant TDP-43 impairs mitochondrial dynamics and function in motor neurons.

Publications

The ALS disease-associated mutant TDP-43 impairs mitochondrial dynamics and function in motor neurons.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets