Structured and disordered regions of Ataxin-2 contribute differently to the specificity and efficiency of mRNP granule formation

ABSTRACT: Ataxin-2 (ATXN2) is a gene implicated in spinocerebellar ataxia type II (SCA2), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinsonism. The encoded protein is a therapeutic target for ALS and related conditions. ATXN2 (or Atx2 in insects) functions in translational regulation, mRNA stability, and in the assembly of mRNP-granules, a process mediated by intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Previous work has shown that the LSm (Like-Sm) domain of Atx2, which mediates translational activation of some target mRNAs, antagonizes mRNP-granule assembly. Here we advance these findings through a series of experiments on Drosophila and human Ataxin-2 proteins. Results of Targets of RNA-Binding Proteins Identified by Editing (TRIBE) experiments indicate that a polyA-binding protein (PABP) interacting, PAM2 motif of Ataxin-2 may be a major determinant of the mRNA content of Ataxin-2 mRNP granules. Co-localization and co-immunoprecipitation analyses show that structured interactions between Ataxin-2 and PABP additionally help determine protein components of Ataxin-2-associated mRNP granules and contribute to Ataxin-2’s association with stress granules. Finally, in vivo experiments in Drosophila indicate that while the Atx2-LSm domain protects against neurodegeneration, structured PAM2- and unstructured IDR- interactions both promote degeneration. Taken together the data: (a) lead to a proposal for how Ataxin-2 interactions are remodelled during different stages of translational control; (b) show how structured and non-structured interactions of Ataxin-2 contribute differently to the specificity and efficiency of RNP granule condensation; and (c) demonstrate that the Ataxin-2 protein contains multiple activities that may respectively prevent or promote neurodegeneration.

ORGANISM(S): Drosophila melanogaster

PROVIDER: GSE196739 | GEO | 2024/04/22

REPOSITORIES: GEO