Nitric oxide signaling is disrupted in the yeast model for Batten disease.
The juvenile form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (JNCLs), or Batten disease, results from mutations in the CLN3 gene, and it is characterized by the accumulation of lipopigments in the lysosomes of several cell types and by extensive neuronal death. We report that the yeast model for JNCL (btn1-Delta) that lacks BTN1, the homologue to human CLN3, has increased resistance to menadione-generated oxidative stress. Expression of human CLN3 complemented the btn1-Delta phenotype, and equivalent Btn1p/Cln3 mutations correlated with JNCL severity. We show that the previously reported decreased levels of L-arginine in btn1-Delta limit the synthesis of nitric oxide (.NO) in both physiological and oxidative stress conditions. This defect in .NO synthesis seems to suppress the signaling required for yeast menadione-induced apoptosis, thus explaining btn1-Delta phenotype of increased resistance. We propose that in JNCL, a limited capacity to synthesize .NO directly caused by the absence of Cln3 function may contribute to the pathology of the disease.
Osório
Nuno S
NS
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute ICVS, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, 4710 Braga, Portugal.
Carvalho
Agostinho
A
Almeida
Agostinho J
AJ
Padilla-Lopez
Sérgio
S
Leão
Cecília
C
Laranjinha
João
J
Ludovico
Paula
P
Pearce
David A
DA
Rodrigues
Fernando
F
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009472:Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D024483:Vitamin K 3 / Q000494:pharmacology
D015415:Biomarkers; D016213:Cyclins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C489809:YHC3 protein, S cerevisiae; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D024483:Vitamin K 3