The mitochondrial chaperone protein TRAP1 mitigates α-Synuclein toxicity.
Overexpression or mutation of α-Synuclein is associated with protein aggregation and interferes with a number of cellular processes, including mitochondrial integrity and function. We used a whole-genome screen in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to search for novel genetic modifiers of human [A53T]α-Synuclein-induced neurotoxicity. Decreased expression of the mitochondrial chaperone protein tumor necrosis factor receptor associated protein-1 (TRAP1) was found to enhance age-dependent loss of fly head dopamine (DA) and DA neuron number resulting from [A53T]α-Synuclein expression. In addition, decreased TRAP1 expression in [A53T]α-Synuclein-expressing flies resulted in enhanced loss of climbing ability and sensitivity to oxidative stress. Overexpression of human TRAP1 was able to rescue these phenotypes. Similarly, human TRAP1 overexpression in rat primary cortical neurons rescued [A53T]α-Synuclein-induced sensitivity to rotenone treatment. In human (non)neuronal cell lines, small interfering RNA directed against TRAP1 enhanced [A53T]α-Synuclein-induced sensitivity to oxidative stress treatment. [A53T]α-Synuclein directly interfered with mitochondrial function, as its expression reduced Complex I activity in HEK293 cells. These effects were blocked by TRAP1 overexpression. Moreover, TRAP1 was able to prevent alteration in mitochondrial morphology caused by [A53T]α-Synuclein overexpression in human SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that [A53T]α-Synuclein toxicity is intimately connected to mitochondrial dysfunction and that toxicity reduction in fly and rat primary neurons and human cell lines can be achieved using overexpression of the mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1. Interestingly, TRAP1 has previously been shown to be phosphorylated by the serine/threonine kinase PINK1, thus providing a potential link of PINK1 via TRAP1 to α-Synuclein.
Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
Erin K
EK
Butler
Aaron
A
Voigt
A Kathrin
AK
Lutz
Jane P
JP
Toegel
Ellen
E
Gerhardt
Peter
P
Karsten
Björn
B
Falkenburger
Andrea
A
Reinartz
Konstanze F
KF
Winklhofer
Jörg B
JB
Schulz
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051381:Rats; D012402:Rotenone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C092306:TRAP1 protein, human; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D012402:Rotenone; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004298:Dopamine