Mask loss-of-function rescues mitochondrial impairment and muscle degeneration of Drosophila pink1 and parkin mutants.
PTEN-induced kinase 1 (Pink1) and ubiquitin E3 ligase Parkin function in a linear pathway to maintain healthy mitochondria via regulating mitochondrial clearance and trafficking. Mutations in the two enzymes cause the familial form of Parkinson's disease (PD) in humans, as well as accumulation of defective mitochondria and cellular degeneration in flies. Here, we show that loss of function of a scaffolding protein Mask, also known as ANKHD1 (Ankyrin repeats and KH domain containing protein 1) in humans, rescues the behavioral, anatomical and cellular defects caused by pink1 or parkin mutations in a cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, similar rescue can also be achieved if Mask knock-down is induced in parkin adult flies when the mitochondrial dystrophy is already manifested. We found that Mask genetically interacts with Parkin to modulate mitochondrial morphology and negatively regulates the recruitment of Parkin to mitochondria. We also provide evidence that loss of Mask activity promotes co-localization of the autophagosome marker with mitochondria in developing larval muscle, and that an intact autophagy pathway is required for the rescue of parkin mutant defects by mask loss of function. Together, our data strongly suggest that Mask/ANKHD1 activity can be inhibited in a tissue- and timely-controlled fashion to restore mitochondrial integrity under PD-linked pathological conditions.
Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Mingwei
M
Zhu
Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Xia
X
Li
Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA xtian@lsuhsc.edu cwu@lsuhsc.edu.
Xiaolin
X
Tian
Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA xtian@lsuhsc.edu cwu@lsuhsc.edu.
Chunlai
C
Wu
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D053140:Organelle Shape; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; C582878:Mask protein, Drosophila; C534484:PINK1 protein, Drosophila; D000099202:PTEN-Induced Putative Kinase; C487430:park protein, Drosophila