CMT2D neuropathy is linked to the neomorphic binding activity of glycyl-tRNA synthetase.
Selective neuronal loss is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, which, counterintuitively, are often caused by mutations in widely expressed genes. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) diseases are the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathies, for which there are no effective therapies. A subtype of these diseases--CMT type 2D (CMT2D)--is caused by dominant mutations in GARS, encoding the ubiquitously expressed enzyme glycyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase (GlyRS). Despite the broad requirement of GlyRS for protein biosynthesis in all cells, mutations in this gene cause a selective degeneration of peripheral axons, leading to deficits in distal motor function. How mutations in GlyRS (GlyRS(CMT2D)) are linked to motor neuron vulnerability has remained elusive. Here we report that GlyRS(CMT2D) acquires a neomorphic binding activity that directly antagonizes an essential signalling pathway for motor neuron survival. We find that CMT2D mutations alter the conformation of GlyRS, enabling GlyRS(CMT2D) to bind the neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) receptor. This aberrant interaction competitively interferes with the binding of the cognate ligand vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to Nrp1. Genetic reduction of Nrp1 in mice worsens CMT2D symptoms, whereas enhanced expression of VEGF improves motor function. These findings link the selective pathology of CMT2D to the neomorphic binding activity of GlyRS(CMT2D) that antagonizes the VEGF-Nrp1 interaction, and indicate that the VEGF-Nrp1 signalling axis is an actionable target for treating CMT2D.
Departments of Chemical Physiology and Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Weiwei
W
He
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Ge
G
Bai
Departments of Chemical Physiology and Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Huihao
H
Zhou
Departments of Chemical Physiology and Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Na
N
Wei
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Nicholas M
NM
White
Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA.
Janelle
J
Lauer
Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Huaqing
H
Liu
Departments of Chemical Physiology and Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Yi
Y
Shi
Departments of Chemical Physiology and Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Calin Dan
CD
Dumitru
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Karen
K
Lettieri
Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Veronica
V
Shubayev
Molecular Neurogenomics Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, BE-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Albena
A
Jordanova
Department of Neurology, Medical University of Sofia, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Velina
V
Guergueltcheva
Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA.
Patrick R
PR
Griffin
The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA.
Robert W
RW
Burgess
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Samuel L
SL
Pfaff
Departments of Chemical Physiology and Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Xiang-Lei
XL
Yang
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006032:Glycine-tRNA Ligase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008024:Ligands; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D039942:Neuropilin-1; D006032:Glycine-tRNA Ligase