title: Formaldehyde Is a Potent Proteotoxic Stressor Causing Rapid Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1 Activation and Lys48-Linked Polyubiquitination of Proteins.
abstract: Endogenous and exogenous formaldehyde (FA) has been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, and other pathophysiologic effects. Molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie FA-induced damage are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether proteotoxicity is an important, unrecognized factor in cell injury caused by FA. We found that irrespective of their cell cycle phases, all FA-treated human cells rapidly accumulated large amounts of proteins with proteasome-targeting K48-linked polyubiquitin, which was comparable with levels of polyubiquitination in proteasome-inhibited MG132 controls. Both nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins were damaged and underwent K48-polyubiquitination. There were no significant changes in the nonproteolytic K63-polyubiquitination of soluble and insoluble cellular proteins. FA also rapidly induced nuclear accumulation and Ser326 phosphorylation of the main heat shock-responsive transcription factor HSF1, which was not a result of protein polyubiquitination. Consistent with the activation of the functional heat shock response, FA strongly elevated the expression of HSP70 genes. In contrast to the responsiveness of the cytoplasmic protein damage sensor HSF1, FA did not activate the unfolded protein response in either the endoplasmic reticulum or mitochondria. Inhibition of HSP90 chaperone activity increased the levels of K48-polyubiquitinated proteins and diminished cell viability after FA treatment. Overall, our results indicate that FA is a strong proteotoxic agent, which helps explain its diverse pathologic effects, including injury in nonproliferative tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ortega-Atienza
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Blazej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rubis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Electronic address: anatoly_zhitkovich@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Anatoly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhitkovich
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D006801:Humans; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000009:adverse effects; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D025821:Polyubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054875:Ubiquitination / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000619706:HSF1 protein, human; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D007976:Leupeptins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025821:Polyubiquitin; D005557:Formaldehyde; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D008239:Lysine; C072553:benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde