The synaptic function of LRRK2

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1047-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seongsoo Lee ◽  
Yuzuru Imai ◽  
Stephan Gehrke ◽  
Song Liu ◽  
Bingwei Lu

Mutations in LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) are the most frequent genetic lesions so far found in familial as well as sporadic forms of PD (Parkinson's disease), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the dysfunction and degeneration of dopaminergic and other neuronal types. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying LRRK2 action remain poorly defined. Synaptic dysfunction has been increasingly recognized as an early event in the pathogenesis of major neurological disorders. Using Drosophila as a model system, we have shown that LRRK2 controls synaptic morphogenesis. Loss of dLRRK (Drosophila LRRK2) results in synaptic overgrowth at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction synapse, whereas overexpression of wild-type dLRRK, hLRRK2 (human LRRK2) or the pathogenic hLRRK2-G2019S mutant has the opposite effect. Alteration of LRRK2 activity also affects synaptic transmission in a complex manner. LRRK2 exerts its effects on synaptic morphology by interacting with distinct downstream effectors at the pre- and post-synaptic compartments. At the postsynapse, LRRK2 functionally interacts with 4E-BP (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein) and the microRNA machinery, both of which negatively regulate protein synthesis. At the presynapse, LRRK2 phosphorylates and negatively regulates the microtubule-binding protein Futsch and functionally interacts with the mitochondrial transport machinery. These results implicate compartment-specific synaptic dysfunction caused by altered protein synthesis, cytoskeletal dynamics and mitochondrial transport in LRRK2 pathogenesis and offer a new paradigm for understanding and ultimately treating LRRK2-related PD.

Author(s):  
Tao Ma

Currently there is no effective cure or intervention available for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disease and the most common form of dementia. It is urgent to understand the basic cellular/molecular signaling mechanisms underlying AD pathophysiology to identify novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Many studies indicate impaired synaptic function as a key and early event in AD pathogenesis. Mounting evidence suggests that dysregulations in mRNA translation (protein synthesis) may contribute to the development of synaptic dysfunction and cognitive defects in neurodegenerative diseases including AD. Protein synthesis happens in three phases (initiation, elongation, and termination) and is tightly controlled through regulation of multiple signaling pathways in response to various stimuli. Integral protein synthesis is indispensable for memory formation and maintenance of synaptic plasticity. Interruption of protein synthesis homeostasis can lead to impairments in cognition and synaptic plasticity. This chapter reviews recent studies supporting the idea that impaired protein synthesis is an important mechanism underlying AD-associated cognitive deficits and synaptic failure. It focuses on three signaling cascades controlling protein synthesis: eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), and eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Findings from human and animal studies demonstrating an association between dysregulation of these pathways and AD pathophysiology are summarized and discussed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 268 (20) ◽  
pp. 5375-5385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda McKendrick ◽  
Simon J. Morley ◽  
Virginia M. Pain ◽  
Rosemary Jagus ◽  
Bhavesh Joshi

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 998-1003
Author(s):  
M Altmann ◽  
C Handschin ◽  
H Trachsel

We have isolated genomic and cDNA clones encoding protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-4E (mRNA cap-binding protein) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Their identity was established by expression of a cDNA in Escherichia coli. This cDNA encodes a protein indistinguishable from purified eIF-4E in terms of molecular weight, binding to and elution from m7GDP-agarose affinity columns, and proteolytic peptide pattern. The eIF-4E gene was isolated by hybridization of cDNA to clones of a yeast genomic library. The gene lacks introns, is present in one copy per haploid genome, and encodes a protein of 213 amino acid residues. Gene disruption experiments showed that the gene is essential for growth.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (4) ◽  
pp. E611-E619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Cooney ◽  
Scot R. Kimball ◽  
Rebecca Eckman ◽  
George Maish ◽  
Margaret Shumate ◽  
...  

We examined the effects of TNF-binding protein (TNFBP) on regulatory mechanisms of muscle protein synthesis during sepsis in four groups of rats: Control; Control+TNFBP; Septic; and Septic+TNFBP. Saline (1.0 ml) or TNFBP (1 mg/kg, 1.0 ml) was injected daily starting 4 h before the induction of sepsis. The effect of TNFBP on gastrocnemius weight, protein content, and the rate of protein synthesis was examined 5 days later. Sepsis reduced the rate of protein synthesis by 35% relative to controls by depressing translational efficiency. Decreases in protein synthesis were accompanied by similar reductions in protein content and muscle weight. Treatment of septic animals with TNFBP for 5 days prevented the sepsis-induced inhibition of protein synthesis and restored translational efficiency to control values. TNFBP treatment of Control rats for 5 days was without effect on muscle protein content or protein synthesis. We also assessed potential mechanisms regulating translational efficiency. The phosphorylation state of p70S6 kinase was not altered by sepsis. Sepsis reduced the gastrocnemius content of eukaryotic initiation factor 2Bε (eIF2Bε), but not eIF2α. The decrease in eIF2Bε content was prevented by treatment of septic rats with TNFBP. TNFBP ameliorates the sepsis-induced changes in protein metabolism in gastrocnemius, indicating a role for TNF in the septic process. The data suggest that TNF may impair muscle protein synthesis by reducing expression of specific initiation factors during sepsis.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 5450-5457 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Feigenblum ◽  
R J Schneider

Cap-dependent protein synthesis in animal cells is inhibited by heat shock, serum deprivation, metaphase arrest, and infection with certain viruses such as adenovirus (Ad). At a mechanistic level, translation of capped mRNAs is inhibited by dephosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) (cap-binding protein) and its physical sequestration with the translation repressor protein BP-1 (PHAS-I). Dephosphorylation of BP-I blocks cap-dependent translation by promoting sequestration of eIF-4E. Here we show that heat shock inhibits translation of capped mRNAs by simultaneously inducing dephosphorylation of eIF-4E and BP-1, suggesting that cells might coordinately regulate translation of capped mRNAs by impairing both the activity and the availability of eIF-4E. Like heat shock, late Ad infection is shown to induce dephosphorylation of eIF-4E. However, in contrast to heat shock, Ad also induces phosphorylation of BP-1 and release of eIF-4E. BP-1 and eIF-4E can therefore act on cap-dependent translation in either a mutually antagonistic or cooperative manner. Three sets of experiments further underscore this point: (i) rapamycin is shown to block phosphorylation of BP-1 without inhibiting dephosphorylation of eIF-4E induced by heat shock or Ad infection, (ii) eIF-4E is efficiently dephosphorylated during heat shock or Ad infection regardless of whether it is in a complex with BP-1, and (iii) BP-1 is associated with eIF-4E in vivo regardless of the state of eIF-4E phosphorylation. These and other studies establish that inhibition of cap-dependent translation does not obligatorily involve sequestration of eIF-4E by BP-1. Rather, translation is independently regulated by the phosphorylation states of eIF-4E and the 4E-binding protein, BP-1. In addition, these results demonstrate that BP-1 and eIF-4E can act either in concert or in opposition to independently regulate cap-dependent translation. We suggest that independent regulation of eIF-4E and BP-1 might finely regulate the efficiency of translation initiation or possibly control cap-dependent translation for fundamentally different purposes.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (3) ◽  
pp. H1232-H1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sassan Hafizi ◽  
Xuemin Wang ◽  
Adrian H. Chester ◽  
Magdi H. Yacoub ◽  
Christopher G. Proud

We have previously shown that the vasoconstrictive peptide angiotensin II (ANG II) is a hypertrophic agent for human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (cSMCs), which suggests that it plays a role in vascular wall thickening. The present study investigated the intracellular signal transduction pathways involved in the growth response of cSMCs to ANG II. The stimulation of protein synthesis by ANG II in cSMCs was blocked by the immunosuppressant rapamycin, which is an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway that includes the 70-kDa S6 kinase (p70S6k) and plays a key role in cell growth. The inhibitory effect of rapamycin was reversed by a molar excess of FK506; this indicates that both agents act through the common 12-kDa immunophilin FK506-binding protein. ANG II caused a rapid and sustained activation of p70S6k activity that paralleled its phosphorylation, and both processes were blocked by rapamycin. In addition, both of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY-294002 abolished the ANG II-induced increase in protein synthesis, and wortmannin also blocked p70S6k phosphorylation. Furthermore, ANG II triggered dissociation of the translation initiation factor, eukaryotic initiation factor-4E, from its regulatory binding protein 4E-BP1, which was also inhibited by rapamycin and wortmannin. In conclusion, we have shown that ANG II activates components of the rapamycin-sensitive mTOR signaling pathway in human cSMCs and involves activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, p70S6k, and eukaryotic initiation factor-4E, which leads to activation of protein synthesis. These signaling mechanisms may mediate the growth-promoting effect of ANG II in human cSMCs.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document