The Mitochondrial Chaperone Protein TRAP1 Mitigates alpha-Synuclein Toxicity

Butler, Erin K.; Voigt, Aaron; Lutz, A. Kathrin; Toegel, Jane P.; Gerhardt, Ellen; Karsten, Peter; Falkenburger, Bjoern; Reinartz, Andrea; Winklhofer, Konstanze F. und Schulz, Joerg B. (Februar 2012): The Mitochondrial Chaperone Protein TRAP1 Mitigates alpha-Synuclein Toxicity., The Mitochondrial Chaperone Protein TRAP1 Mitigates α-Synuclein Toxicity.
In: PLOS Genetics 8(2), e1002488

Abstract

Overexpression or mutation of alpha-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] alpha-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] alpha-Synuclein expression. In addition, decreased TRAP1 expression in A53T] alpha-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] alpha-Synuclein-induced sensitivity to rotenone treatment. In human (non) neuronal cell lines, small interfering RNA directed against TRAP1 enhanced A53T] alpha-Synuclein-induced sensitivity to oxidative stress treatment. A53T] alpha-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] alpha-Synuclein overexpression in human SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that A53T] alpha-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 alpha-Synuclein.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Publikationsform: Publisher's Version
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 1553-7390
• Sprache: Englisch