Expression of TorsinA in a heterologous yeast system reveals interactions with lumenal domains of LINC and nuclear pore complex components

Mol Biol Cell. 2019 Mar 1;30(5):530-541. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E18-09-0585. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Abstract

DYT1 dystonia is caused by an in-frame deletion of a glutamic acid codon in the gene encoding the AAA+ ATPase TorsinA (TorA). TorA localizes within the lumen of the nuclear envelope/endoplasmic reticulum and binds to a membrane-spanning cofactor, lamina associated polypeptide 1 (LAP1) or lumenal domain like LAP1 (LULL1), to form an ATPase; the substrate(s) of TorA remains ill-defined. Here we use budding yeast, which lack Torsins, to interrogate TorA function. We show that TorA accumulates at nuclear envelope-embedded spindle pole bodies (SPBs) in a way that requires its oligomerization and the SUN (Sad1 and UNc-84)-domain protein, Mps3. We further show that TorA physically interacts with human SUN1/2 within this system, supporting the physiological relevance of these interactions. Consistent with the idea that TorA acts on a SPB substrate, its binding to SPBs is modulated by the ATPase-stimulating activity of LAP1. TorA and TorA-ΔE reduce the fitness of cells expressing mps3 alleles, whereas TorA alone inhibits growth of cells lacking Pom152, a component of the nuclear pore complex. This genetic specificity is mirrored biochemically as TorA, but not TorA-ΔE, binds Pom152. Thus, TorA-nucleoporin interactions might be abrogated by TorA-ΔE, suggesting new experimental avenues to interrogate the molecular basis behind nuclear envelope herniations seen in mammalian cells lacking TorA function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Humans
  • Molecular Chaperones / metabolism*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nuclear Envelope / metabolism
  • Nuclear Pore / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Spindle Pole Bodies / metabolism

Substances

  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins