High-content RNAi screening identifies the Type 1 inositol triphosphate receptor as a modifier of TDP-43 localization and neurotoxicity

Hum Mol Genet. 2012 Nov 15;21(22):4845-56. doi: 10.1093/hmg/dds321. Epub 2012 Aug 7.

Abstract

Cytosolic aggregation of the nuclear RNA-binding protein (RBP) TDP-43 (43 kDa TAR DNA-binding domain protein) is a suspected direct or indirect cause of motor neuron deterioration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this study, we implemented a high-content, genome-wide RNAi screen to identify pathways controlling TDP-43 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. We identified ∼60 genes whose silencing increased the cytosolic localization of TDP-43, including nuclear pore complex components and regulators of G2/M cell cycle transition. In addition, we identified the type 1 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor (ITPR1), an IP3-gated, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident Ca(2+) channel, as a strong modulator of TDP-43 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Knockdown or chemical inhibition of ITPR1 induced TDP-43 nuclear export in immortalized cells and primary neurons and strongly potentiated the recruitment of TDP-43 to Ubiquilin-positive autophagosomes, suggesting that diminished ITPR1 function leads to autophagosomal clearance of TDP-43. The functional significance of the TDP-43-ITPR1 genetic interaction was tested in Drosophila, where mutant alleles of ITPR1 were found to significantly extended lifespan and mobility of flies expressing TDP-43 under a motor neuron driver. These combined findings implicate IP3-gated Ca(2+) as a key regulator of TDP-43 nucleoplasmic shuttling and proteostasis and suggest pharmacologic inhibition of ITPR1 as a strategy to combat TDP-43-induced neurodegeneration in vivo.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / toxicity
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HeLa Cells
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / genetics
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Phagosomes / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Interference

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors