Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT8 Provides Cellular Stress Tolerance in Aging Motoneurons.

ABSTRACT: Aging contributes to cellular stress and neurodegeneration. Our understanding is limited regarding the tissue-restricted mechanisms providing protection in postmitotic cells throughout life. Here, we show that spinal cord motoneurons exhibit a high abundance of asymmetric dimethyl arginines (ADMAs) and the presence of this posttranslational modification provides protection against environmental stress. We identify protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8) as a tissue-restricted enzyme responsible for proper ADMA level in postmitotic neurons. Male PRMT8 knock-out mice display decreased muscle strength with aging due to premature destabilization of neuromuscular junctions. Mechanistically, inhibition of methyltransferase activity or loss of PRMT8 results in accumulation of unrepaired DNA

SUBMITTER: Simandi Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6113905 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature