CHIP protects lysosomes from CLN4 mutant-induced membrane damage
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ABSTRACT: Understanding how cells mitigate lysosomal damage is critical for unraveling pathogenic mechanisms of lysosome-related diseases. Here we generated and characterized iPSC-derived neurons (i3Neuron) bearing Ceroid Lipofuscinosis Neuronal 4 (CLN4)-linked DNAJC5 mutations, which revealed extensive lysosomal abnormality in mutant neurons. In vitro membrane-damaging experiments establish lysosome damages, caused by lysosome-associated CLN4 mutant aggregates, as a critical pathogenic linchpin in CLN4-associated neurodegeneration. Intriguingly, in non-neuronal cells, a ubiquitin-dependent microautophagy mechanism downregulates CLN4 aggregates to counteract CLN4-associated lysotoxicity. Genome-wide CRISPR screens identify the ubiquitin ligase CHIP as a central microautophagy regulator that confers ubiquitin-dependent lysosome protection. Importantly, CHIP’s lysosome protection function is transferrable: ectopic CHIP improves lysosomal function in CLN4 i3Neurons and effectively alleviates lipofuscin accumulation and cell death in a Drosophila CLN4 disease model. Our study establishes CHIP-mediated microautophagy as a key organelle guardian that preserves lysosome integrity, offering new insights into therapeutic development for lysosome-related neurodegenerative diseases.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE302082 | GEO | 2025/07/15
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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