Project description:Alpha-synuclein is an abundant protein implicated in synaptic function and plasticity, but the molecular mechanism of its action is not understood. Missense mutations and gene duplication/triplication events result in Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder of old age with impaired movement and emotion control. Here, we systematically investigated the striatal as well as the cerebellar transcriptome profile of alpha-synuclein-deficient mice via a genome-wide microarray survey in order to gain hypothesis-free molecular insights into the physiological function of alpha-synuclein. A genotype-dependent, specific and strong downregulation of forkhead box P1 (Foxp1) transcript levels was observed in all brain regions from postnatal age until old age and could be validated by qPCR. In view of the co-localization and heterodimer formation of FOXP1 with FOXP2, a transcription factor with a well established role for vocalization, and the reported regulation of both alpha-synuclein and FOXP2 expression during avian song learning, we performed a detailed assessment of mouse movements and vocalizations in the postnatal period. While there was no difference in isolation-induced behavioral activity in these animals, the alpha-synuclein-deficient mice exhibited an increased production of isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). This phenotype might also reflect the reduced expression of the anxiety-related GABA-A receptor subunit gamma 2 (Gabrg2) we observed. Taken together, we identified an early behavioral consequence of alpha-synuclein deficiency and accompanying molecular changes, which supports the notion that the neural connectivity of sound or emotion control systems is affected. Factorial design comparing SNCA knock-out mice with wild type littermates in two different tissues (striatum, cerebellum) at two different timepoints (6 and 21 month)
Project description:Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the aggregation of the presynaptic protein α-synuclein and its deposition into pathologic Lewy bodies. While extensive research has been carried out on mediators of α-synuclein aggregation, molecular facilitators of α-synuclein disaggregation are still generally unknown. We investigated the role of molecular chaperones in both preventing and disaggregating α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils, with a focus on the mammalian disaggregase complex. Here, we show that overexpression of the chaperone Hsp110 is sufficient to reduce α-synuclein aggregation in a mammalian cell culture model. Additionally, we demonstrate that Hsp110 effectively mitigates α-synuclein pathology in vivo through the characterization of transgenic Hsp110 and double transgenic α-synuclein/Hsp110 mouse models. Unbiased analysis of the synaptic proteome of these mice revealed that overexpression of Hsp110 can override the protein changes driven by the α-synuclein transgene. Furthermore, overexpression of Hsp110 is sufficient to prevent endogenous α-synuclein templating and spread following injection of aggregated α-synuclein seeds into brain, supporting a role for Hsp110 in the prevention and/or disaggregation of α-synuclein pathology.
Project description:Alpha synuclein (SNCA) has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases (synucleinopathies) that include Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although the primary neurodegeneration in PD involves nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, more extensive yet regionally selective neurodegeneration is observed in other synucleinopathies. Furthermore, SNCA is ubiquitously expressed in neurons and numerous neuronal systems are dysfunctional in PD. Therefore it is of interest to understand how overexpression of SNCA affects neuronal function in regions not directly targeted for neurodegeneration in PD. To gain a better understanding of the consequences of excessive SNCA expression on basal ganglia function, we performed transcriptome analysis of striatal tissue from male Thy1-aSyn-mice and wt littermates. The present study investigated the consequences of SNCA overexpression on cellular processes and functions in the striatum of mice overexpressing wild-type, human SNCA under the Thy1 promoter (Thy1-aSyn mice) by transcriptome analysis. The analysis revealed alterations in multiple biological processes in the striatum of Thy1-aSyn mice, including synaptic plasticity, signaling, transcription, apoptosis, and neurogenesis. The present study investigated the consequences of SNCA overexpression on cellular processes and functions in the striatum of mice overexpressing wild-type, human SNCA under the Thy1 promoter (Thy1-aSyn mice) by transcriptome analysis. The analysis revealed alterations in multiple biological processes in the striatum of Thy1-aSyn mice, including synaptic plasticity, signaling, transcription, apoptosis, and neurogenesis.
Project description:Alpha-synuclein is an abundant protein implicated in synaptic function and plasticity, but the molecular mechanism of its action is not understood. Missense mutations and gene duplication/triplication events result in Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder of old age with impaired movement and emotion control. Here, we systematically investigated the striatal as well as the cerebellar transcriptome profile of alpha-synuclein-deficient mice via a genome-wide microarray survey in order to gain hypothesis-free molecular insights into the physiological function of alpha-synuclein. A genotype-dependent, specific and strong downregulation of forkhead box P1 (Foxp1) transcript levels was observed in all brain regions from postnatal age until old age and could be validated by qPCR. In view of the co-localization and heterodimer formation of FOXP1 with FOXP2, a transcription factor with a well established role for vocalization, and the reported regulation of both alpha-synuclein and FOXP2 expression during avian song learning, we performed a detailed assessment of mouse movements and vocalizations in the postnatal period. While there was no difference in isolation-induced behavioral activity in these animals, the alpha-synuclein-deficient mice exhibited an increased production of isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). This phenotype might also reflect the reduced expression of the anxiety-related GABA-A receptor subunit gamma 2 (Gabrg2) we observed. Taken together, we identified an early behavioral consequence of alpha-synuclein deficiency and accompanying molecular changes, which supports the notion that the neural connectivity of sound or emotion control systems is affected.
Project description:Previous studies have demonstrated an importance of alpha-synuclein as a modulator of various mechanisms implicated in chemical neurotransmission but information about other two synuclein family members’ involvement in molecular processes taking place in presynaptic terminals is limited. Here we demonstrated that dopamine uptake by synaptic vesicles isolated from the striatum of mice lacking beta-synuclein was significantly reduced. Reciprocally, reintroduction, either in vivo or in vitro, of beta-synuclein but not alpha- or gamma-synuclein improved uptake by vesicles isolated from the striatum of triple alpha/beta/gamma-synuclein deficient mice. Proteomic analysis of synuclein-free and beta-synuclein-only-containing synaptic vesicles suggested that mechanistically, beta-synuclein potentiates vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2)-dependent dopamine uptake by assembling specific multiprotein complexes comprised of resident vesicular proteins and transiently associated, predominantly cytosolic proteins. The increased availability of such complexes on the surface of striatal synaptic vesicles lacking other synucleins should also promote sequestration of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a toxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which explains the resistance of dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra lacking alpha-synuclein and/or gamma-synuclein to this neurotoxin.
Project description:Accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein into Lewy bodies is thought to contribute to the onset and progression of dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related disorders. Although protein aggregation is associated with perturbation of proteostasis, how α-synuclein aggregation affects the brain proteome and signaling remains uncertain. In a mouse model of α-synuclein aggregation, 6% of 6,215 proteins and 1.6% of 8,183 phosphopeptides changed in abundance, indicating conservation of proteostasis and phosphorylation signaling. The proteomic analysis confirmed changes in abundance of proteins that regulate dopamine synthesis and transport, synaptic activity and integrity, and unearthed changes in mRNA binding, processing and protein translation. Phosphorylation signaling changes centered on axonal and synaptic cytoskeletal organization and structural integrity. Proteostatic responses included a significant increase in the levels of Lmp7, a component of the immunoproteasome. Increased Lmp7 levels and activity were also quantified in postmortem human brains with PD and dementia with Lewy bodies. Functionally, the immunoproteasome degrades α-synuclein aggregates and generates potentially antigenic peptides. Expression and activity of the immunoproteasome may represent testable targets to induce adaptive responses that maintain proteome integrity and modulate immune responses in protein aggregation disorders.
Project description:Accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein into Lewy bodies is thought to contribute to the onset and progression of dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related disorders. Although protein aggregation is associated with perturbation of proteostasis, how α-synuclein aggregation affects the brain proteome and signaling remains uncertain. In a mouse model of α-synuclein aggregation, 6% of 6,215 proteins and 1.6% of 8,183 phosphopeptides changed in abundance, indicating conservation of proteostasis and phosphorylation signaling. The proteomic analysis confirmed changes in abundance of proteins that regulate dopamine synthesis and transport, synaptic activity and integrity, and unearthed changes in mRNA binding, processing and protein translation. Phosphorylation signaling changes centered on axonal and synaptic cytoskeletal organization and structural integrity. Proteostatic responses included a significant increase in the levels of Lmp7, a component of the immunoproteasome. Increased Lmp7 levels and activity were also quantified in postmortem human brains with PD and dementia with Lewy bodies. Functionally, the immunoproteasome degrades α-synuclein aggregates and generates potentially antigenic peptides. Expression and activity of the immunoproteasome may represent testable targets to induce adaptive responses that maintain proteome integrity and modulate immune responses in protein aggregation disorders.
Project description:Accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein into Lewy bodies is thought to contribute to the onset and progression of dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related disorders. Although protein aggregation is associated with perturbation of proteostasis, how α-synuclein aggregation affects the brain proteome and signaling remains uncertain. In a mouse model of α-synuclein aggregation, 6% of 6,215 proteins and 1.6% of 8,183 phosphopeptides changed in abundance, indicating conservation of proteostasis and phosphorylation signaling. The proteomic analysis confirmed changes in abundance of proteins that regulate dopamine synthesis and transport, synaptic activity and integrity, and unearthed changes in mRNA binding, processing and protein translation. Phosphorylation signaling changes centered on axonal and synaptic cytoskeletal organization and structural integrity. Proteostatic responses included a significant increase in the levels of Lmp7, a component of the immunoproteasome. Increased Lmp7 levels and activity were also quantified in postmortem human brains with PD and dementia with Lewy bodies. Functionally, the immunoproteasome degrades α-synuclein aggregates and generates potentially antigenic peptides. Expression and activity of the immunoproteasome may represent testable targets to induce adaptive responses that maintain proteome integrity and modulate immune responses in protein aggregation disorders.
Project description:Parkinsonâs disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder at old age, can be caused by elevated expression, or the A53T mutation, of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (SNCA). PD is characterized pathologically by the preferential vulnerability of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection neurons. Here, we used two mouse lines overexpressing human A53T-SNCA around ages 6 and 18 months and studied striatal dysfunction in the absence of neurodegeneration to understand early disease mechanisms. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of striatal neurotransmitter content demonstrated that dopamine (DA) levels correlated directly with the level of expression of SNCA, an observation also observed in SNCA deficient mice. In the striatum of aged A53TSNCA overexpressing mice, where DA levels were elevated, a paradoxical upregulation of dopamine receptors DRD1A and DRD2 was detected by immunoblots and autoradiography, findings compatible with the notion of abnormal vesicle release. Extensive transcriptome studies via microarrays and quantitative real-time RT-PCR validation of altered Homer1, Cb1, Atf2 and Pde7b transcript levels indicated a progressive reduction in the postsynaptic DA response. As functional consequences, long term depression was absent in corticostriatal slices from aged transgenic mice and an insidious decrease of spontaneous locomotor activity of these animals was found in open field tests. Taken together, the dysfunctional neurotransmission and decreased synaptic plasticity seen in the A53T-SNCA overexpressing mice reflects early functional changes within the basal ganglia resulting from synucleinopathy prior to frank neurodegeneration. Thus, preclinical stages of PD may be modeled in this mouse. Parkinsonâs disease (PD), the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder at old age, can be caused by elevated expression, or the A53T mutation, of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (SNCA). PD is characterized pathologically by the preferential vulnerability of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection neurons. Here, we used two mouse lines overexpressing human A53T-SNCA around ages 6 and 18 months and studied striatal dysfunction in the absence of neurodegeneration to understand early disease mechanisms. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of striatal neurotransmitter content demonstrated that dopamine (DA) levels correlated directly with the level of expression of SNCA, an observation also observed in SNCA deficient mice. In the striatum of aged A53TSNCA overexpressing mice, where DA levels were elevated, a paradoxical upregulation of dopamine receptors DRD1A and DRD2 was detected by immunoblots and autoradiography, findings compatible with the notion of abnormal vesicle release. Extensive transcriptome studies via microarrays and quantitative real-time RT-PCR validation of altered Homer1, Cb1, Atf2 and Pde7b transcript levels indicated a progressive reduction in the postsynaptic DA response. As functional consequences, long term depression was absent in corticostriatal slices from aged transgenic mice and an insidious decrease of spontaneous locomotor activity of these animals was found in open field tests. Taken together, the dysfunctional neurotransmission and decreased synaptic plasticity seen in the A53T-SNCA overexpressing mice reflects early functional changes within the basal ganglia resulting from synucleinopathy prior to frank neurodegeneration. Thus, preclinical stages of PD may be modeled in this mouse. Tissue was dissected from the brain of 6 months old (2 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB striata, 2 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB brainstems/midbrains, 2 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB cerebella) and of 18+ months old mice (4 WT / 2 TgA / 2 TgB striata, 6 WT / 4 TgA / 3 TgB brainstems/midbrains, 6 WT / 5 TgA / 4 TgB cerebella). Tissues from individual, particularly old mice up to 28 months age were included here to strengthen the definition of progression markers reflecting old age.
Project description:Global transcriptional analysis of the brain of multiple system atrophy model mice after synuclein induction by tamoxifen. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is pathologically characterized by accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein in the oligodendrocytes. The pathophisiological mechinism under the early staige of disease pregression has been unknown. To clarify molecular alteration just after α-synuclein overexpression in the oligodendrocytes, we performed whole transcriptome analysis of the brain obtained from MSA model mice and control at 10 days after α-synuclein induction.