Aberrant cleavage of TDP-43 enhances aggregation and cellular toxicity

Yong Jie Zhang, Ya Fei Xu, Casey Cook, Tania F. Gendron, Paul Roettges, Christopher D. Link, Wen Lang Lin, Jimei Tong, Monica Castanedes-Casey, Peter Ash, Jennifer Gass, Vijayaraghavan Rangachari, Emanuele Buratti, Francisco Baralle, Todd E. Golde, Dennis W. Dickson, Leonard Petrucelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

385 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inclusions of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43), a nuclear protein that regulates transcription and RNA splicing, are the defining his- topathological feature of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions (FTLD-Us) and sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In ALS and FTLD-U, aggregated, ubiquitinated, and N-terminally truncated TDP-43 can be isolated from brain tissue rich in neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions. The loss of TDP-43 function resulting from inappropriate cleavage, translocation from the nucleus, or its sequestration into inclusions could play important roles in neurodegeneration. However, it is not known whether TDP-43 fragments directly mediate toxicity and, more specifically, whether their abnormal aggregation is a cause or consequence of pathogenesis. We report that the ectopic expression of a ∼25-kDa TDP-43 fragment corresponding to the C-terminal truncation product of caspase-cleaved TDP-43 leads to the formation of toxic, insoluble, and ubiquitin- and phospho-positive cytoplasmic inclusions within cells. The 25-kDa C-terminal fragment is more prone to phosphorylation at S409/S410 than full-length TDP-43, but phosphorylation at these sites is not required for inclusion formation or toxicity. Although this fragment shows no biological activity, its exogenous expression neither inhibits the function nor causes the sequestration of full-length nuclear TDP-43, suggesting that the 25-kDa fragment can induce cell death through a toxic gain-of-function. Finally, by generating a conformation-dependent antibody that detects C-terminal fragments, we show that this toxic cleavage product is specific for pathologic inclusions in human TDP-43 proteinopathies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7607-7612
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume106
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - May 5 2009

Keywords

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Caspase
  • Cell death frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions
  • Inclusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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