Failure of the ubiquitin proteasome machinery and molecular chaperones may result in aggregation of mutant or damaged polypeptides leading to various devastating diseases. However, special molecular machinery has evolved as a last line of defense to relieve proteotoxicity by transporting misfolded protein aggregates/oligomers to the centrosome-localized aggresome. The main objective of this proposal is to uncover the mechanisms of aggresome formation. The proposed work is based on our yeast model of aggregation of proteins with expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) domains. In the past, this model was used to identify small molecules that suppress polyQ aggregation, improve motor performance and reduce neuronal atrophy in a mouse model of HD. With this model, we have established that (a) aggresome formation both in yeast and mammalian cells requires transferable aggresome-targeting signals on substrate proteins, e.g. the proline-rich region (P-region) of exon 1 of huntingtin, (b) an SH3-domain protein Boi2 serves as a recognition element for the P-region aggresome- targeting signal, (c) a yeast 14-3-3 protein Bmh1 and components of the Cdc48/VCP-Ufd1-Nlp4 complex play an essential role in aggresome formation. We also established a cell culture model of aggresome formation to investigate the relevance for mammalian cells of aggresome components identified in yeast.
In Aim 1 we will clarify how the aggresome machinery recognizes small polyQ aggregates/oligomers. We will establish the role of the SH3-domain protein Boi2 in the recognition of the aggregates in yeast, and will clarify whether Boi2 homologs function in mammalian cells to recognize huntingtin and other polyQ-containing pathological proteins.
In Aim 2 we will establish the function of the 14-3-3 protein Bmh1 in early stages of aggresome formation in yeast, and will test whether 14-3-3 proteins play a general role in aggresome formation in mammalian cells. These experiments will help to clarify how the aggresome machinery distinguishes small aggregates/oligomers of abnormal polypeptides from soluble monomers.
In Aim 3 using both biochemical and genetic approaches we will identify novel components involved in aggresome formation. As a result of this work, we plan to obtain sufficient information for understanding the mechanism of aggresome formation.

Public Health Relevance

Many devastating diseases, including major neurodegenerative disorders, are caused by accumulation of abnormal proteins. These abnormal species tend to aggregate, and here we will establish cellular mechanisms of protein aggregation. This work will uncover how organisms try to protect themselves from development of Hungtington's and certain other diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM086890-08
Application #
8223179
Study Section
Membrane Biology and Protein Processing (MBPP)
Program Officer
Wehrle, Janna P
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2013-02-28
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$380,988
Indirect Cost
$146,534
Name
Boston University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
604483045
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Zaarur, Nava; Xu, Xiaobin; Lestienne, Patrick et al. (2015) RuvbL1 and RuvbL2 enhance aggresome formation and disaggregate amyloid fibrils. EMBO J 34:2363-82
Zaarur, Nava; Meriin, Anatoli B; Bejarano, Eloy et al. (2014) Proteasome failure promotes positioning of lysosomes around the aggresome via local block of microtubule-dependent transport. Mol Cell Biol 34:1336-48
Sherman, Michael Y; Qian, Shu-Bing (2013) Less is more: improving proteostasis by translation slow down. Trends Biochem Sci 38:585-91
Wong, Esther; Bejarano, Eloy; Rakshit, Moumita et al. (2012) Molecular determinants of selective clearance of protein inclusions by autophagy. Nat Commun 3:1240
Meriin, Anatoli B; Mense, Martin; Colbert, Jeff D et al. (2012) A novel approach to recovery of function of mutant proteins by slowing down translation. J Biol Chem 287:34264-72
Gong, He; Romanova, Nina V; Allen, Kim D et al. (2012) Polyglutamine toxicity is controlled by prion composition and gene dosage in yeast. PLoS Genet 8:e1002634
Meriin, Anatoli B; Zaarur, Nava; Sherman, Michael Y (2012) Association of translation factor eEF1A with defective ribosomal products generates a signal for aggresome formation. J Cell Sci 125:2665-74
Meriin, Anatoli B; Wang, Yan; Sherman, Michael Y (2010) Isolation of aggresomes and other large aggregates. Curr Protoc Cell Biol Chapter 3:Unit 3.38.1-9