Mutations in Progranulin (PGRN), a gene encoding a secreted glycoprotein, are the major cause of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration with ubiquitin positive inclusions (FTLD-U). More recently, TMEM106B, a type II transmembrane protein of unknown function, was discovered as a risk factor of FTLD-U. But how PGRN and TMEM106B function together to prevent FTLD-U remains unclear. Our previous work has identified sortilin as a PGRN trafficking receptor. Our recent preliminary data further suggests that sortilin plays a role in mediating PGRN signaling. Lack of a signaling motif in sortilin intracellular region suggests the presence of a potential 'co-receptor"""""""". We found that TMEM106B physically interacts with sortilin and this interaction stimulates the cleavage of TMEM106B. Furthermore, TMEM106B is a substrate of regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP), which is known to play a critical role in neuronal signal transduction. Thus we propose that sortilin and TMEM106B form a receptor complex for PGRN and TMEM106B cleavage mediates PGRN signaling. To test this model, two specific aims are proposed.
Aim1 : To determine the role of sortilin/TMEM106B in PGRN signaling. We will first test the importance of sortilin and TMEM106B in PGRN signaling by measuring the neurotrophic effects of PGRN in neurons lacking sortilin or TMEM106B. Then we will determine whether PGRN signaling stimulates sortilin/TMEM106B interaction and TMEM106B cleavage.
Aim2 : To investigate the signaling mechanism of TMEM106B. We will first generate a cleavage resistant version of TMEM106B to determine whether TMEM106B cleavage is required for PGRN signaling. Then the cleavage product of TMEM106B will be expressed in NSC-34 cells to determine whether it has neurotrophic effects similar to PGRN treatment. We also plan to probe the downstream signaling mechanisms of TMEM106B cleavage product by examining its localization and identifying its binding partners. In summary, through these studies, we expect to establish a role of sortilin and TMEM106B in PGRN signaling and test a novel signaling mechanism involving TMEM106B cleavage. We expect our proposed studies will significantly advance our understanding on PGRN signaling mechanisms and will establish the first molecular characterization of TMEM106B and illustrate its role in neurodegeneration.

Public Health Relevance

Mutations in the PGRN gene are the main cause of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration with protein aggregates containing TDP-43 (FTLD-U). We aim to test a novel hypothesis in which PGRN promotes neuronal survival through a receptor complex comprised of sortilin and TMEM106B, the newly identified risk factor for FTLD-U. We propose that the cleavage of TMEM106B plays a critical role in signaling.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21NS081357-02
Application #
8533057
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study Section (CMND)
Program Officer
Sutherland, Margaret L
Project Start
2012-09-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$224,850
Indirect Cost
$80,100
Name
Cornell University
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
872612445
City
Ithaca
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14850
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Zhou, Xiaolai; Sullivan, Peter M; Sun, Lirong et al. (2017) The interaction between progranulin and prosaposin is mediated by granulins and the linker region between saposin B and C. J Neurochem 143:236-243
Zhou, Xiaolai; Sun, Lirong; Brady, Owen Adam et al. (2017) Elevated TMEM106B levels exaggerate lipofuscin accumulation and lysosomal dysfunction in aged mice with progranulin deficiency. Acta Neuropathol Commun 5:9
Zhou, Xiaolai; Sun, Lirong; Bracko, Oliver et al. (2017) Impaired prosaposin lysosomal trafficking in frontotemporal lobar degeneration due to progranulin mutations. Nat Commun 8:15277
Zhou, Xiaolai; Sun, Lirong; Bastos de Oliveira, Francisco et al. (2015) Prosaposin facilitates sortilin-independent lysosomal trafficking of progranulin. J Cell Biol 210:991-1002
Brady, Owen A; Zhou, Xiaolai; Hu, Fenghua (2014) Regulated intramembrane proteolysis of the frontotemporal lobar degeneration risk factor, TMEM106B, by signal peptide peptidase-like 2a (SPPL2a). J Biol Chem 289:19670-80
Brady, Owen A; Zheng, Yanqiu; Murphy, Kira et al. (2013) The frontotemporal lobar degeneration risk factor, TMEM106B, regulates lysosomal morphology and function. Hum Mol Genet 22:685-95