The deregulation of mitochondria dynamics and function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) are hallmark features of the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative and aging-related disorders causing severe neurological impairment. Current therapeutic interventions that promote neuroprotection lack therapeutic efficacy. Our long-term goal is to identify targets with novel neuroprotective properties and high therapeutic efficacies that delay the onset of or cure clinical manifestations causing neurological impairment. To attain this goal we propose a research project whose long-term objective is the development of improved understanding of the role of factors controlling mitochondria dynamics and UPS functions, the identification of cross-talk processes between these factors and processes, and the effect(s) of such factors and processes in modulation of neuronal survival. Understanding the role(s) of factors that control mitochondria dynamics or UPS activity and contribute to the modulation of neuronal survival, would allow us and others to create novel value targets and therapeutic strategies to delay or cure the development of clinical manifestations leading to severe neurological impairments. We will focus on determining the functional relationships between RAN GTPase and one of its high-affinity and multi-binding targets, the RAN-binding protein 2 (RANBP2). This proposal tests our overall hypothesis that the associations between RAN GTPase and, the RAN-binding domains-2 and -3 (RBD2 and RBD3) of RANBP2, constitute a novel molecular switch to control effector domains of RANBP2 in the modulation of UPS function, mitochondria dynamics by kinesin-1, and neuronal survival. We will test this hypothesis by accomplishing the following specific aims, which focus on the mechanistic roles of RanBP2 and its RBD2 and RBD3 in the regulation of mitochondria dynamics, protein homeostasis and survival of selective neurons under normal and disease stress conditions.
Aim 1. Test the hypothesis that loss-of-function of the RBD2 or RBD3 of RANBP2 promotes differential effects in mitochondria trafficking and survival among neuronal cell types.
Aim 2. Test the hypothesis that loss-of-function of the RBD3 of RANBP2 promotes differential effects in UPS activity among neuronal cell types.
Aim 3. Test the hypothesis that impairment of RAN GTPase-dependent modulation of mitochondria trafficking or UPS activity promotes either neuroprotection or cell death of selective neurons in three mouse models of stress-induced neurodegeneration: light-induced death of photoreceptors, high intraocular pressure-induced ganglion cell death, and MPP+induced death of dopaminergic neurons.

Public Health Relevance

The deregulation of trafficking of mitochondria and of the machinery controlling protein degradation underlies numerous neurological disorders leading to neurodegeneration. This study seeks to identify and elucidate the role of factors, such as RanGTPase and Ran-binding protein-2, in controlling mitochondria dynamics and protein degradation and survival of various types of neurons under normal and disease stress conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM083165-01A2
Application #
7984822
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study Section (CMND)
Program Officer
Dunsmore, Sarah
Project Start
2010-09-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$306,150
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Cho, Kyoung-In; Yoon, Dosuk; Qiu, Sunny et al. (2017) Loss of Ranbp2 in motoneurons causes disruption of nucleocytoplasmic and chemokine signaling, proteostasis of hnRNPH3 and Mmp28, and development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like syndromes. Dis Model Mech 10:559-579
Cho, Kyoung-In; Orry, Andrew; Park, Se Eun et al. (2015) Targeting the cyclophilin domain of Ran-binding protein 2 (Ranbp2) with novel small molecules to control the proteostasis of STAT3, hnRNPA2B1 and M-opsin. ACS Chem Neurosci 6:1476-85
Cho, Kyoung-in; Haney, Victoria; Yoon, Dosuk et al. (2015) Uncoupling phototoxicity-elicited neural dysmorphology and death by insidious function and selective impairment of Ran-binding protein 2 (Ranbp2). FEBS Lett 589:3959-68
Patil, Hemangi; Saha, Arjun; Senda, Eugene et al. (2014) Selective impairment of a subset of Ran-GTP-binding domains of ran-binding protein 2 (Ranbp2) suffices to recapitulate the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) triggered by Ranbp2 ablation. J Biol Chem 289:29767-89
Cho, Kyoung-in; Patil, Hemangi; Senda, Eugene et al. (2014) Differential loss of prolyl isomerase or chaperone activity of Ran-binding protein 2 (Ranbp2) unveils distinct physiological roles of its cyclophilin domain in proteostasis. J Biol Chem 289:4600-25
Patil, Hemangi; Cho, Kyoung-in; Lee, James et al. (2013) Kinesin-1 and mitochondrial motility control by discrimination of structurally equivalent but distinct subdomains in Ran-GTP-binding domains of Ran-binding protein 2. Open Biol 3:120183
Cho, Kyoung-In; Haque, Mdemdadul; Wang, Jessica et al. (2013) Distinct and atypical intrinsic and extrinsic cell death pathways between photoreceptor cell types upon specific ablation of Ranbp2 in cone photoreceptors. PLoS Genet 9:e1003555
Cho, Kyoung-In; Searle, Kelly; Webb, Mason et al. (2012) Ranbp2 haploinsufficiency mediates distinct cellular and biochemical phenotypes in brain and retinal dopaminergic and glia cells elicited by the Parkinsonian neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Cell Mol Life Sci 69:3511-27
Patil, H; Tserentsoodol, N; Saha, A et al. (2012) Selective loss of RPGRIP1-dependent ciliary targeting of NPHP4, RPGR and SDCCAG8 underlies the degeneration of photoreceptor neurons. Cell Death Dis 3:e355
Patil, Hemangi; Guruju, Mallikarjuna R; Cho, Kyoung-In et al. (2012) Structural and functional plasticity of subcellular tethering, targeting and processing of RPGRIP1 by RPGR isoforms. Biol Open 1:140-60

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