Our long-term goal is to define how lysosome activity is regulated and to use this understanding to develop strategies to modulate lysosomal function for therapeutic purposes. Lysosomes perform critical functions with regard to the cellular degradation of macromolecules and the recycling of the nutrients that are liberated by this process. The transcription factor TFEB has been identified as a major regulator of genes encoding lysosomal proteins. Thus, the signaling mechanisms that regulate TFEB activity could contribute to the overall control of lysosome homeostasis. This project focuses on the role played by folliculin, the Birt-Hogg-Dub? syndrome gene, and its binding partner folliculin interacting protein 1 (FNIP1) in this process. The proposed research builds on our novel observations that FLCN and FNIP1 localize to lysosomes and have a strong influence on regulating the nuclear levels of TFEB. Both the AMPK and mTORC1 signaling pathways that are related to cellular energy and nutrient homeostasis respectively may play a role in this action of FLCN and FNIP1. Our proposed research seeks to understand: 1) the role for TFEB as a FLCN and FNIP1 effector in the regulation of lysosome function;2) the basis for the recruitment of folliculin and FNIP1 to lysosomes;3) the physical interactions between FLCN, FNIP1 and AMPK and their effects on the recruitment of this kinase to the surface of lysosomes;and 4) the FLCN and FNIP1-dependent regulation of mTORC1 activation at the cytoplasmic surface of lysosomes. These studies will take advantage of our expertise in live cell imaging, protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions to analyze the dynamic recruitment of FLCN, FNIP1 and their binding partners to the cytoplasmic surface of lysosomes and the relationship of such recruitment to their function. This research builds on a growing appreciation of the role played by degradation and recycling of lysosomal substrates for meeting the energy and nutrient demands of cells and also highlights possible opportunities for the enhancement of lysosome function that could be relevant for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Public Health Relevance

Strategies to enhance the cellular degradation of protein aggregates and damaged organelles could be broadly applicable of a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and lysosomal storage disorders. Conversely, it is becoming increasingly appreciated that abnormally high rates of macromolecule breakdown and nutrient recycling help to provide some cancers with the building blocks that support tumor growth and metastasis. Our research is directly relevant to the mission of the NIH as it aims to identify novel strategies for regulating the ability of cells o degrade macromolecules that could lead to novel treatments for these diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM105718-02
Application #
8724530
Study Section
Membrane Biology and Protein Processing (MBPP)
Program Officer
Ainsztein, Alexandra M
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2018-04-30
Budget Start
2014-05-01
Budget End
2015-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$316,350
Indirect Cost
$126,350
Name
Yale University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Ferguson, Shawn M (2018) Axonal transport and maturation of lysosomes. Curr Opin Neurobiol 51:45-51
Meng, Jin; Ferguson, Shawn M (2018) GATOR1-dependent recruitment of FLCN-FNIP to lysosomes coordinates Rag GTPase heterodimer nucleotide status in response to amino acids. J Cell Biol 217:2765-2776
Nguyen, Andrew D; Nguyen, Thi A; Zhang, Jiasheng et al. (2018) Murine knockin model for progranulin-deficient frontotemporal dementia with nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:E2849-E2858
Amick, Joseph; Tharkeshwar, Arun Kumar; Amaya, Catherine et al. (2018) WDR41 supports lysosomal response to changes in amino acid availability. Mol Biol Cell 29:2213-2227
Ferguson, Shawn M (2018) Neuronal lysosomes. Neurosci Lett :
Puertollano, Rosa; Ferguson, Shawn M; Brugarolas, James et al. (2018) The complex relationship between TFEB transcription factor phosphorylation and subcellular localization. EMBO J 37:
Gowrishankar, Swetha; Wu, Yumei; Ferguson, Shawn M (2017) Impaired JIP3-dependent axonal lysosome transport promotes amyloid plaque pathology. J Cell Biol 216:3291-3305
Amick, Joseph; Ferguson, Shawn M (2017) C9orf72: At the intersection of lysosome cell biology and neurodegenerative disease. Traffic 18:267-276
Gowrishankar, Swetha; Ferguson, Shawn M (2016) Lysosomes relax in the cellular suburbs. J Cell Biol 212:617-9
Amick, Joseph; Roczniak-Ferguson, Agnes; Ferguson, Shawn M (2016) C9orf72 binds SMCR8, localizes to lysosomes, and regulates mTORC1 signaling. Mol Biol Cell 27:3040-3051

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