ATP7A is a P-type ATPase that regulates cellular copper homeostasis by activity at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and plasma membrane (PM), with location normally governed by intracellular copper concentration. Defects in ATP7A lead to Menkes disease, or its variants, occipital horn syndrome and ATP7A-related distal motor neuropathy, a newly discovered condition for which the precise pathophysiology has been obscure. We characterized two ATP7A motor neuropathy mutations (T994I, P1386S) previously associated with abnormal intracellular trafficking. In the patients fibroblasts, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy indicated a shift in steady-state equilibrium of ATP7AT994I and ATP7AP1386S, with excess PM localization. Transfection of 293T cells and NSC-34 motor neurons with the mutant alleles tagged with Venus fluorescent protein also showed higher PM localization. Endocytic retrieval of the mutant alleles from the PM to the TGN was delayed. Immunoprecipitation assays revealed an abnormal interaction between ATP7AT994I and p97/VCP, a TGN-resident protein associated with two other inherited motor neuropathies, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. SiRNA knockdown of p97/VCP improved ATP7AT994I localization. Flow cytometry documented that non-permeabilized ATP7AP1386S fibroblasts bound a carboxyl-terminal ATP7A antibody, consistent with destabilized insertion of the 8th transmembrane helix and relocation of a di-leucine endocytic retrieval signal to the extracellular face of the PM. These findings 1) illuminated mechanisms underlying ATP7A-related distal motor neuropathy, 2) established a common link between genetically distinct forms of motor neuron disease, 3) clarified the normal process of ATP7A endocytosis, and 4) highlighted possible functional roles of ATP7A in the peripheral nervous system.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$210,779
Indirect Cost
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Yi, Ling; Kaler, Stephen G (2018) Interaction between the AAA ATPase p97/VCP and a concealed UBX domain in the copper transporter ATP7A is associated with motor neuron degeneration. J Biol Chem 293:7606-7617
Yi, Ling; Kaler, Stephen G (2015) Direct interactions of adaptor protein complexes 1 and 2 with the copper transporter ATP7A mediate its anterograde and retrograde trafficking. Hum Mol Genet 24:2411-25
Yi, Ling; Kaler, Stephen (2014) ATP7A trafficking and mechanisms underlying the distal motor neuropathy induced by mutations in ATP7A. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1314:49-54
Kaler, Stephen G (2014) Translational research investigations on ATP7A: an important human copper ATPase. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1314:64-8
Yi, Ling; Donsante, Anthony; Kennerson, Marina L et al. (2012) Altered intracellular localization and valosin-containing protein (p97 VCP) interaction underlie ATP7A-related distal motor neuropathy. Hum Mol Genet 21:1794-807
Donsante, Anthony; Yi, Ling; Zerfas, Patricia M et al. (2011) ATP7A gene addition to the choroid plexus results in long-term rescue of the lethal copper transport defect in a Menkes disease mouse model. Mol Ther 19:2114-23
Kaler, Stephen G (2011) ATP7A-related copper transport diseases-emerging concepts and future trends. Nat Rev Neurol 7:15-29
Møller, Lisbeth B; Hicks, Julia D; Holmes, Courtney S et al. (2011) Diagnosis of copper transport disorders. Curr Protoc Hum Genet Chapter 17:Unit17.9
Kennerson, Marina L; Nicholson, Garth A; Kaler, Stephen G et al. (2010) Missense mutations in the copper transporter gene ATP7A cause X-linked distal hereditary motor neuropathy. Am J Hum Genet 86:343-52
Desai, Vishal; Kaler, Stephen G (2008) Role of copper in human neurological disorders. Am J Clin Nutr 88:855S-8S

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