TDP-43 depletion induces neuronal cell damage through dysregulation of Rho family GTPases

Yohei Iguchi, Masahisa Katsuno, Jun Ichi Niwa, Shin Ichi Yamada, Jun Sone, Masahiro Waza, Hiroaki Adachi, Fumiaki Tanaka, Koh Ichi Nagata, Nariko Arimura, Takashi Watanabe, Kozo Kaibuchi, Gen Sobue

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The 43-kDa TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) is known to be a major component of the ubiquitinated inclusions characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions. Although TDP-43 is a nuclear protein, it disappears from the nucleus of affected neurons and glial cells, implicating TDP-43 loss of function in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Here we show that the knockdown of TDP-43 in differentiated Neuro-2a cells inhibited neurite outgrowth and induced cell death. In knockdown cells, the Rho family members RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 GTPases were inactivated, and membrane localization of these molecules was reduced. In addition, TDP-43 depletion significantly suppressed protein geranylgeranylation, a key regulating factor of Rho family activity and intracellular localization. In contrast, overexpression of TDP-43 mitigated the cellular damage caused by pharmacological inhibition of geranylgeranylation. Furthermore administration of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate partially restored cell viability and neurite outgrowth in TDP-43 knockdown cells. In summary, our data suggest that TDP-43 plays a key role in the maintenance of neuronal cell morphology and survival possibly through protein geranylgeranylation of Rho family GTPases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22059-22066
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume284
Issue number33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14-08-2009
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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