Infection and chronic disease activate a systemic brain-muscle signaling axis.

Infections and neurodegenerative diseases induce neuroinflammation, but affected individuals often show nonneural symptoms including muscle pain and muscle fatigue. The molecular pathways by which neuroinflammation causes pathologies outside the central nervous system (CNS) are poorly understood. We developed multiple models to investigate the impact of CNS stressors on motor function and found that Escherichia coli infections and SARS-CoV-2 protein expression caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accumulate in the brain. ROS induced expression of the cytokine Unpaired 3 (Upd3) in Drosophila and its ortholog, IL-6, in mice. CNS-derived Upd3/IL-6 activated the JAK-STAT pathway in skeletal muscle, which caused muscle mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired motor function. We observed similar phenotypes after expressing toxic amyloid-ß (Aß42) in the CNS. Infection and chronic disease therefore activate a systemic brain-muscle signaling axis in which CNS-derived cytokines bypass the connectome and directly regulate muscle physiology, highlighting IL-6 as a therapeutic target to treat disease-associated muscle dysfunction.

Amyloid fibril proteomics of AD brains reveals modifiers of aggregation and toxicity.

BACKGROUND: The accumulation of amyloid beta (Aß) peptides in fibrils is prerequisite for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our understanding of the proteins that promote Aß fibril formation and mediate neurotoxicity has been limited due to technical challenges in isolating pure amyloid fibrils from brain extracts. METHODS: To investigate how amyloid fibrils form and cause neurotoxicity in AD brain, we developed a robust biochemical strategy. We benchmarked the success of our purifications using electron microscopy, amyloid dyes, and a large panel of Aß immunoassays. Tandem mass-spectrometry based proteomic analysis workflows provided quantitative measures of the amyloid fibril proteome. These methods allowed us to compare amyloid fibril composition from human AD brains, three amyloid mouse models, transgenic Aß42 flies, and Aß42 seeded cultured neurons. RESULTS: Amyloid fibrils are primarily composed by Aß42 and unexpectedly harbor Aß38 but generally lack Aß40 peptides. Multidimensional quantitative proteomics allowed us to redefine the fibril proteome by identifying 20 new amyloid-associated proteins. Notably, we confirmed 57 previously reported plaque-associated proteins. We validated a panel of these proteins as bona fide amyloid-interacting proteins using antibodies and orthogonal proteomic analysis. One metal-binding chaperone metallothionein-3 is tightly associated with amyloid fibrils and modulates fibril formation in vitro. Lastly, we used a transgenic Aß42 fly model to test if knock down or over-expression of fibril-interacting gene homologues modifies neurotoxicity. Here, we could functionally validate 20 genes as modifiers of Aß42 toxicity in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: These discoveries and subsequent confirmation indicate that fibril-associated proteins play a key role in amyloid formation and AD pathology.

Insights from Drosophila on Aß- and tau-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: mechanisms and tools.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative dementia in older adults worldwide. Sadly, there are no disease-modifying therapies available for treatment due to the multifactorial complexity of the disease. AD is pathologically characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid beta (Aß) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. Increasing evidence suggest that Aß also accumulates intracellularly, which may contribute to the pathological mitochondrial dysfunction observed in AD. According with the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis, mitochondrial dysfunction precedes clinical decline and thus targeting mitochondria may result in new therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, the precise mechanisms connecting mitochondrial dysfunction with AD are largely unknown. In this review, we will discuss how the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is contributing to answer mechanistic questions in the field, from mitochondrial oxidative stress and calcium dysregulation to mitophagy and mitochondrial fusion and fission. In particular, we will highlight specific mitochondrial insults caused by Aß and tau in transgenic flies and will also discuss a variety of genetic tools and sensors available to study mitochondrial biology in this flexible organism. Areas of opportunity and future directions will be also considered.

Identification of potential pathways and biomarkers linked to progression in ALS.

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for clinical management and clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. METHODS: We analysed proteomics data of ALS patient-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons available through the AnswerALS consortium. After stratifying patients using clinical ALSFRS-R and ALS-CBS scales, we identified differentially expressed proteins indicative of ALS disease severity and progression rate as candidate ALS-related and prognostic biomarkers. Pathway analysis for identified proteins was performed using STITCH. Protein sets were correlated with the effects of drugs using the Connectivity Map tool to identify compounds likely to affect similar pathways. RNAi screening was performed in a Drosophila TDP-43 ALS model to validate pathological relevance. A statistical classification machine learning model was constructed using ridge regression that uses proteomics data to differentiate ALS patients from controls. RESULTS: We identified 76, 21, 71 and 1 candidate ALS-related biomarkers and 22, 41, 27 and 64 candidate prognostic biomarkers from patients stratified by ALSFRS-R baseline, ALSFRS-R progression slope, ALS-CBS baseline and ALS-CBS progression slope, respectively. Nineteen proteins enhanced or suppressed pathogenic eye phenotypes in the ALS fly model. Nutraceuticals, dopamine pathway modulators, statins, anti-inflammatories and antimicrobials were predicted starting points for drug repurposing using the connectivity map tool. Ten diagnostic biomarker proteins were predicted by machine learning to identify ALS patients with high accuracy and sensitivity. INTERPRETATION: This study showcases the powerful approach of iPSC-motor neuron proteomics combined with machine learning and biological confirmation in the prediction of novel mechanisms and diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in ALS.

Nuclear import receptors are recruited by FG-nucleoporins to rescue hallmarks of TDP-43 proteinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is a hallmark of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) disease spectrum, causing both nuclear loss-of-function and cytoplasmic toxic gain-of-function phenotypes. While TDP-43 proteinopathy has been associated with defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport, this process is still poorly understood. Here we study the role of karyopherin-ß1 (KPNB1) and other nuclear import receptors in regulating TDP-43 pathology. METHODS: We used immunostaining, immunoprecipitation, biochemical and toxicity assays in cell lines, primary neuron and organotypic mouse brain slice cultures, to determine the impact of KPNB1 on the solubility, localization, and toxicity of pathological TDP-43 constructs. Postmortem patient brain and spinal cord tissue was stained to assess KPNB1 colocalization with TDP-43 inclusions. Turbidity assays were employed to study the dissolution and prevention of aggregation of recombinant TDP-43 fibrils in vitro. Fly models of TDP-43 proteinopathy were used to determine the effect of KPNB1 on their neurodegenerative phenotype in vivo. RESULTS: We discovered that several members of the nuclear import receptor protein family can reduce the formation of pathological TDP-43 aggregates. Using KPNB1 as a model, we found that its activity depends on the prion-like C-terminal region of TDP-43, which mediates the co-aggregation with phenylalanine and glycine-rich nucleoporins (FG-Nups) such as Nup62. KPNB1 is recruited into these co-aggregates where it acts as a molecular chaperone that reverses aberrant phase transition of Nup62 and TDP-43. These findings are supported by the discovery that Nup62 and KPNB1 are also sequestered into pathological TDP-43 aggregates in ALS/FTD postmortem CNS tissue, and by the identification of the fly ortholog of KPNB1 as a strong protective modifier in Drosophila models of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Our results show that KPNB1 can rescue all hallmarks of TDP-43 pathology, by restoring its solubility and nuclear localization, and reducing neurodegeneration in cellular and animal models of ALS/FTD. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a novel NLS-independent mechanism where, analogous to its canonical role in dissolving the diffusion barrier formed by FG-Nups in the nuclear pore, KPNB1 is recruited into TDP-43/FG-Nup co-aggregates present in TDP-43 proteinopathies and therapeutically reverses their deleterious phase transition and mislocalization, mitigating neurodegeneration.

Infection and chronic disease activate a brain-muscle signaling axis that regulates muscle performance.

Infections and neurodegenerative diseases induce neuroinflammation, but affected individuals often show a number of non-neural symptoms including muscle pain and muscle fatigue. The molecular pathways by which neuroinflammation causes pathologies outside the central nervous system (CNS) are poorly understood, so we developed three models to investigate the impact of neuroinflammation on muscle performance. We found that bacterial infection, COVID-like viral infection, and expression of a neurotoxic protein associated with Alzheimer' s disease promoted the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain. Excessive ROS induces the expression of the cytokine Unpaired 3 (Upd3) in insects, or its orthologue IL-6 in mammals, and CNS-derived Upd3/IL-6 activates the JAK/Stat pathway in skeletal muscle. In response to JAK/Stat signaling, mitochondrial function is impaired and muscle performance is reduced. Our work uncovers a brain-muscle signaling axis in which infections and chronic diseases induce cytokine-dependent changes in muscle performance, suggesting IL-6 could be a therapeutic target to treat muscle weakness caused by neuroinflammation.

TDP-43 and ER Stress in Neurodegeneration: Friends or Foes?

Nuclear depletion, abnormal modification, and cytoplasmic aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) are linked to a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called TDP-43 proteinopathies, which include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Although our understanding of the physiological function of TDP-43 is rapidly advancing, the molecular mechanisms associated with its pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are important players in TDP-43 pathology. However, while neurons derived from autopsied ALS and FTLD patients revealed TDP-43 deposits in the ER and displayed UPR activation, data originated from in vitro and in vivo TDP-43 models produced contradictory results. In this review, we will explore the complex interplay between TDP-43 pathology, ER stress, and the UPR by breaking down the evidence available in the literature and addressing the reasons behind these discrepancies. We also highlight underexplored areas and key unanswered questions in the field. A better synchronization and integration of methodologies, models, and mechanistic pathways will be crucial to discover the true nature of the TDP-43 and ER stress relationship and, ultimately, to uncover the full therapeutic potential of the UPR.

Molecular, functional, and pathological aspects of TDP-43 fragmentation.

Transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a DNA/RNA binding protein involved in transcriptional regulation and RNA processing. It is linked to sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. TDP-43 is predominantly nuclear, but it translocates to the cytoplasm under pathological conditions. Cytoplasmic accumulation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and truncation of TDP-43 are the main hallmarks of TDP-43 proteinopathies. Among these processes, the pathways leading to TDP-43 fragmentation remain poorly understood. We review here the molecular and biochemical properties of several TDP-43 fragments, the mechanisms and factors mediating their production, and their potential role in disease progression. We also address the presence of TDP-43 C-terminal fragments in several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, and highlight their respective implications. Finally, we discuss features of animal models expressing TDP-43 fragments as well as recent therapeutic strategies to approach TDP-43 truncation.

Starvation and activity dependent modulation of salt taste behavior in Drosophila.

Background: Sodium present in NaCl is a fundamental nutrient required for many physiological processes but high salt consumption in western world is contributing health risk to all age individuals. Although high salt detection pathways have been studied in great detail, the mechanisms that regulate high salt consumption in animals are largely unknown. To understand how pre-exposure to high NaCl diet modulates subsequent feeding behavior, we looked into the neural mechanisms of high NaCl consumption in adult Drosophila. Method: We used Neuro-Genetics, imaging and behavioral assays to determine how flies respond to high NaCl exposure. Result: We studied the neural mechanism by which flies modify their acceptance of high salt as a function of diet, where a long-term high-salt exposure increases taste sensitivities of pharyngeal LSO (Labral sense organ) neurons and enhances high salt intake. We discovered that exposing flies to high NaCl diet(200mM NaCl in fly food) for three days modify their feeding responses to high levels of salt. High NaCl fed flies show decline in high salt aversion under starvation. Genetic suppression of LSO pharyngeal neurons in high NaCl fed flies inhibits excessive salt intake. We found that this modulation requires functional LSO neurons and starvation state, and that multiple independent taste receptor neurons and pathways are involved in this process. Silencing any one of multiple LSO neuronal types inhibits excessive salt intake. Conclusion: Our data support the idea that high dietary salt modulates and reshapes salt and other taste curves to promote over consumption of food in flies. Our study suggest flies can adapt to the amount of salt ingested over several days, indicating the presence of a critical mechanism to reset the salt appetite and related neural circuits. Identification of new molecular sensors for salt and related neural controls such as hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters may yield insights into the coordination of processes in the nervous system.

Aß40 displays amyloidogenic properties in the non-transgenic mouse brain but does not exacerbate Aß42 toxicity in Drosophila.

BACKGROUND: Self-assembly of the amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide into aggregates, from small oligomers to amyloid fibrils, is fundamentally linked with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is clear that not all forms of Aß are equally harmful and that linking a specific aggregate to toxicity also depends on the assays and model systems used (Haass et al., J Biol. Chem 269:17741-17748, 1994; Borchelt et al., Neuron 17:1005-1013, 1996). Though a central postulate of the amyloid cascade hypothesis, there remain many gaps in our understanding regarding the links between Aß deposition and neurodegeneration. METHODS: In this study, we examined familial mutations of Aß that increase aggregation and oligomerization, E22G and ΔE22, and induce cerebral amyloid angiopathy, E22Q and D23N. We also investigated synthetic mutations that stabilize dimerization, S26C, and a phospho-mimetic, S8E, and non-phospho-mimetic, S8A. To that end, we utilized BRI2-Aß fusion technology and rAAV2/1-based somatic brain transgenesis in mice to selectively express individual mutant Aß species in vivo. In parallel, we generated PhiC31-based transgenic Drosophila melanogaster expressing wild-type (WT) and Aß40 and Aß42 mutants, fused to the Argos signal peptide to assess the extent of Aß42-induced toxicity as well as to interrogate the combined effect of different Aß40 and Aß42 species. RESULTS: When expressed in the mouse brain for 6 months, Aß42 E22G, Aß42 E22Q/D23N, and Aß42WT formed amyloid aggregates consisting of some diffuse material as well as cored plaques, whereas other mutants formed predominantly diffuse amyloid deposits. Moreover, while Aß40WT showed no distinctive phenotype, Aß40 E22G and E22Q/D23N formed unique aggregates that accumulated in mouse brains. This is the first evidence that mutant Aß40 overexpression leads to deposition under certain conditions. Interestingly, we found that mutant Aß42 E22G, E22Q, and S26C, but not Aß40, were toxic to the eye of Drosophila. In contrast, flies expressing a copy of Aß40 (WT or mutants), in addition to Aß42WT, showed improved phenotypes, suggesting possible protective qualities for Aß40. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that while some Aß40 mutants form unique amyloid aggregates in mouse brains, they do not exacerbate Aß42 toxicity in Drosophila, which highlights the significance of using different systems for a better understanding of AD pathogenicity and more accurate screening for new potential therapies.

PhotoGal4: A Versatile Light-Dependent Switch for Spatiotemporal Control of Gene Expression in Drosophila Explants.

We present here PhotoGal4, a phytochrome B-based optogenetic switch for fine-tuned spatiotemporal control of gene expression in Drosophila explants. This switch integrates the light-dependent interaction between phytochrome B and PIF6 from plants with regulatory elements from the yeast Gal4/UAS system. We found that PhotoGal4 efficiently activates and deactivates gene expression upon red- or far-red-light irradiation, respectively. In addition, this optogenetic tool reacts to different illumination conditions, allowing for fine modulation of the light-dependent response. Importantly, by simply focusing a laser beam, PhotoGal4 induces intricate patterns of expression in a customized manner. For instance, we successfully sketched personalized patterns of GFP fluorescence such as emoji-like shapes or letterform logos in Drosophila explants, which illustrates the exquisite precision and versatility of this tool. Hence, we anticipate that PhotoGal4 will expand the powerful Drosophila toolbox and will provide a new avenue to investigate intricate and complex problems in biomedical research.

NCBP2 modulates neurodevelopmental defects of the 3q29 deletion in Drosophila and Xenopus laevis models.

The 1.6 Mbp deletion on chromosome 3q29 is associated with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, microcephaly, and intellectual disability. Despite its importance towards neurodevelopment, the role of individual genes, genetic interactions, and disrupted biological mechanisms underlying the deletion have not been thoroughly characterized. Here, we used quantitative methods to assay Drosophila melanogaster and Xenopus laevis models with tissue-specific individual and pairwise knockdown of 14 homologs of genes within the 3q29 region. We identified developmental, cellular, and neuronal phenotypes for multiple homologs of 3q29 genes, potentially due to altered apoptosis and cell cycle mechanisms during development. Using the fly eye, we screened for 314 pairwise knockdowns of homologs of 3q29 genes and identified 44 interactions between pairs of homologs and 34 interactions with other neurodevelopmental genes. Interestingly, NCBP2 homologs in Drosophila (Cbp20) and X. laevis (ncbp2) enhanced the phenotypes of homologs of the other 3q29 genes, leading to significant increases in apoptosis that disrupted cellular organization and brain morphology. These cellular and neuronal defects were rescued with overexpression of the apoptosis inhibitors Diap1 and xiap in both models, suggesting that apoptosis is one of several potential biological mechanisms disrupted by the deletion. NCBP2 was also highly connected to other 3q29 genes in a human brain-specific interaction network, providing support for the relevance of our results towards the human deletion. Overall, our study suggests that NCBP2-mediated genetic interactions within the 3q29 region disrupt apoptosis and cell cycle mechanisms during development.

Bringing Light to Transcription: The Optogenetics Repertoire.

The ability to manipulate expression of exogenous genes in particular regions of living organisms has profoundly transformed the way we study biomolecular processes involved in both normal development and disease. Unfortunately, most of the classical inducible systems lack fine spatial and temporal accuracy, thereby limiting the study of molecular events that strongly depend on time, duration of activation, or cellular localization. By exploiting genetically engineered photo sensing proteins that respond to specific wavelengths, we can now provide acute control of numerous molecular activities with unprecedented precision. In this review, we present a comprehensive breakdown of all of the current optogenetic systems adapted to regulate gene expression in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. We focus on the advantages and disadvantages of these different tools and discuss current and future challenges in the successful translation to more complex organisms.

Engineered Hsp70 chaperones prevent Aß42-induced memory impairments in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease.

Proteinopathies constitute a group of diseases in which certain proteins are abnormally folded leading to aggregation and eventual cell failure. Most neurodegenerative diseases belong to protein misfolding disorders and, among them, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent. AD is characterized by accumulation of the amyloid-ß42 (Aß42) peptide in the extracellular space. Hence, we genetically engineered a molecular chaperone that was selectively delivered to this cellular location. It has been reported that the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) binds Aß42 preventing self-aggregation. Here, we employed two isoforms of the Hsp70, cytosolic and extracellular, to evaluate their potential protective effect against the memory decline triggered by extracellular deposition of Aß42. Both Hsp70 isoforms significantly improved memory performance of flies expressing Aß42, irrespective of their age or the level of Aß42 load. Using olfactory classical conditioning, we established a Drosophila model of AD based on Aß42 neurotoxicity and monitored memory decline through aging. The onset of the memory impairment observed was proportional to the cumulative level of Aß42 in the Drosophila brain. These data support the use of this Drosophila model of AD to further investigate molecules with a protective activity against Aß42-induced memory loss, contributing to the development of palliative therapies for AD.

Lmx1a is required for the development of the ovarian stem cell niche in Drosophila.

The Drosophila ovary serves as a model for pioneering studies of stem cell niches, with defined cell types and signaling pathways supporting both germline and somatic stem cells. The establishment of the niche units begins during larval stages with the formation of terminal filament-cap structures; however, the genetics underlying their development remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the transcription factor Lmx1a is required for ovary morphogenesis. We found that Lmx1a is expressed in early ovarian somatic lineages and becomes progressively restricted to terminal filaments and cap cells. We show that Lmx1a is required for the formation of terminal filaments, during the larval-pupal transition. Finally, our data demonstrate that Lmx1a functions genetically downstream of Bric-à-Brac, and is crucial for the expression of key components of several conserved pathways essential to ovarian stem cell niche development. Importantly, expression of chicken Lmx1b is sufficient to rescue the null Lmx1a phenotype, indicating functional conservation across the animal kingdom. These results significantly expand our understanding of the mechanisms controlling stem cell niche development in the fly ovary.

Anti-Aß single-chain variable fragment antibodies restore memory acquisition in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder triggered by the accumulation of soluble assemblies of the amyloid-ß42 (Aß42) peptide. Despite remarkable advances in understanding the pathogenesis of AD, the development of palliative therapies is still lacking. Engineered anti-Aß42 antibodies are a promising strategy to stall the progression of the disease. Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies increase brain penetration and offer flexible options for delivery while maintaining the epitope targeting of full antibodies. Here, we examined the ability of two anti-Aß scFv antibodies targeting the N-terminal (scFv9) and C-terminal (scFv42.2) regions of Aß42 to suppress the progressive memory decline induced by extracellular deposition of Aß42 in Drosophila. Using olfactory classical conditioning, we observe that both scFv antibodies significantly improve memory performance in flies expressing Aß42 in the mushroom body neurons, which are intimately involved in the coding and storage of olfactory memories. The scFvs effectively restore memory at all ages, from one-day post-eclosion to thirty-day-old flies, proving their ability to prevent the toxicity of different pathogenic assemblies. These data support the application of this paradigm of Aß42-induced memory loss in Drosophila to investigate the protective activity of Aß42-binding agents in an AD-relevant functional assay.

A KCNC3 mutation causes a neurodevelopmental, non-progressive SCA13 subtype associated with dominant negative effects and aberrant EGFR trafficking.

The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a diverse group of neurological disorders anchored by the phenotypes of motor incoordination and cerebellar atrophy. Disease heterogeneity is appreciated through varying comorbidities: dysarthria, dysphagia, oculomotor and/or retinal abnormalities, motor neuron pathology, epilepsy, cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, and psychiatric manifestations. Our study focuses on SCA13, which is caused by several allelic variants in the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNC3 (Kv3.3). We detail the clinical phenotype of four SCA13 kindreds that confirm causation of the KCNC3R423H allele. The heralding features demonstrate congenital onset with non-progressive, neurodevelopmental cerebellar hypoplasia and lifetime improvement in motor and cognitive function that implicate compensatory neural mechanisms. Targeted expression of human KCNC3R423H in Drosophila triggers aberrant wing veins, maldeveloped eyes, and fused ommatidia consistent with the neurodevelopmental presentation of patients. Furthermore, human KCNC3R423H expression in mammalian cells results in altered glycosylation and aberrant retention of the channel in anterograde and/or endosomal vesicles. Confirmation of the absence of plasma membrane targeting was based on the loss of current conductance in cells expressing the mutant channel. Mechanistically, genetic studies in Drosophila, along with cellular and biophysical studies in mammalian systems, demonstrate the dominant negative effect exerted by the mutant on the wild-type (WT) protein, which explains dominant inheritance. We demonstrate that ocular co-expression of KCNC3R423H with Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (dEgfr) results in striking rescue of the eye phenotype, whereas KCNC3R423H expression in mammalian cells results in aberrant intracellular retention of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Together, these results indicate that the neurodevelopmental consequences of KCNC3R423H may be mediated through indirect effects on EGFR signaling in the developing cerebellum. Our results therefore confirm the KCNC3R423H allele as causative for SCA13, through a dominant negative effect on KCNC3WT and links with EGFR that account for dominant inheritance, congenital onset, and disease pathology.

Drosophila models of prionopathies: insight into prion protein function, transmission, and neurotoxicity.

Prion diseases (PrD) are unique neurodegenerative conditions with sporadic, genetic, and infectious etiologies. The agent responsible for these pathologies is a misfolded conformation of the prion protein (PrP). Although a process of autocatalytic "conversion" is known to mediate disease transmission, important gaps still remain regarding the physiological function of PrP and its relevance to pathogenesis, the molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating neurotoxicity and transmission, and the PrP conformations responsible for neurotoxicity. New Drosophila models expressing mammalian PrP have revealed physiological insight into PrP function and opened the door to significant progress in prion transmission and PrP neurotoxicity. Importantly, flies expressing human PrP showing a robust eye phenotype will allow performing genetic screens to uncover novel mechanisms mediating PrP neurotoxicity.

secHsp70 as a tool to approach amyloid-ß42 and other extracellular amyloids.

Self-association of amyloidogenic proteins is the main pathological trigger in a wide variety of neurodegenerative disorders. These aggregates are deposited inside or outside the cell due to hereditary mutations, environmental exposures or even normal aging. Cumulative evidence indicates that the heat shock chaperone Hsp70 possesses robust neuroprotection against various intracellular amyloids in Drosophila and mouse models. However, its protective role against extracellular amyloids was largely unknown as its presence outside the cells is very limited. Our recent manuscript in PNAS revealed that an engineered form of secreted Hsp70 (secHsp70) is highly protective against toxicity induced by extracellular deposition of the amyloid-ß42 (Aß42) peptide. In this Extra View article, we extend our analysis to other members of the heat shock protein family. We created PhiC31-based transgenic lines for human Hsp27, Hsp40, Hsp60 and Hsp70 and compared their activities in parallel against extracellular Aß42. Strikingly, only secreted Hsp70 exhibits robust protection against Aß42-triggered toxicity in the extracellular milieu. These observations indicate that the ability of secHsp70 to suppress Aß42 insults is quite unique and suggest that targeted secretion of Hsp70 may represent a new therapeutic approach against Aß42 and other extracellular amyloids. The potential applications of this engineered chaperone are discussed.