Polyglutamine expanded Ataxin-7 induces DNA damage and alters FUS localization and function.

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, such as Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7), are caused by expansions of polyQ repeats in disease specific proteins. The sequestration of vital proteins into aggregates formed by polyQ proteins is believed to be a common pathological mechanism in these disorders. The RNA-binding protein FUS has been observed in polyQ aggregates, though if disruption of this protein plays a role in the neuronal dysfunction in SCA7 or other polyQ diseases remains unclear. We therefore analysed FUS localisation and function in a stable inducible PC12 cell model expressing the SCA7 polyQ protein ATXN7. We found that there was a high degree of FUS sequestration, which was associated with a more cytoplasmic FUS localisation, as well as a decreased expression of FUS regulated mRNAs. In contrast, the role of FUS in the formation of γH2AX positive DNA damage foci was unaffected. In fact, a statistical increase in the number of γH2AX foci, as well as an increased trend of single and double strand DNA breaks, detected by comet assay, could be observed in mutant ATXN7 cells. These results were further corroborated by a clear trend towards increased DNA damage in SCA7 patient fibroblasts. Our findings suggest that both alterations in the RNA regulatory functions of FUS, and increased DNA damage, may contribute to the pathology of SCA7.

Key Modulators of the Stress Granule Response TIA1, TDP-43, and G3BP1 Are Altered by Polyglutamine-Expanded ATXN7.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) and other polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are caused by expansions of polyQ repeats in disease-specific proteins. Aggregation of the polyQ proteins resulting in various forms of cellular stress, that could induce the stress granule (SG) response, is believed to be a common pathological mechanism in these disorders. SGs can contribute to cell survival but have also been suggested to exacerbate disease pathology by seeding protein aggregation. In this study, we show that two SG-related proteins, TDP-43 and TIA1, are sequestered into the aggregates formed by polyQ-expanded ATXN7 in SCA7 cells. Interestingly, mutant ATXN7 also localises to induced SGs, and this association altered the shape of the SGs. In spite of this, neither the ability to induce nor to disassemble SGs, in response to arsenite stress induction or relief, was affected in SCA7 cells. Moreover, we could not observe any change in the number of ATXN7 aggregates per cell following SG induction, although a small, non-significant, increase in total aggregated ATXN7 material could be detected using filter trap. However, mutant ATXN7 expression in itself increased the speckling of the SG-nucleating protein G3BP1 and the SG response. Taken together, our results indicate that the SG response is induced, and although some key modulators of SGs show altered behaviour, the dynamics of SGs appear normal in the presence of mutant ATXN7.