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Sala-Gaston J, Pérez-Villegas EM, Armengol JA, Rawlins LE, Baple EL, Crosby AH, Ventura F, Rosa JL. Autophagy dysregulation via the USP20-ULK1 axis in the HERC2-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:163. [PMID: 38570483 PMCID: PMC10991529 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01931-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Sequence variants in the HERC2 gene are associated with a significant reduction in HERC2 protein levels and cause a neurodevelopmental disorder known as the HERC2-related disorder, which shares clinical features with Angelman syndrome, including global developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism, and movement disorders. Remarkably, the HERC2 gene is commonly deleted in individuals with Angelman syndrome, suggesting a potential contribution of HERC2 to the pathophysiology of this disease. Given the known critical role of autophagy in brain development and its implication in neurodevelopmental diseases, we undertook different experimental approaches to monitor autophagy in fibroblasts derived from individuals affected by the HERC2-related disorder. Our findings reveal alterations in the levels of the autophagy-related protein LC3. Furthermore, experiments with lysosomal inhibitors provide confirmation of an upregulation of the autophagy pathway in these patient-derived cells. Mechanistically, we corroborate an interaction between HERC2 and the deubiquitylating enzyme USP20; and demonstrate that HERC2 deficiency leads to increased USP20 protein levels. Notably, USP20 upregulation correlates with enhanced stability of the autophagy initiating kinase ULK1, highlighting the role of HERC2 as an autophagy regulator factor through the USP20-ULK1 axis. Moreover, we show that p38 acts as a modulator of this pathway, since p38 activation disrupts HERC2-USP20 interaction, leading to increased USP20 and LC3-II protein levels. Together, these findings uncover a previously unknown role for HERC2 in autophagy regulation and provide insights into the pathomolecular mechanisms underlying the HERC2-related disorder and Angelman syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Sala-Gaston
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Eva M Pérez-Villegas
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - José A Armengol
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Lettie E Rawlins
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford) NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Heavitree), Exeter, UK
| | - Emma L Baple
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford) NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Heavitree), Exeter, UK
| | - Andrew H Crosby
- Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Heavitree), Exeter, UK
| | - Francesc Ventura
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Rosa
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
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Sala-Gaston J, Costa-Sastre L, Pedrazza L, Martinez-Martinez A, Ventura F, Rosa JL. Regulation of MAPK Signaling Pathways by the Large HERC Ubiquitin Ligases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054906. [PMID: 36902336 PMCID: PMC10003351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein ubiquitylation acts as a complex cell signaling mechanism since the formation of different mono- and polyubiquitin chains determines the substrate's fate in the cell. E3 ligases define the specificity of this reaction by catalyzing the attachment of ubiquitin to the substrate protein. Thus, they represent an important regulatory component of this process. Large HERC ubiquitin ligases belong to the HECT E3 protein family and comprise HERC1 and HERC2 proteins. The physiological relevance of the Large HERCs is illustrated by their involvement in different pathologies, with a notable implication in cancer and neurological diseases. Understanding how cell signaling is altered in these different pathologies is important for uncovering novel therapeutic targets. To this end, this review summarizes the recent advances in how the Large HERCs regulate the MAPK signaling pathways. In addition, we emphasize the potential therapeutic strategies that could be followed to ameliorate the alterations in MAPK signaling caused by Large HERC deficiencies, focusing on the use of specific inhibitors and proteolysis-targeting chimeras.
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Sala-Gaston J, Pedrazza L, Ramirez J, Martinez-Martinez A, Rawlins LE, Baple EL, Crosby AH, Mayor U, Ventura F, Rosa JL. HERC2 deficiency activates C-RAF/MKK3/p38 signalling pathway altering the cellular response to oxidative stress. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:548. [PMID: 36241744 PMCID: PMC9568463 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04586-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
HERC2 gene encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in several cellular processes by regulating the ubiquitylation of different protein substrates. Biallelic pathogenic sequence variants in the HERC2 gene are associated with HERC2 Angelman-like syndrome. In pathogenic HERC2 variants, complete absence or marked reduction in HERC2 protein levels are observed. The most common pathological variant, c.1781C > T (p.Pro594Leu), encodes an unstable HERC2 protein. A better understanding of how pathologic HERC2 variants affect intracellular signalling may aid definition of potential new therapies for these disorders. For this purpose, we studied patient-derived cells with the HERC2 Pro594Leu variant. We observed alteration of mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways, reflected by increased levels of C-RAF protein and p38 phosphorylation. HERC2 knockdown experiments reproduced the same effects in other human and mouse cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that HERC2 and RAF proteins form molecular complexes, pull-down and proteomic experiments showed that HERC2 regulates C-RAF ubiquitylation and we found out that the p38 activation due to HERC2 depletion occurs in a RAF/MKK3-dependent manner. The displayed cellular response was that patient-derived and other human cells with HERC2 deficiency showed higher resistance to oxidative stress with an increase in the master regulator of the antioxidant response NRF2 and its target genes. This resistance was independent of p53 and abolished by RAF or p38 inhibitors. Altogether, these findings identify the activation of C-RAF/MKK3/p38 signalling pathway in HERC2 Angelman-like syndrome and highlight the inhibition of RAF activity as a potential therapeutic option for individuals affected with these rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Sala-Gaston
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), University of Barcelona (UB), C/ Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Leonardo Pedrazza
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), University of Barcelona (UB), C/ Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Juanma Ramirez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Arturo Martinez-Martinez
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), University of Barcelona (UB), C/ Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Lettie E Rawlins
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford) NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.,Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Heavitree), Exeter, UK
| | - Emma L Baple
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford) NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.,Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Heavitree), Exeter, UK
| | - Andrew H Crosby
- RILD Wellcome Wolfson Medical Research Centre, RD&E (Wonford) NHS Foundation Trust, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Ugo Mayor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Francesc Ventura
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), University of Barcelona (UB), C/ Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Rosa
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), University of Barcelona (UB), C/ Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
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