Del Castillo U, Norkett R, Lu W, Serpinskaya A, Gelfand VI. Ataxin-2 is essential for cytoskeletal dynamics and neurodevelopment in
Drosophila.
iScience 2022;
25:103536. [PMID:
34977501 PMCID:
PMC8689088 DOI:
10.1016/j.isci.2021.103536]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ataxin-2 (Atx2) is a highly conserved RNA binding protein. Atx2 undergoes polyglutamine expansion leading to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). However, the physiological functions of Atx2 in neurons remain unknown. Here, using the powerful genetics of Drosophila, we show that Atx2 is essential for normal neuronal cytoskeletal dynamics and organelle trafficking. Upon neuron-specific Atx2 loss, the microtubule and actin networks were abnormally stabilized and cargo transport was drastically inhibited. Depletion of Atx2 caused multiple morphological defects in the nervous system of third instar larvae. These include reduced brain size, impaired axon development, and decreased dendrite outgrowth. Defects in the nervous system caused loss of the ability to crawl and lethality at the pupal stage. Taken together, these data mark Atx2 as a major regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics and denote Atx2 as an essential gene in neurodevelopment, as well as a neurodegenerative factor.
Atx2 is a major regulator of the cytoskeleton in neurons
Atx2 is responsible for maintaining dynamic cytoskeletal networks
Atx2 depletion in the Drosophila larval CNS severely impairs organelle transport
Atx2 is necessary for correct neurite outgrowth and CNS development in Drosophila
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