1
|
Scharrenberg R, Richter M, Johanns O, Meka DP, Rücker T, Murtaza N, Lindenmaier Z, Ellegood J, Naumann A, Zhao B, Schwanke B, Sedlacik J, Fiehler J, Hanganu-Opatz IL, Lerch JP, Singh KK, de Anda FC. TAOK2 rescues autism-linked developmental deficits in a 16p11.2 microdeletion mouse model. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:4707-4721. [PMID: 36123424 PMCID: PMC9734055 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01785-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The precise development of the neocortex is a prerequisite for higher cognitive and associative functions. Despite numerous advances that have been made in understanding neuronal differentiation and cortex development, our knowledge regarding the impact of specific genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders on these processes is still limited. Here, we show that Taok2, which is encoded in humans within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) susceptibility locus 16p11.2, is essential for neuronal migration. Overexpression of de novo mutations or rare variants from ASD patients disrupts neuronal migration in an isoform-specific manner. The mutated TAOK2α variants but not the TAOK2β variants impaired neuronal migration. Moreover, the TAOK2α isoform colocalizes with microtubules. Consequently, neurons lacking Taok2 have unstable microtubules with reduced levels of acetylated tubulin and phosphorylated JNK1. Mice lacking Taok2 develop gross cortical and cortex layering abnormalities. Moreover, acute Taok2 downregulation or Taok2 knockout delayed the migration of upper-layer cortical neurons in mice, and the expression of a constitutively active form of JNK1 rescued these neuronal migration defects. Finally, we report that the brains of the Taok2 KO and 16p11.2 del Het mouse models show striking anatomical similarities and that the heterozygous 16p11.2 microdeletion mouse model displayed reduced levels of phosphorylated JNK1 and neuronal migration deficits, which were ameliorated upon the introduction of TAOK2α in cortical neurons and in the developing cortex of those mice. These results delineate the critical role of TAOK2 in cortical development and its contribution to neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robin Scharrenberg
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Richter
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Ole Johanns
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Durga Praveen Meka
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tabitha Rücker
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadeem Murtaza
- Krembil Research Institute, Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4A9, Canada
| | - Zsuzsa Lindenmaier
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Anne Naumann
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bing Zhao
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Schwanke
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Sedlacik
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Fiehler
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, The University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Karun K Singh
- Krembil Research Institute, Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Froylan Calderon de Anda
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Richter M, Murtaza N, Scharrenberg R, White SH, Johanns O, Walker S, Yuen RKC, Schwanke B, Bedürftig B, Henis M, Scharf S, Kraus V, Dörk R, Hellmann J, Lindenmaier Z, Ellegood J, Hartung H, Kwan V, Sedlacik J, Fiehler J, Schweizer M, Lerch JP, Hanganu-Opatz IL, Morellini F, Scherer SW, Singh KK, Calderon de Anda F. Altered TAOK2 activity causes autism-related neurodevelopmental and cognitive abnormalities through RhoA signaling. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:1329-1350. [PMID: 29467497 PMCID: PMC6756231 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0025-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Atypical brain connectivity is a major contributor to the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). TAOK2 is one of several genes in the 16p11.2 microdeletion region, but whether it contributes to NDDs is unknown. We performed behavioral analysis on Taok2 heterozygous (Het) and knockout (KO) mice and found gene dosage-dependent impairments in cognition, anxiety, and social interaction. Taok2 Het and KO mice also have dosage-dependent abnormalities in brain size and neural connectivity in multiple regions, deficits in cortical layering, dendrite and synapse formation, and reduced excitatory neurotransmission. Whole-genome and -exome sequencing of ASD families identified three de novo mutations in TAOK2 and functional analysis in mice and human cells revealed that all the mutations impair protein stability, but they differentially impact kinase activity, dendrite growth, and spine/synapse development. Mechanistically, loss of Taok2 activity causes a reduction in RhoA activation, and pharmacological enhancement of RhoA activity rescues synaptic phenotypes. Together, these data provide evidence that TAOK2 is a neurodevelopmental disorder risk gene and identify RhoA signaling as a mediator of TAOK2-dependent synaptic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Richter
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Neuronal Development, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadeem Murtaza
- 0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada ,0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Robin Scharrenberg
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Neuronal Development, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sean H. White
- 0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada ,0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Ole Johanns
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Neuronal Development, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susan Walker
- 0000 0004 0473 9646grid.42327.30The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada ,0000 0001 2157 2938grid.17063.33Department of Molecular Genetics and McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Ryan K. C. Yuen
- 0000 0004 0473 9646grid.42327.30The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada ,0000 0001 2157 2938grid.17063.33Department of Molecular Genetics and McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Birgit Schwanke
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Neuronal Development, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bianca Bedürftig
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Neuronal Development, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melad Henis
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Neuronal Development, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany ,0000 0000 8632 679Xgrid.252487.eDepartment of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Sarah Scharf
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Behavioral Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Kraus
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Behavioral Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ronja Dörk
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Behavioral Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Hellmann
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Behavioral Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Zsuzsa Lindenmaier
- 0000 0004 0473 9646grid.42327.30Mouse Imaging Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada ,0000 0001 2157 2938grid.17063.33Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- 0000 0004 0473 9646grid.42327.30Mouse Imaging Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Henrike Hartung
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Developmental Neurophysiology, Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany ,0000 0004 0410 2071grid.7737.4Present Address: Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vickie Kwan
- 0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada ,0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Jan Sedlacik
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Fiehler
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Schweizer
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Core Facility Morphology and Electronmicroscopy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jason P. Lerch
- 0000 0004 0473 9646grid.42327.30Mouse Imaging Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada ,0000 0001 2157 2938grid.17063.33Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Ileana L. Hanganu-Opatz
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Developmental Neurophysiology, Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabio Morellini
- 0000 0001 2180 3484grid.13648.38Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Behavioral Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephen W. Scherer
- 0000 0004 0473 9646grid.42327.30The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada ,0000 0001 2157 2938grid.17063.33Department of Molecular Genetics and McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Karun K. Singh
- 0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada ,0000 0004 1936 8227grid.25073.33Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - Froylan Calderon de Anda
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), Research Group Neuronal Development, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|