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Gunther K, Lynch DR. Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for Friedreich Ataxia: a review of the available data. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38622054 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2024.2343782] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a rare autosomal recessive disease, marked by loss of coordination as well as impaired neurological, endocrine, orthopedic, and cardiac function. There are many symptomatic medications for FRDA, and many clinical trials have been performed, but only one FDA-approved medication exists. AREAS COVERED The relative absence of the frataxin protein (FXN) in FRDA causes mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in clinical manifestations. Currently, the only approved treatment for FRDA is an Nrf2 activator called omaveloxolone (Skyclarys). Patients with FRDA also rely on various symptomatic medications for treatment. Because there is only one approved medication for FRDA, clinical trials continue to advance in FRDA. Although some trials have not met their endpoints, many current and upcoming clinical trials provide exciting possibilities for the treatment of FRDA. EXPERT OPINION The approval of omaveloxolone provides a major advance in FRDA therapeutics. Although well tolerated, it is not curative. Reversal of deficient frataxin levels with gene therapy, protein replacement, or epigenetic approaches provides the most likely prospect for enduring, disease-modifying therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Gunther
- Friedreich Ataxia Program, Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David R Lynch
- Friedreich Ataxia Program, Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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2
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Chang JC, Ryan MR, Stark MC, Liu S, Purushothaman P, Bolan F, Johnson CA, Champe M, Meng H, Lawlor MW, Halawani S, Ngaba LV, Lynch DR, Davis C, Gonzalo-Gil E, Lutz C, Urbinati F, Medicherla B, Fonck C. AAV8 gene therapy reverses cardiac pathology and prevents early mortality in a mouse model of Friedreich's ataxia. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101193. [PMID: 38352270 PMCID: PMC10862410 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101193] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal-recessive disorder primarily attributed to biallelic GAA repeat expansions that reduce expression of the mitochondrial protein frataxin (FXN). FRDA is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, with many patients developing cardiomyopathy that progresses to heart failure and death. The potential to reverse or prevent progression of the cardiac phenotype of FRDA was investigated in a mouse model of FRDA, using an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV8) containing the coding sequence of the FXN gene. The Fxnflox/null::MCK-Cre conditional knockout mouse (FXN-MCK) has an FXN gene ablation that prevents FXN expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle, leading to cardiac insufficiency, weight loss, and morbidity. FXN-MCK mice received a single intravenous injection of an AAV8 vector containing human (hFXN) or mouse (mFXN) FXN genes under the control of a phosphoglycerate kinase promoter. Compared to vehicle-treated FXN-MCK control mice, AAV-treated FXN-MCK mice displayed increases in body weight, reversal of cardiac deficits, and increases in survival without apparent toxicity in the heart or liver for up to 12 weeks postdose. FXN protein expression in heart tissue was detected in a dose-dependent manner, exhibiting wide distribution throughout the heart similar to wild type, but more speckled. These results support an AAV8-based approach to treat FRDA-associated cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C. Chang
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Molly R. Ryan
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Marie C. Stark
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Su Liu
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Fria Bolan
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Mark Champe
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hui Meng
- Diverge Translational Science Laboratory, Milwaukee, WI 53204, USA
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Michael W. Lawlor
- Diverge Translational Science Laboratory, Milwaukee, WI 53204, USA
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Sarah Halawani
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lucie V. Ngaba
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David R. Lynch
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | - Fabrizia Urbinati
- Formerly of Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Bala Medicherla
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Carlos Fonck
- Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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Dong YN, Ngaba LV, An J, Adeshina MW, Warren N, Wong J, Lynch DR. A peptide derived from TID1S rescues frataxin deficiency and mitochondrial defects in FRDA cellular models. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1352311. [PMID: 38495102 PMCID: PMC10940384 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1352311] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common recessive inherited ataxia, results from homozygous guanine-adenine-adenine (GAA) repeat expansions in intron 1 of the FXN gene, which leads to the deficiency of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein essential for iron-sulphur cluster synthesis. The study of frataxin protein regulation might yield new approaches for FRDA treatment. Here, we report tumorous imaginal disc 1 (TID1), a mitochondrial J-protein cochaperone, as a binding partner of frataxin that negatively controls frataxin protein levels. TID1 interacts with frataxin both in vivo in mouse cortex and in vitro in cortical neurons. Acute and subacute depletion of frataxin using RNA interference markedly increases TID1 protein levels in multiple cell types. In addition, TID1 overexpression significantly increases frataxin precursor but decreases intermediate and mature frataxin levels in HEK293 cells. In primary cultured human skin fibroblasts, overexpression of TID1S results in decreased levels of mature frataxin and increased fragmentation of mitochondria. This effect is mediated by the last 6 amino acids of TID1S as a peptide made from this sequence rescues frataxin deficiency and mitochondrial defects in FRDA patient-derived cells. Our findings show that TID1 negatively modulates frataxin levels, and thereby suggests a novel therapeutic target for treating FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Na Dong
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lucie Vanessa Ngaba
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jacob An
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Miniat W. Adeshina
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Nathan Warren
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Johnathan Wong
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David R. Lynch
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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4
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Ast T, Itoh Y, Sadre S, McCoy JG, Namkoong G, Wengrod JC, Chicherin I, Joshi PR, Kamenski P, Suess DLM, Amunts A, Mootha VK. METTL17 is an Fe-S cluster checkpoint for mitochondrial translation. Mol Cell 2024; 84:359-374.e8. [PMID: 38199006 PMCID: PMC11046306 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.12.016] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is a debilitating, multisystemic disease caused by the depletion of frataxin (FXN), a mitochondrial iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster biogenesis factor. To understand the cellular pathogenesis of FA, we performed quantitative proteomics in FXN-deficient human cells. Nearly every annotated Fe-S cluster-containing protein was depleted, indicating that as a rule, cluster binding confers stability to Fe-S proteins. We also observed depletion of a small mitoribosomal assembly factor METTL17 and evidence of impaired mitochondrial translation. Using comparative sequence analysis, mutagenesis, biochemistry, and cryoelectron microscopy, we show that METTL17 binds to the mitoribosomal small subunit during late assembly and harbors a previously unrecognized [Fe4S4]2+ cluster required for its stability. METTL17 overexpression rescued the mitochondrial translation and bioenergetic defects, but not the cellular growth, of FXN-depleted cells. These findings suggest that METTL17 acts as an Fe-S cluster checkpoint, promoting translation of Fe-S cluster-rich oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins only when Fe-S cofactors are replete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tslil Ast
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yuzuru Itoh
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Shayan Sadre
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jason G McCoy
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gil Namkoong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jordan C Wengrod
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ivan Chicherin
- Department of Biology, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Pallavi R Joshi
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Piotr Kamenski
- Department of Biology, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Daniel L M Suess
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alexey Amunts
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Vamsi K Mootha
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Smith FM, Kosman DJ. Loss of filamentous actin, tight junction protein expression, and paracellular barrier integrity in frataxin-deficient human brain microvascular endothelial cells-implications for blood-brain barrier physiology in Friedreich's ataxia. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1299201. [PMID: 38274097 PMCID: PMC10808331 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1299201] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA) is the most prevalent inherited ataxia. FRDA results from loss of Frataxin (FXN), an essential mitochondrial iron trafficking protein. FRDA starts with an early burst of neurodegeneration of the dorsal root ganglion and cerebellar dentate nuclei, followed by progressive brain iron accumulation in the latter. End stage disease includes cardiac fibrosis that contributes to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The microvasculature plays an essential barrier role in both brain and heart homeostasis, thus an investigation of this tissue system in FRDA is essential to the delineation of the cellular dysfunction in this genetic disorder. Previous reports have identified cytoskeletal alterations in non-barrier forming FRDA cell models, but physiological consequences are limited. Methods: We investigated brain microvascular endothelial cell integrity in FRDA in a model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have knocked down FXN in immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMVEC), which compose the microcapillaries of the BBB, by using shRNA. We confirmed known cellular pathophysiologies of FXN-knockdown including decreased energy metabolism, markers of oxidative stress, and increased cell size. Results: We investigated cytoskeletal architecture, identifying decreased filamentous actin and Occludin and Claudin-5 tight junction protein expression in shFXN hBMVECs. This was consistent with decreased transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased paracellular tracer flux during early barrier formation. shFXN hBMVEC start with only 67% barrier integrity of the controls, and flux a paracellular tracer at 800% of physiological levels. Discussion: We identified that insufficient FXN levels in the hBMVEC BBB model causes changes in cytoskeletal architecture and tight junction protein abundance, co-incident with increased barrier permeability. Changes in the integrity of the BBB may be related to patient brain iron accumulation, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and stroke. Furthermore, our findings implicate other barrier cells, e.g., the cardiac microvasculature, loci of disease pathology in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances M. Smith
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Indelicato E, Faserl K, Amprosi M, Nachbauer W, Schneider R, Wanschitz J, Sarg B, Boesch S. Skeletal muscle proteome analysis underpins multifaceted mitochondrial dysfunction in Friedreich's ataxia. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1289027. [PMID: 38027498 PMCID: PMC10644315 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1289027] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a severe multisystemic disorder caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. While some aspects of FRDA pathology are developmental, the causes underlying the steady progression are unclear. The inaccessibility of key affected tissues to sampling is a main hurdle. Skeletal muscle displays a disease phenotype and may be sampled in vivo to address open questions on FRDA pathophysiology. Thus, we performed a quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis in gastrocnemius skeletal muscle biopsies from genetically confirmed FRDA patients (n = 5) and controls. Obtained data files were processed using Proteome Discoverer and searched by Sequest HT engine against a UniProt human reference proteome database. Comparing skeletal muscle proteomics profiles between FRDA and controls, we identified 228 significant differentially expressed (DE) proteins, of which 227 were downregulated in FRDA. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation between FRDA and control samples. Interactome analysis revealed clustering of DE proteins in oxidative phosphorylation, ribosomal elements, mitochondrial architecture control, and fission/fusion pathways. DE findings in the muscle-specific proteomics suggested a shift toward fast-twitching glycolytic fibers. Notably, most DE proteins (169/228, 74%) are target of the transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2. Our data corroborate a mitochondrial biosignature of FRDA, which extends beyond a mere oxidative phosphorylation failure. Skeletal muscle proteomics highlighted a derangement of mitochondrial architecture and maintenance pathways and a likely adaptive metabolic shift of contractile proteins. The present findings are relevant for the design of future therapeutic strategies and highlight the value of skeletal muscle-omics as disease state readout in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Indelicato
- Center for Rare Movement Disorders Innsbruck, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Klaus Faserl
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Protein Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Matthias Amprosi
- Center for Rare Movement Disorders Innsbruck, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Nachbauer
- Center for Rare Movement Disorders Innsbruck, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rainer Schneider
- Institute of Biochemistry, Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julia Wanschitz
- Laboratory of Tissue Diagnostics, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bettina Sarg
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Protein Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sylvia Boesch
- Center for Rare Movement Disorders Innsbruck, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Gentili HG, Pignataro MF, Olmos J, Pavan MF, Ibañez LI, Santos J, Velazquez Duarte F. CRISPR/Cas9-based edition of frataxin gene in Dictyostelium discoideum. Biochem J 2023; 480:1533-1551. [PMID: 37721041 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230244] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we describe the development of a Dictyostelium discoideum strain deficient in frataxin protein (FXN). We investigated the conservation of function between humans and D. discoideum and showed that DdFXN can substitute the human version in the interaction and activation of the Fe-S assembly supercomplex. We edited the D. discoideum fxn locus and isolated a defective mutant, clone 8, which presents landmarks of frataxin deficiency, such as a decrease in Fe-S cluster-dependent enzymatic functions, growth rate reduction, and increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. In addition, the multicellular development is affected as well as growing on bacterial lawn. We also assessed the rescuing capacity of DdFXN-G122V, a version that mimics a human variant present in some FA patients. While the expression of DdFXN-G122V rescues growth and enzymatic activity defects, as DdFXN does, multicellular development defects were only partially rescued. The results of the study suggest that this new D. discoideum strain offers a wide range of possibilities to easily explore diverse FA FXN variants. This can facilitate the development of straightforward drug screenings to look for new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hernan G Gentili
- Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Florencia Pignataro
- Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Justo Olmos
- Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Florencia Pavan
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET, FCEN, UBA, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lorena Itatí Ibañez
- Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), CONICET, FCEN, UBA, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Santos
- Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco Velazquez Duarte
- Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Bouchard C, Gérard C, Yanyabé SGF, Majeau N, Aloui M, Buisson G, Yameogo P, Couture V, Tremblay JP. Finding an Appropriate Mouse Model to Study the Impact of a Treatment for Friedreich Ataxia on the Behavioral Phenotype. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1654. [PMID: 37628705 PMCID: PMC10454134 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081654] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by a GAA repeat in the intron 1 of the frataxin gene (FXN) leading to a lower expression of the frataxin protein. The YG8sR mice are Knock-Out (KO) for their murine frataxin gene but contain a human frataxin transgene derived from an FRDA patient with 300 GAA repeats. These mice are used as a FRDA model but even with a low frataxin concentration, their phenotype is mild. We aimed to find an optimized mouse model with a phenotype comparable to the human patients to study the impact of therapy on the phenotype. We compared two mouse models: the YG8sR injected with an AAV. PHP.B coding for a shRNA targeting the human frataxin gene and the YG8-800, a new mouse model with a human transgene containing 800 GAA repeats. Both mouse models were compared to Y47R mice containing nine GAA repeats that were considered healthy mice. Behavior tests (parallel rod floor apparatus, hanging test, inverted T beam, and notched beam test) were carried out from 2 to 11 months and significant differences were noticed for both YG8sR mice injected with an anti-FXN shRNA and the YG8-800 mice compared to healthy mice. In conclusion, YG8sR mice have a slight phenotype, and injecting them with an AAV-PHP.B expressing an shRNA targeting frataxin does increase their phenotype. The YG8-800 mice have a phenotype comparable to the human ataxic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Bouchard
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l’Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Catherine Gérard
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l’Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Solange Gni-fiene Yanyabé
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l’Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Nathalie Majeau
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l’Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Malek Aloui
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
| | - Gabrielle Buisson
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
| | - Pouiré Yameogo
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l’Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Vanessa Couture
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l’Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Jacques P. Tremblay
- Centre de Recherche du CHU, Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada (N.M.); (M.A.); (G.B.)
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, l’Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
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Pastore A, Temussi PA. Unfolding under Pressure: An NMR Perspective. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300164. [PMID: 37154795 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300164] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
This review aims to analyse the role of solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pressure-induced in vitro studies of protein unfolding. Although this transition has been neglected for many years because of technical difficulties, it provides important information about the forces that keep protein structure together. We first analyse what pressure unfolding is, then provide a critical overview of how NMR spectroscopy has contributed to the field and evaluate the observables used in these studies. Finally, we discuss the commonalities and differences between pressure-, cold- and heat-induced unfolding. We conclude that, despite specific peculiarities, in both cold and pressure denaturation the important contribution of the state of hydration of nonpolar side chains is a major factor that determines the pressure dependence of the conformational stability of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Pastore
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facilities, 71 Ave des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
- The Wohl Institute, King's College London, 5 Cutcombe Rd, SE59RT, London, UK
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10
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Thomas-Black G, Altmann DR, Crook H, Solanky N, Carrasco FP, Battiston M, Grussu F, Yiannakas MC, Kanber B, Jolly JK, Brett J, Downes SM, Moran M, Chan PK, Adewunmi E, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Németh AH, Festenstein R, Bremner F, Giunti P. Multimodal Analysis of the Visual Pathways in Friedreich's Ataxia Reveals Novel Biomarkers. Mov Disord 2023; 38:959-969. [PMID: 36433650 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optic neuropathy is a near ubiquitous feature of Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA). Previous studies have examined varying aspects of the anterior and posterior visual pathways but none so far have comprehensively evaluated the heterogeneity of degeneration across different areas of the retina, changes to the macula layers and combined these with volumetric MRI studies of the visual cortex and frataxin level. METHODS We investigated 62 genetically confirmed FRDA patients using an integrated approach as part of an observational cohort study. We included measurement of frataxin protein levels, clinical evaluation of visual and neurological function, optical coherence tomography to determine retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and macular layer volume and volumetric brain MRI. RESULTS We demonstrate that frataxin level correlates with peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and that retinal sectors differ in their degree of degeneration. We also shown that retinal nerve fibre layer is thinner in FRDA patients than controls and that this thinning is influenced by the AAO and GAA1. Furthermore we show that the ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers are affected in FRDA. Our MRI data indicate that there are borderline correlations between retinal layers and areas of the cortex involved in visual processing. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the uneven distribution of the axonopathy in the retinal nerve fibre layer and highlight the relative sparing of the papillomacular bundle and temporal sectors. We show that thinning of the retinal nerve fibre layer is associated with frataxin levels, supporting the use the two biomarkers in future clinical trials design. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert Thomas-Black
- The Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Daniel R Altmann
- Medical Statistics Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Harry Crook
- The Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nita Solanky
- The Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ferran Prados Carrasco
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing, UCL, London, UK
- e-Health Centre, Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Battiston
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
| | - Francesco Grussu
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Radiomics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marios C Yiannakas
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
| | - Baris Kanber
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Medical Image Computing, UCL, London, UK
| | - Jasleen K Jolly
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Vision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jon Brett
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Susan M Downes
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Marni Moran
- NIHR Clinical Research Network, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Ping K Chan
- Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Department of Medicine, Division of Brain Sciences and MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Emmanuel Adewunmi
- Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Department of Medicine, Division of Brain Sciences and MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL, London, UK
- Brain MRI 3T Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea H Németh
- NIHR Clinical Research Network, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Festenstein
- Gene Control Mechanisms and Disease Group, Department of Medicine, Division of Brain Sciences and MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Fion Bremner
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Paola Giunti
- The Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, London, UK
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11
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Hazra R, Novelli EM, Hu X. Astrocytic mitochondrial frataxin-A promising target for ischemic brain injury. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:783-788. [PMID: 36550598 PMCID: PMC9928550 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14068] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the ischemic brain, hypoxia leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, insufficient energy production, and astrocyte activation. Yet, most studies investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in cerebral ischemia have focused exclusively on neurons. This review will highlight the importance of the morphological, molecular, and functional heterogeneity of astrocytes in their role in brain injuries and explore how activated astrocytes exhibit calcium imbalance, reactive oxygen species overproduction, and apoptosis. In addition, special focus will be given to the role of the mitochondrial protein frataxin in activated astrocytes during ischemia and its putative role in the pharmacological management of cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimi Hazra
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Enrico M Novelli
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xiaoming Hu
- Center of Cerebrovascular Disease Research, Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Kurt F, Filiz E, Yildiz K, Akbudak MA. Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization and Expression Profiling of Potato ( Solanum tuberosum) Frataxin ( FH) Gene. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:468. [PMID: 36833395 PMCID: PMC9957314 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020468] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Frataxin (FH) plays a crucial role in the biogenesis of mitochondria and the regulation of iron in the cells of various organisms. However, there has been very little research on FH in plants. In this study, the potato FH gene (StFH) was identified and characterized using a genome-wide approach, and its sequence was compared to those of FH genes from Arabidopsis, rice, and maize. The FH genes were found to have a lineage-specific distribution and were more conserved in monocots than in dicots. While multiple copies of FH genes have been reported in some species, including plants, only one isoform of FH was found in potato. The expression of StFH in leaves and roots was analyzed under two different abiotic stress conditions, and the results showed that StFH was upregulated more in leaves and that its expression levels increased with the severity of the stress. This is the first study to examine the expression of an FH gene under abiotic stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firat Kurt
- Department of Plant Production and Technologies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Mus Alparslan University, 49250 Mus, Turkey
| | - Ertugrul Filiz
- Department of Crop and Animal Production, Cilimli Vocational School, Duzce University, Cilimli, 81750 Duzce, Turkey
| | - Kubra Yildiz
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey
| | - M. Aydın Akbudak
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey
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13
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Kalef-Ezra E, Edzeamey FJ, Valle A, Khonsari H, Kleine P, Oggianu C, Al-Mahdawi S, Pook MA, Anjomani Virmouni S. A new FRDA mouse model [ Fxn null:YG8s(GAA) > 800] with more than 800 GAA repeats. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:930422. [PMID: 36777637 PMCID: PMC9909538 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.930422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a homozygous guanine-adenine-adenine (GAA) repeat expansion within intron 1 of the FXN gene, which encodes the essential mitochondrial protein frataxin. There is still no effective therapy for FRDA, therefore the development of optimal cell and animal models of the disease is one of the priorities for preclinical therapeutic testing. Methods We obtained the latest FRDA humanized mouse model that was generated on the basis of our previous YG8sR, by Jackson laboratory [YG8JR, Fxn null:YG8s(GAA) > 800]. We characterized the behavioral, cellular, molecular and epigenetics properties of the YG8JR model, which has the largest GAA repeat sizes compared to all the current FRDA mouse models. Results We found statistically significant behavioral deficits, together with reduced levels of frataxin mRNA and protein, and aconitase activity in YG8JR mice compared with control Y47JR mice. YG8JR mice exhibit intergenerational GAA repeat instability by the analysis of parent and offspring tissue samples. Somatic GAA repeat instability was also detected in individual brain and cerebellum tissue samples. In addition, increased DNA methylation of CpG U13 was identified in FXN GAA repeat region in the brain, cerebellum, and heart tissues. Furthermore, we show decreased histone H3K9 acetylation and increased H3K9 methylation of YG8JR cerebellum tissues within the FXN gene, upstream and downstream of the GAA repeat region compared to Y47JR controls. Discussion These studies provide a detailed characterization of the GAA repeat expansion-based YG8JR transgenic mouse models that will help investigations of FRDA disease mechanisms and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Kalef-Ezra
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fred Jonathan Edzeamey
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Adamo Valle
- Energy Metabolism and Nutrition, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS), University of Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain,Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain,Biomedical Research Networking Center for Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn CB06/03/0043), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hassan Khonsari
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Kleine
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carlo Oggianu
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sahar Al-Mahdawi
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A. Pook
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Anjomani Virmouni
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Sara Anjomani Virmouni,
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14
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Bernardo-Seisdedos G, Schedlbauer A, Pereira-Ortuzar T, Mato JM, Millet O. Protoporphyrin IX Binds to Iron(II)-Loaded and to Zinc-Loaded Human Frataxin. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13010222. [PMID: 36676171 PMCID: PMC9866752 DOI: 10.3390/life13010222] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Human frataxin is an iron binding protein that participates in the biogenesis of iron sulfur clusters and enhances ferrochelatase activity. While frataxin association to other proteins has been extensively characterized up to the structural level, much less is known about the putative capacity of frataxin to interact with functionally related metabolites. In turn, current knowledge about frataxin's capacity to coordinate metal ions is limited to iron (II and III); (2) Methods: here, we used NMR spectroscopy, Molecular Dynamics, and Docking approaches to demonstrate new roles of frataxin; (3) Results: We demonstrate that frataxin also binds Zn2+ in a structurally similar way to Fe2+, but with lower affinity. In turn, both Fe2+-loaded and Zn2+-loaded frataxins specifically associate to protoporphyrin IX with micromolar affinity, while apo-frataxin does not bind to the porphyrin. Protoporphyrin IX association to metal-loaded frataxin shares the binding epitope with ferrochelatase; and (4) Conclusions: these findings expand the plethora of relevant molecular targets for frataxin and may help to elucidate the yet unknown different roles that this protein exerts in iron regulation and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganeko Bernardo-Seisdedos
- ATLAS Molecular Pharma, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Andreas Schedlbauer
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Tania Pereira-Ortuzar
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - José M. Mato
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network on Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Millet
- ATLAS Molecular Pharma, Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network on Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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15
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Rodrigues AV, Batelu S, Hinton TV, Rotondo J, Thompson L, Brunzelle JS, Stemmler TL. Drosophila melanogaster frataxin: protein crystal and predicted solution structure with identification of the iron-binding regions. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2023; 79:22-30. [PMID: 36601804 PMCID: PMC9815096 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798322011639] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a hereditary cardiodegenerative and neurodegenerative disease that affects 1 in 50 000 Americans. FRDA arises from either a cellular inability to produce sufficient quantities or the production of a nonfunctional form of the protein frataxin, a key molecule associated with mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis. Within the mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) assembly pathway, frataxin serves as an allosteric regulator for cysteine desulfurase, the enzyme that provides sulfur for [2Fe-2S] cluster assembly. Frataxin is a known iron-binding protein and is also linked to the delivery of ferrous ions to the scaffold protein, the ISC molecule responsible for the direct assembly of [2Fe-2S] clusters. The goal of this report is to provide structural details of the Drosophila melanogaster frataxin ortholog (Dfh), using both X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, in order to provide the foundational insight needed to understand the structure-function correlation of the protein. Additionally, NMR iron(II) titrations were used to provide metal contacts on the protein to better understand how it binds iron and aids its delivery to the ISC scaffold protein. Here, the structural and functional similarities of Dfh to its orthologs are also outlined. Structural data show that bacterial, yeast, human and Drosophila frataxins are structurally similar, apart from a structured C-terminus in Dfh that is likely to aid in protein stability. The iron-binding location on helix 1 and strand 1 of Dfh is also conserved across orthologs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andria V Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Sharon Batelu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tiara V Hinton
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - John Rotondo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Lindsey Thompson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Joseph S Brunzelle
- Northwestern Synchrotron Research Centers, Life Science Collaborative Access Team, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Timothy L Stemmler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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16
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Angulo MB, Bertalovitz A, Argenziano MA, Yang J, Patel A, Zesiewicz T, McDonald TV. Frataxin deficiency alters gene expression in Friedreich ataxia derived IPSC-neurons and cardiomyocytes. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 11:e2093. [PMID: 36369844 PMCID: PMC9834160 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2093] [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: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive disease, whereby homozygous inheritance of an expanded GAA trinucleotide repeat expansion in the first intron of the FXN gene leads to transcriptional repression of the encoded protein frataxin. FRDA is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, but the primary cause of death is heart disease which occurs in 60% of the patients. Several functions of frataxin have been proposed, but none of them fully explain why its deficiency causes the FRDA phenotypes nor why the most affected cell types are neurons and cardiomyocytes. METHODS To investigate, we generated iPSC-derived neurons (iNs) and cardiomyocytes (iCMs) from an FRDA patient and upregulated FXN expression via lentivirus without altering genomic GAA repeats at the FXN locus. RESULTS RNA-seq and differential gene expression enrichment analyses demonstrated that frataxin deficiency affected the expression of glycolytic pathway genes in neurons and extracellular matrix pathway genes in cardiomyocytes. Genes in these pathways were differentially expressed when compared to a control and restored to control levels when FRDA cells were supplemented with frataxin. CONCLUSIONS These results offer novel insight into specific roles of frataxin deficiency pathogenesis in neurons and cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana B. Angulo
- Heart Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA,Department of Molecular Pharmacology & PhysiologyMorsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Alexander Bertalovitz
- Heart Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA,Department of Medicine (Cardiology)Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Mariana A. Argenziano
- Heart Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Jiajia Yang
- Heart Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA,Department of Molecular Pharmacology & PhysiologyMorsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Aarti Patel
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology)Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Theresa Zesiewicz
- Department of NeurologyMorsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
| | - Thomas V. McDonald
- Heart Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA,Department of Molecular Pharmacology & PhysiologyMorsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA,Department of Medicine (Cardiology)Morsani College of Medicine, University of South FloridaTampaFloridaUSA
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17
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Dong YNA, Mesaros C, Xu P, Mercado-Ayón E, Halawani S, Ngaba LV, Warren N, Sleiman P, Rodden LN, Schadt KA, Blair IA, Lynch DR. Frataxin controls ketone body metabolism through regulation of OXCT1. PNAS Nexus 2022; 1:pgac142. [PMID: 36016708 PMCID: PMC9396447 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease caused by the deficiency of mitochondrial protein frataxin, which plays a crucial role in iron-sulphur cluster formation and ATP production. The cellular function of frataxin is not entirely known. Here, we demonstrate that frataxin controls ketone body metabolism through regulation of 3-Oxoacid CoA-Transferase 1 (OXCT1), a rate limiting enzyme catalyzing the conversion of ketone bodies to acetoacetyl-CoA that is then fed into the Krebs cycle. Biochemical studies show a physical interaction between frataxin and OXCT1 both in vivo and in vitro. Frataxin overexpression also increases OXCT1 protein levels in human skin fibroblasts while frataxin deficiency decreases OXCT1 in multiple cell types including cerebellum and skeletal muscle both acutely and chronically, suggesting that frataxin directly regulates OXCT1. This regulation is mediated by frataxin-dependent suppression of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-dependent OXCT1 degradation. Concomitantly, plasma ketone bodies are significantly elevated in frataxin deficient knock-in/knockout (KIKO) mice with no change in the levels of other enzymes involved in ketone body production. In addition, ketone bodies fail to be metabolized to acetyl-CoA accompanied by increased succinyl-CoA in vitro in frataxin deficient cells, suggesting that ketone body elevation is caused by frataxin-dependent reduction of OXCT1 leading to deficits in tissue utilization of ketone bodies. Considering the potential role of metabolic abnormalities and deficiency of ATP production in FRDA, our results suggest a new role for frataxin in ketone body metabolism and also suggest modulation of OXCT1 may be a potential therapeutic approach for FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi NA Dong
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Clementina Mesaros
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peining Xu
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Sarah Halawani
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lucie Vanessa Ngaba
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nathan Warren
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Patrick Sleiman
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Layne N Rodden
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kimberly A Schadt
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ian A Blair
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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18
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Wang D, Ho ES, Cotticelli MG, Xu P, Napierala JS, Hauser LA, Napierala M, Himes BE, Wilson RB, Lynch DR, Mesaros C. Skin fibroblast metabolomic profiling reveals that lipid dysfunction predicts the severity of Friedreich's ataxia. J Lipid Res 2022; 63:100255. [PMID: 35850241 PMCID: PMC9399481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2022.100255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a triplet guanine-adenine-adenine (GAA) repeat expansion in intron 1 of the FXN gene, which leads to decreased levels of the frataxin protein. Frataxin is involved in the formation of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster prosthetic groups for various metabolic enzymes. To provide a better understanding of the metabolic status of patients with FRDA, here we used patient-derived fibroblast cells as a surrogate tissue for metabolic and lipidomic profiling by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. We found elevated HMG-CoA and β-hydroxybutyrate-CoA levels, implying dysregulated fatty acid oxidation, which was further demonstrated by elevated acyl-carnitine levels. Lipidomic profiling identified dysregulated levels of several lipid classes in FRDA fibroblast cells when compared with non-FRDA fibroblast cells. For example, levels of several ceramides were significantly increased in FRDA fibroblast cells; these results positively correlated with the GAA repeat length and negatively correlated with the frataxin protein levels. Furthermore, stable isotope tracing experiments indicated increased ceramide synthesis, especially for long-chain fatty acid-ceramides, in FRDA fibroblast cells compared with ceramide synthesis in healthy control fibroblast cells. In addition, PUFA-containing triglycerides and phosphatidylglycerols were enriched in FRDA fibroblast cells and negatively correlated with frataxin levels, suggesting lipid remodeling as a result of FXN deficiency. Altogether, we demonstrate patient-derived fibroblast cells exhibited dysregulated metabolic capabilities, and their lipid dysfunction predicted the severity of FRDA, making them a useful surrogate to study the metabolic status in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezhen Wang
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elaine S. Ho
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - M. Grazia Cotticelli
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Peining Xu
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jill S. Napierala
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB Stem Cell Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Lauren A. Hauser
- Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Abramson Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marek Napierala
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB Stem Cell Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Blanca E. Himes
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert B. Wilson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David R. Lynch
- Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Abramson Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Clementina Mesaros
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,For correspondence: Clementina Mesaros
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19
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Abstract
Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive disease in which a mitochondrial protein, frataxin, is severely decreased in its expression. In addition to progressive ataxia, patients with FRDA often develop a cardiomyopathy that can be hypertrophic. This cardiomyopathy is unlike the sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathies in that the hypertrophy is associated with massive mitochondrial proliferation within the cardiomyocyte rather than contractile protein overexpression. This is associated with atrial arrhythmias, apoptosis, and fibrosis over time, and patients often develop heart failure leading to premature death. The differences between this mitochondrial cardiomyopathy and the more common contractile protein hypertrophic cardiomyopathies can be a source of misunderstanding in the management of these patients. Although imaging studies have revealed much about the structure and function of the heart in this disease, we still lack an understanding of many important clinical and fundamental molecular events that determine outcome of the heart in FRDA. This review will describe the current basic and clinical understanding of the FRDA heart, and most importantly, identify major gaps in our knowledge that represent new directions and opportunities for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Mark Payne
- Address for correspondence: Dr R. Mark Payne, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 West Walnut, R4 302b, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
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20
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Apolloni S, Milani M, D'Ambrosi N. Neuroinflammation in Friedreich's Ataxia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6297. [PMID: 35682973 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene frataxin, encoding for a mitochondrial protein involved in iron handling and in the biogenesis of iron-sulphur clusters, and leading to progressive nervous system damage. Although the overt manifestations of FRDA in the nervous system are mainly observed in the neurons, alterations in non-neuronal cells may also contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease, as recently suggested for other neurodegenerative disorders. In FRDA, the involvement of glial cells can be ascribed to direct effects caused by frataxin loss, eliciting different aberrant mechanisms. Iron accumulation, mitochondria dysfunction, and reactive species overproduction, mechanisms identified as etiopathogenic in neurons in FRDA, can similarly affect glial cells, leading them to assume phenotypes that can concur to and exacerbate neuron loss. Recent findings obtained in FRDA patients and cellular and animal models of the disease have suggested that neuroinflammation can accompany and contribute to the neuropathology. In this review article, we discuss evidence about the involvement of neuroinflammatory-related mechanisms in models of FRDA and provide clues for the modulation of glial-related mechanisms as a possible strategy to improve disease features.
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21
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Hackett PT, Jia X, Li L, Ward DM. Posttranslational regulation of mitochondrial frataxin and identification of compounds that increase frataxin levels in Friedreich's ataxia. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101982. [PMID: 35472330 PMCID: PMC9127368 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a degenerative disease caused by a decrease in the mitochondrial protein frataxin (Fxn), which is involved in iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) synthesis. Diminutions in Fxn result in decreased ISC synthesis, increased mitochondrial iron accumulation, and impaired mitochondrial function. Here, we show that conditions that result in increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in yeast or mammalian cell culture give rise to increased turnover of Fxn but not of other ISC synthesis proteins. We demonstrate that the mitochondrial Lon protease is involved in Fxn degradation and that iron export through the mitochondrial metal transporter Mmt1 protects yeast Fxn from degradation. We also determined that when FRDA fibroblasts were grown in media containing elevated iron, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species increased and Fxn decreased compared to WT fibroblasts. Furthermore, we screened a library of FDA-approved compounds and identified 38 compounds that increased yeast Fxn levels, including the azole bifonazole, antiparasitic fipronil, antitumor compound dibenzoylmethane, antihypertensive 4-hydroxychalcone, and a nonspecific anion channel inhibitor 4,4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-sulfonic acid. We show that top hits 4-hydroxychalcone and dibenzoylmethane increased mRNA levels of transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in FRDA patient-derived fibroblasts, as well as downstream antioxidant targets thioredoxin, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase 2. Taken together, these findings reveal that FRDA progression may be in part due to oxidant-mediated decreases in Fxn and that some approved compounds may be effective in increasing mitochondrial Fxn in FRDA, delaying disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter T Hackett
- Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Xuan Jia
- Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Liangtao Li
- Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Diane M Ward
- Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
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22
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Marengo M, Fissore A, Oliaro-Bosso S, Adinolfi S, Pastore A. Towards a metabolomic approach to investigate iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis. IUBMB Life 2022; 74:715-722. [PMID: 35474632 PMCID: PMC9325406 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2618] [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: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Iron–sulfur clusters are prosthetic groups that are assembled on their acceptor proteins through a complex machine centered on a desulfurase enzyme and a transient scaffold protein. Studies to establish the mechanism of cluster formation have so far used either in vitro or in vivo methods, which have often resulted in contrasting or non‐comparable results. We suggest, here, an alternative approach to study the enzymatic reaction, that is based on the combination of genetically engineered bacterial strains depleted of specific components, and the detection of the enzymatic kinetics in cellular extracts through metabolomics. Our data prove that this ex vivo approach closely reproduces the in vitro results while retaining the full complexity of the system. We demonstrate that co‐presence of bacterial frataxin and iron is necessary to observe an inhibitory effect of the enzymatic activity of bacterial frataxin. Our approach provides a new powerful tool for the study of iron–sulfur cluster biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Marengo
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alex Fissore
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Salvatore Adinolfi
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pastore
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Institute, King's College London, Denmark Hill Campus, London, UK
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23
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Botticelli S, La Penna G, Nobili G, Rossi G, Stellato F, Morante S. Modelling Protein Plasticity: The Example of Frataxin and Its Variants. Molecules 2022; 27:1955. [PMID: 35335316 PMCID: PMC8950120 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27061955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Frataxin (FXN) is a protein involved in storage and delivery of iron in the mitochondria. Single-point mutations in the FXN gene lead to reduced production of functional frataxin, with the consequent dyshomeostasis of iron. FXN variants are at the basis of neurological impairment (the Friedreich's ataxia) and several types of cancer. By using altruistic metadynamics in conjunction with the maximal constrained entropy principle, we estimate the change of free energy in the protein unfolding of frataxin and of some of its pathological mutants. The sampled configurations highlight differences between the wild-type and mutated sequences in the stability of the folded state. In partial agreement with thermodynamic experiments, where most of the analyzed variants are characterized by lower thermal stability compared to wild type, the D104G variant is found with a stability comparable to the wild-type sequence and a lower water-accessible surface area. These observations, obtained with the new approach we propose in our work, point to a functional switch, affected by single-point mutations, of frataxin from iron storage to iron release. The method is suitable to investigate wide structural changes in proteins in general, after a proper tuning of the chosen collective variable used to perform the transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Botticelli
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata and Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, INFN, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Roma, Italy; (S.B.); (G.N.); (G.R.); (F.S.); (S.M.)
| | - Giovanni La Penna
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata and Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, INFN, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Roma, Italy; (S.B.); (G.N.); (G.R.); (F.S.); (S.M.)
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organometallici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Germano Nobili
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata and Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, INFN, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Roma, Italy; (S.B.); (G.N.); (G.R.); (F.S.); (S.M.)
| | - Giancarlo Rossi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata and Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, INFN, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Roma, Italy; (S.B.); (G.N.); (G.R.); (F.S.); (S.M.)
- Centro Fermi—Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche E. Fermi, I-00184 Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Stellato
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata and Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, INFN, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Roma, Italy; (S.B.); (G.N.); (G.R.); (F.S.); (S.M.)
- Centro Fermi—Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche E. Fermi, I-00184 Roma, Italy
| | - Silvia Morante
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata and Sezione di Roma Tor Vergata, INFN, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, I-00133 Roma, Italy; (S.B.); (G.N.); (G.R.); (F.S.); (S.M.)
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24
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Huichalaf C, Perfitt TL, Kuperman A, Gooch R, Kovi RC, Brenneman KA, Chen X, Hirenallur-Shanthappa D, Ma T, Assaf BT, Pardo I, Franks T, Monarski L, Cheng TW, Le K, Su C, Somanathan S, Whiteley LO, Bulawa C, Pregel MJ, Martelli A. In vivo overexpression of frataxin causes toxicity mediated by iron-sulfur cluster deficiency. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 24:367-378. [PMID: 35252470 PMCID: PMC8866050 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [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: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia is a rare disorder resulting from deficiency of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein implicated in the synthesis of iron-sulfur clusters. Preclinical studies in mice have shown that gene therapy is a promising approach to treat individuals with Friedreich's ataxia. However, a recent report provided evidence that AAVrh10-mediated overexpression of frataxin could lead to cardiotoxicity associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. While evaluating an AAV9-based frataxin gene therapy using a chicken β-actin promoter, we showed that toxic overexpression of frataxin could be reached in mouse liver and heart with doses between 1 × 1013 and 1 × 1014 vg/kg. In a mouse model of cardiac disease, these doses only corrected cardiac dysfunction partially and transiently and led to adverse findings associated with iron-sulfur cluster deficiency in liver. We demonstrated that toxicity required frataxin's primary function by using a frataxin construct bearing the N146K mutation, which impairs binding to the iron-sulfur cluster core complex. At the lowest tested dose, we observed moderate liver toxicity that was accompanied by progressive loss of transgene expression and liver regeneration. Together, our data provide insights into the toxicity of frataxin overexpression that should be considered in the development of a gene therapy approach for Friedreich's ataxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Huichalaf
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Tyler L Perfitt
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anna Kuperman
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Renea Gooch
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ramesh C Kovi
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Karrie A Brenneman
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xian Chen
- Comparative Medicine, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Tiffany Ma
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Basel T Assaf
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ingrid Pardo
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Tania Franks
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Laura Monarski
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ting-Wen Cheng
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kevin Le
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Chunyan Su
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Suryanarayan Somanathan
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Laurence O Whiteley
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Christine Bulawa
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Marko J Pregel
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alain Martelli
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer Inc., 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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25
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Doni D, Meggiolaro M, Santos J, Audran G, Marque SRA, Costantini P, Bortolus M, Carbonera D. A Combined Spectroscopic and In Silico Approach to Evaluate the Interaction of Human Frataxin with Mitochondrial Superoxide Dismutase. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121763. [PMID: 34944579 PMCID: PMC8698469 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121763] [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: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Frataxin (FXN) is a highly conserved mitochondrial protein whose deficiency causes Friedreich’s ataxia, a neurodegenerative disease. The precise physiological function of FXN is still unclear; however, there is experimental evidence that the protein is involved in biosynthetic iron–sulfur cluster machinery, redox imbalance, and iron homeostasis. FXN is synthesized in the cytosol and imported into the mitochondria, where it is proteolytically cleaved to the mature form. Its involvement in the redox imbalance suggests that FXN could interact with mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2), a key enzyme in antioxidant cellular defense. In this work, we use site-directed spin labelling coupled to electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (SDSL-EPR) and fluorescence quenching experiments to investigate the interaction between human FXN and SOD2 in vitro. Spectroscopic data are combined with rigid body protein–protein docking to assess the potential structure of the FXN-SOD2 complex, which leaves the metal binding region of FXN accessible to the solvent. We provide evidence that human FXN interacts with human SOD2 in vitro and that the complex is in fast exchange. This interaction could be relevant during the assembly of iron-sulfur (FeS) clusters and/or their incorporation in proteins when FeS clusters are potentially susceptible to attacks by reactive oxygen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Doni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.D.); (M.M.); (P.C.)
| | - Marta Meggiolaro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.D.); (M.M.); (P.C.)
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Javier Santos
- Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina;
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Gérard Audran
- Aix Marseille Universitè, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, case 551, Ave Escadrille Normandie Niemen, CEDEX 20, 13397 Marseille, France; (G.A.); (S.R.A.M.)
| | - Sylvain R. A. Marque
- Aix Marseille Universitè, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, case 551, Ave Escadrille Normandie Niemen, CEDEX 20, 13397 Marseille, France; (G.A.); (S.R.A.M.)
| | - Paola Costantini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.D.); (M.M.); (P.C.)
| | - Marco Bortolus
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Donatella Carbonera
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy;
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26
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Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive inherited multisystem disease, characterized by marked differences in the vulnerability of neuronal systems. In general, the proprioceptive system appears to be affected early, while later in the disease, the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum and, to some degree, the corticospinal tracts degenerate. In the current era of expanding therapeutic discovery in FRDA, including progress toward novel gene therapies, a deeper and more specific consideration of potential treatment targets in the nervous system is necessary. In this work, we have re-examined the neuropathology of FRDA, recognizing new issues superimposed on classical findings, and dissected the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) aspects of the disease and the affected cell types. Understanding the temporal course of neuropathological changes is needed to identify areas of modifiable disease progression and the CNS and PNS locations that can be targeted at different time points. As most major targets of long-term therapy are in the CNS, this review uses multiple tools for evaluation of the importance of specific CNS locations as targets. In addition to clinical observations, the conceptualizations in this study include physiological, pathological, and imaging approaches, and animal models. We believe that this review, through analysis of a more complete set of data derived from multiple techniques, provides a comprehensive summary of therapeutic targets in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian H Harding
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David R Lynch
- Division of Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Arnulf H Koeppen
- Research, Neurology, and Pathology Services, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Massimo Pandolfo
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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27
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Nethisinghe S, Kesavan M, Ging H, Labrum R, Polke JM, Islam S, Garcia-Moreno H, Callaghan MF, Cavalcanti F, Pook MA, Giunti P. Interruptions of the FXN GAA Repeat Tract Delay the Age at Onset of Friedreich's Ataxia in a Location Dependent Manner. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7507. [PMID: 34299126 PMCID: PMC8307455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a comparatively rare autosomal recessive neurological disorder primarily caused by the homozygous expansion of a GAA trinucleotide repeat in intron 1 of the FXN gene. The repeat expansion causes gene silencing that results in deficiency of the frataxin protein leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and cell death. The GAA repeat tract in some cases may be impure with sequence variations called interruptions. It has previously been observed that large interruptions of the GAA repeat tract, determined by abnormal MboII digestion, are very rare. Here we have used triplet repeat primed PCR (TP PCR) assays to identify small interruptions at the 5' and 3' ends of the GAA repeat tract through alterations in the electropherogram trace signal. We found that contrary to large interruptions, small interruptions are more common, with 3' interruptions being most frequent. Based on detection of interruptions by TP PCR assay, the patient cohort (n = 101) was stratified into four groups: 5' interruption, 3' interruption, both 5' and 3' interruptions or lacking interruption. Those patients with 3' interruptions were associated with shorter GAA1 repeat tracts and later ages at disease onset. The age at disease onset was modelled by a group-specific exponential decay model. Based on this modelling, a 3' interruption is predicted to delay disease onset by approximately 9 years relative to those lacking 5' and 3' interruptions. This highlights the key role of interruptions at the 3' end of the GAA repeat tract in modulating the disease phenotype and its impact on prognosis for the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suran Nethisinghe
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (M.K.); (H.G.); (H.G.-M.)
| | - Maheswaran Kesavan
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (M.K.); (H.G.); (H.G.-M.)
| | - Heather Ging
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (M.K.); (H.G.); (H.G.-M.)
| | - Robyn Labrum
- Neurogenetics Service, Rare and Inherited Disease Laboratory, London North Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3BH, UK; (R.L.); (J.M.P.)
| | - James M. Polke
- Neurogenetics Service, Rare and Inherited Disease Laboratory, London North Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3BH, UK; (R.L.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Saiful Islam
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK;
| | - Hector Garcia-Moreno
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (M.K.); (H.G.); (H.G.-M.)
| | - Martina F. Callaghan
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK;
| | - Francesca Cavalcanti
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), Italian National Research Council (CNR), 87050 Mangone, Italy;
| | - Mark A. Pook
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK;
- Synthetic Biology Theme, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Paola Giunti
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (M.K.); (H.G.); (H.G.-M.)
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28
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Campbell CJ, Pall AE, Naik AR, Thompson LN, Stemmler TL. Molecular Details of the Frataxin-Scaffold Interaction during Mitochondrial Fe-S Cluster Assembly. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6006. [PMID: 34199378 PMCID: PMC8199681 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron-sulfur clusters are essential to almost every life form and utilized for their unique structural and redox-targeted activities within cells during many cellular pathways. Although there are three different Fe-S cluster assembly pathways in prokaryotes (the NIF, SUF and ISC pathways) and two in eukaryotes (CIA and ISC pathways), the iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) pathway serves as the central mechanism for providing 2Fe-2S clusters, directly and indirectly, throughout the entire cell in eukaryotes. Proteins central to the eukaryotic ISC cluster assembly complex include the cysteine desulfurase, a cysteine desulfurase accessory protein, the acyl carrier protein, the scaffold protein and frataxin (in humans, NFS1, ISD11, ACP, ISCU and FXN, respectively). Recent molecular details of this complex (labeled NIAUF from the first letter from each ISC protein outlined earlier), which exists as a dimeric pentamer, have provided real structural insight into how these partner proteins arrange themselves around the cysteine desulfurase, the core dimer of the (NIAUF)2 complex. In this review, we focus on both frataxin and the scaffold within the human, fly and yeast model systems to provide a better understanding of the biophysical characteristics of each protein alone and within the FXN/ISCU complex as it exists within the larger NIAUF construct. These details support a complex dynamic interaction between the FXN and ISCU proteins when both are part of the NIAUF complex and this provides additional insight into the coordinated mechanism of Fe-S cluster assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Timothy L. Stemmler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (C.J.C.); (A.E.P.); (A.R.N.); (L.N.T.)
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Napierala JS, Rajapakshe K, Clark A, Chen YY, Huang S, Mesaros C, Xu P, Blair IA, Hauser LA, Farmer J, Lynch DR, Edwards DP, Coarfa C, Napierala M. Reverse Phase Protein Array Reveals Correlation of Retinoic Acid Metabolism With Cardiomyopathy in Friedreich's Ataxia. Mol Cell Proteomics 2021; 20:100094. [PMID: 33991687 PMCID: PMC8214145 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2021.100094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying biomarkers is important for assessment of disease progression, prediction of symptom development, and determination of treatment effectiveness. While unbiased analyses of differential gene expression using next-generation sequencing methods are now routinely conducted, proteomics studies are more challenging because of traditional methods predominantly being low throughput and offering a limited dynamic range for simultaneous detection of hundreds of proteins that drastically differ in their intracellular abundance. We utilized a sensitive and high-throughput proteomic technique, reverse phase protein array (RPPA), to attain protein expression profiles of primary fibroblasts obtained from patients with Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) and unaffected controls (CTRLs). The RPPA was designed to detect 217 proteins or phosphorylated proteins by individual antibody, and the specificity of each antibody was validated prior to the experiment. Among 62 fibroblast samples (44 FRDA and 18 CTRLs) analyzed, 30 proteins/phosphoproteins were significantly changed in FRDA fibroblasts compared with CTRL cells (p < 0.05), mostly representing signaling molecules and metabolic enzymes. As expected, frataxin was significantly downregulated in FRDA samples, thus serving as an internal CTRL for assay integrity. Extensive bioinformatics analyses were conducted to correlate differentially expressed proteins with critical disease parameters (e.g., selected symptoms, age of onset, guanine-adenine-adenine sizes, frataxin levels, and Functional Assessment Rating Scale scores). Members of the integrin family of proteins specifically associated with hearing loss in FRDA. Also, RPPA data, combined with results of transcriptome profiling, uncovered defects in the retinoic acid metabolism pathway in FRDA samples. Moreover, expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1 member A3 differed significantly between cardiomyopathy-positive and cardiomyopathy-negative FRDA cohorts, demonstrating that metabolites such as retinol, retinal, or retinoic acid could become potential predictive biomarkers of cardiac presentation in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill S Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
| | - Kimal Rajapakshe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Amanda Clark
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Yu-Yun Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Shixia Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Clementina Mesaros
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Peining Xu
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ian A Blair
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lauren A Hauser
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jennifer Farmer
- Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David R Lynch
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dean P Edwards
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marek Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
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Johnson J, Mercado‐Ayón E, Clark E, Lynch D, Lin H. Drp1-dependent peptide reverse mitochondrial fragmentation, a homeostatic response in Friedreich ataxia. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00755. [PMID: 33951329 PMCID: PMC8099044 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia is an autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by the deficiency of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein frataxin. Loss of this protein impairs mitochondrial function. Mitochondria alter their morphology in response to various stresses; however, such alterations to morphology may be homeostatic or maladaptive depending upon the tissue and disease state. Numerous neurodegenerative diseases exhibit excessive mitochondrial fragmentation, and reversing this phenotype improves bioenergetics for diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction is a secondary feature of the disease. This paper demonstrates that frataxin deficiency causes excessive mitochondrial fragmentation that is dependent upon Drp1 activity in Friedreich ataxia cellular models. Drp1 inhibition by the small peptide TAT-P110 reverses mitochondrial fragmentation but also decreases ATP levels in frataxin-knockdown fibroblasts and FRDA patient fibroblasts, suggesting that fragmentation may provide a homeostatic pathway for maintaining cellular ATP levels. The cardiolipin-stabilizing compound SS-31 similarly reverses fragmentation through a Drp1-dependent mechanism, but it does not affect ATP levels. The combination of TAT-P110 and SS-31 does not affect FRDA patient fibroblasts differently from SS-31 alone, suggesting that the two drugs act through the same pathway but differ in their ability to alter mitochondrial homeostasis. In approaching potential therapeutic strategies for FRDA, an important criterion for compounds that improve bioenergetics should be to do so without impairing the homeostatic response of mitochondrial fragmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics and NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | | | - Elisia Clark
- Department of Pediatrics and NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - David Lynch
- Department of Pediatrics and NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
- Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Hong Lin
- Department of Pediatrics and NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
- Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
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Fu X, Eggert M, Yoo S, Patel N, Zhong J, Steinke I, Govindarajulu M, Turumtay EA, Mouli S, Panizzi P, Beyers R, Denney T, Arnold R, Amin RH. The Cardioprotective Mechanism of Phenylaminoethyl Selenides (PAESe) Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity Involves Frataxin. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:574656. [PMID: 33912028 PMCID: PMC8072348 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.574656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline cancer chemotherapeutic that exhibits cumulative dose-limiting cardiotoxicity and limits its clinical utility. DOX treatment results in the development of morbid cardiac hypertrophy that progresses to congestive heart failure and death. Recent evidence suggests that during the development of DOX mediated cardiac hypertrophy, mitochondrial energetics are severely compromised, thus priming the cardiomyocyte for failure. To mitigate cumulative dose (5 mg/kg, QIW x 4 weeks with 2 weeks recovery) dependent DOX, mediated cardiac hypertrophy, we applied an orally active selenium based compound termed phenylaminoethyl selenides (PAESe) (QIW 10 mg/kg x 5) to our animal model and observed that PAESe attenuates DOX-mediated cardiac hypertrophy in athymic mice, as observed by MRI analysis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that DOX impedes the stability of the iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis protein Frataxin (FXN) (0.5 fold), resulting in enhanced mitochondrial free iron accumulation (2.5 fold) and reduced aconitase activity (0.4 fold). Our findings further indicate that PAESe prevented the reduction of FXN levels and the ensuing elevation of mitochondrial free iron levels. PAESe has been shown to have anti-oxidative properties in part, by regeneration of glutathione levels. Therefore, we observed that PAESe can mitigate DOX mediated cardiac hypertrophy by enhancing glutathione activity (0.4 fold) and inhibiting ROS formation (1.8 fold). Lastly, we observed that DOX significantly reduced cellular respiration (basal (5%) and uncoupled (10%)) in H9C2 cardiomyoblasts and that PAESe protects against the DOX-mediated attenuation of cellular respiration. In conclusion, the current study determined the protective mechanism of PAESe against DOX mediated myocardial damage and that FXN is implicitly involved in DOX-mediated cardiotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Fu
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | - Mathew Eggert
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | - Sieun Yoo
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Nikhil Patel
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | - Juming Zhong
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Ian Steinke
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | - Manoj Govindarajulu
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | | | - Shravanthi Mouli
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | - Peter Panizzi
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | - Ronald Beyers
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.,Auburn University M.R.I. Research Center, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Thomas Denney
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.,Auburn University M.R.I. Research Center, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Robert Arnold
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
| | - Rajesh H Amin
- Department of Drug, Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Alabama, AL, United States
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Britti E, Delaspre F, Sanz-Alcázar A, Medina-Carbonero M, Llovera M, Purroy R, Mincheva-Tasheva S, Tamarit J, Ros J. Calcitriol increases frataxin levels and restores mitochondrial function in cell models of Friedreich Ataxia. Biochem J 2021; 478:1-20. [PMID: 33305808 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the deficiency of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein. In primary cultures of dorsal root ganglia neurons, we showed that frataxin depletion resulted in decreased levels of the mitochondrial calcium exchanger NCLX, neurite degeneration and apoptotic cell death. Here, we describe that frataxin-deficient dorsal root ganglia neurons display low levels of ferredoxin 1 (FDX1), a mitochondrial Fe/S cluster-containing protein that interacts with frataxin and, interestingly, is essential for the synthesis of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D. We provide data that calcitriol supplementation, used at nanomolar concentrations, is able to reverse the molecular and cellular markers altered in DRG neurons. Calcitriol is able to recover both FDX1 and NCLX levels and restores mitochondrial membrane potential indicating an overall mitochondrial function improvement. Accordingly, reduction in apoptotic markers and neurite degeneration was observed and, as a result, cell survival was also recovered. All these beneficial effects would be explained by the finding that calcitriol is able to increase the mature frataxin levels in both, frataxin-deficient DRG neurons and cardiomyocytes; remarkably, this increase also occurs in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from FA patients. In conclusion, these results provide molecular bases to consider calcitriol for an easy and affordable therapeutic approach for FA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Britti
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Fabien Delaspre
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - A Sanz-Alcázar
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Marta Medina-Carbonero
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Marta Llovera
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Rosa Purroy
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Stefka Mincheva-Tasheva
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Jordi Tamarit
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Joaquim Ros
- Dept. Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat de Lleida, IRBLleida, AV. Rovira Roure 80, 25198 Lleida, Spain
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Vilema-Enríquez G, Quinlan R, Kilfeather P, Mazzone R, Saqlain S, Del Molino Del Barrio I, Donato A, Corda G, Li F, Vedadi M, Németh AH, Brennan PE, Wade-Martins R. Inhibition of the SUV4-20 H1 histone methyltransferase increases frataxin expression in Friedreich's ataxia patient cells. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:17973-17985. [PMID: 33028632 PMCID: PMC7939392 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.015533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms of reduced frataxin (FXN) expression in Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) are linked to epigenetic modification of the FXN locus caused by the disease-associated GAA expansion. Here, we identify that SUV4-20 histone methyltransferases, specifically SUV4-20 H1, play an important role in the regulation of FXN expression and represent a novel therapeutic target. Using a human FXN-GAA-Luciferase repeat expansion genomic DNA reporter model of FRDA, we screened the Structural Genomics Consortium epigenetic probe collection. We found that pharmacological inhibition of the SUV4-20 methyltransferases by the tool compound A-196 increased the expression of FXN by ∼1.5-fold in the reporter cell line. In several FRDA cell lines and patient-derived primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells, A-196 increased FXN expression by up to 2-fold, an effect not seen in WT cells. SUV4-20 inhibition was accompanied by a reduction in H4K20me2 and H4K20me3 and an increase in H4K20me1, but only modest (1.4-7.8%) perturbation in genome-wide expression was observed. Finally, based on the structural activity relationship and crystal structure of A-196, novel small molecule A-196 analogs were synthesized and shown to give a 20-fold increase in potency for increasing FXN expression. Overall, our results suggest that histone methylation is important in the regulation of FXN expression and highlight SUV4-20 H1 as a potential novel therapeutic target for FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Quinlan
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Kilfeather
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roberta Mazzone
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Saba Saqlain
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Annalidia Donato
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriele Corda
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fengling Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Masoud Vedadi
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea H Németh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul E Brennan
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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Doni D, Passerini L, Audran G, Marque SRA, Schulz M, Santos J, Costantini P, Bortolus M, Carbonera D. Effects of Fe 2+/Fe 3+ Binding to Human Frataxin and Its D122Y Variant, as Revealed by Site-Directed Spin Labeling (SDSL) EPR Complemented by Fluorescence and Circular Dichroism Spectroscopies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9619. [PMID: 33348670 PMCID: PMC7766144 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Frataxin is a highly conserved protein whose deficiency results in the neurodegenerative disease Friederich's ataxia. Frataxin's actual physiological function has been debated for a long time without reaching a general agreement; however, it is commonly accepted that the protein is involved in the biosynthetic iron-sulphur cluster (ISC) machinery, and several authors have pointed out that it also participates in iron homeostasis. In this work, we use site-directed spin labeling coupled to electron paramagnetic resonance (SDSL EPR) to add new information on the effects of ferric and ferrous iron binding on the properties of human frataxin in vitro. Using SDSL EPR and relating the results to fluorescence experiments commonly performed to study iron binding to FXN, we produced evidence that ferric iron causes reversible aggregation without preferred interfaces in a concentration-dependent fashion, starting at relatively low concentrations (micromolar range), whereas ferrous iron binds without inducing aggregation. Moreover, our experiments show that the ferrous binding does not lead to changes of protein conformation. The data reported in this study reveal that the currently reported binding stoichiometries should be taken with caution. The use of a spin label resistant to reduction, as well as the comparison of the binding effect of Fe2+ in wild type and in the pathological D122Y variant of frataxin, allowed us to characterize the Fe2+ binding properties of different protein sites and highlight the effect of the D122Y substitution on the surrounding residues. We suggest that both Fe2+ and Fe3+ might play a relevant role in the context of the proposed FXN physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Doni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.D.); (P.C.)
| | - Leonardo Passerini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.P.); (D.C.)
| | - Gérard Audran
- Institut de Chimie Radicalaire, Aix Marseille Universitè, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, Case 551, Ave Escadrille Normandie Niemen, CEDEX 20, 13397 Marseille, France; (G.A.); (S.R.A.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Sylvain R. A. Marque
- Institut de Chimie Radicalaire, Aix Marseille Universitè, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, Case 551, Ave Escadrille Normandie Niemen, CEDEX 20, 13397 Marseille, France; (G.A.); (S.R.A.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Marvin Schulz
- Institut de Chimie Radicalaire, Aix Marseille Universitè, CNRS, ICR, UMR 7273, Case 551, Ave Escadrille Normandie Niemen, CEDEX 20, 13397 Marseille, France; (G.A.); (S.R.A.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Javier Santos
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biomedicina (iB3-UBA), Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160—Ciudad Universitaria, 1428EGA CONICET, Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires C1425FQB, Argentina;
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas Dr. Alejandro Paladini, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Junín 956, Buenos Aires 1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Paola Costantini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35131 Padova, Italy; (D.D.); (P.C.)
| | - Marco Bortolus
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.P.); (D.C.)
| | - Donatella Carbonera
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.P.); (D.C.)
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Smith FM, Kosman DJ. Molecular Defects in Friedreich's Ataxia: Convergence of Oxidative Stress and Cytoskeletal Abnormalities. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:569293. [PMID: 33263002 PMCID: PMC7686857 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.569293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is a multi-faceted disease characterized by progressive sensory–motor loss, neurodegeneration, brain iron accumulation, and eventual death by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. FRDA follows loss of frataxin (FXN), a mitochondrial chaperone protein required for incorporation of iron into iron–sulfur cluster and heme precursors. After the discovery of the molecular basis of FRDA in 1996, over two decades of research have been dedicated to understanding the temporal manifestations of disease both at the whole body and molecular level. Early research indicated strong cellular iron dysregulation in both human and yeast models followed by onset of oxidative stress. Since then, the pathophysiology due to dysregulation of intracellular iron chaperoning has become central in FRDA relative to antioxidant defense and run-down in energy metabolism. At the same time, limited consideration has been given to changes in cytoskeletal organization, which was one of the first molecular defects noted. These alterations include both post-translational oxidative glutathionylation of actin monomers and differential DNA processing of a cytoskeletal regulator PIP5K1β. Currently unknown in respect to FRDA but well understood in the context of FXN-deficient cell physiology is the resulting impact on the cytoskeleton; this disassembly of actin filaments has a particularly profound effect on cell–cell junctions characteristic of barrier cells. With respect to a neurodegenerative disorder such as FRDA, this cytoskeletal and tight junction breakdown in the brain microvascular endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier is likely a component of disease etiology. This review serves to outline a brief history of this research and hones in on pathway dysregulation downstream of iron-related pathology in FRDA related to actin dynamics. The review presented here was not written with the intent of being exhaustive, but to instead urge the reader to consider the essentiality of the cytoskeleton and appreciate the limited knowledge on FRDA-related cytoskeletal dysfunction as a result of oxidative stress. The review examines previous hypotheses of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) in FRDA with a specific biochemical focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances M Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Daniel J Kosman
- Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Turchi R, Faraonio R, Lettieri-Barbato D, Aquilano K. An Overview of the Ferroptosis Hallmarks in Friedreich's Ataxia. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1489. [PMID: 33126466 PMCID: PMC7693407 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by early mortality due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. FRDA is caused by reduced levels of frataxin (FXN), a mitochondrial protein involved in the synthesis of iron-sulphur clusters, leading to iron accumulation at the mitochondrial level, uncontrolled production of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. These features are also common to ferroptosis, an iron-mediated type of cell death triggered by accumulation of lipoperoxides with distinct morphological and molecular characteristics with respect to other known cell deaths. SCOPE OF REVIEW Even though ferroptosis has been associated with various neurodegenerative diseases including FRDA, the mechanisms leading to disease onset/progression have not been demonstrated yet. We describe the molecular alterations occurring in FRDA that overlap with those characterizing ferroptosis. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The study of ferroptotic pathways is necessary for the understanding of FRDA pathogenesis, and anti-ferroptotic drugs could be envisaged as therapeutic strategies to cure FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Turchi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Raffaella Faraonio
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Daniele Lettieri-Barbato
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Aquilano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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Zhang YC, Wan GJ, Wang WH, Li Y, Yu Y, Zhang YX, Chen FJ, Pan WD. Enhancement of the geomagnetic field reduces the phototaxis of rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens associated with frataxin down-regulation. Insect Sci 2020; 27:1043-1052. [PMID: 31389658 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The geomagnetic field (GMF) is an environmental cue that provides directional information for animals. The intensity of GMF is varied over space and time. Variations in the GMF intensity affect the navigation of animals and their physiology. In this study, the phototaxis of the migratory insect rice planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (N. lugens) and frataxin in N. lugens (Nl-fh), which is a mitochondrial protein required for cellular iron homeostasis and iron-sulfur cluster assembly, were investigated by using different intensities of magnetic field. From the results, individuals of N. lugens showed decreased phototaxis when reared and tested in a behavioral arena under a strong magnetic field. Besides the reduction in performance, an accompanying effect of the strong magnetic field condition was a reduced level of Nl-fh-messenger RNA, and a Nl-fh knockdown indeed impaired the phototactic behavior in a tested sample of insects. This leads to the conclusion that the expression of frataxin is dependent on the strength of the surrounding magnetic field and that functional frataxin facilitates phototactic behavior in N. lugens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chao Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gui-Jun Wan
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Hong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Xia Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fa-Jun Chen
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Dong Pan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Armas AM, Balparda M, Terenzi A, Busi MV, Pagani MA, Gomez-Casati DF. Iron-Sulfur Cluster Complex Assembly in the Mitochondria of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants (Basel) 2020; 9:plants9091171. [PMID: 32917022 PMCID: PMC7570111 DOI: 10.3390/plants9091171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In plants, the cysteine desulfurase (AtNFS1) and frataxin (AtFH) are involved in the formation of Fe-S groups in mitochondria, specifically, in Fe and sulfur loading onto scaffold proteins, and the subsequent formation of the mature Fe-S cluster. We found that the small mitochondrial chaperone, AtISD11, and AtFH are positive regulators for AtNFS1 activity in Arabidopsis. Moreover, when the three proteins were incubated together, a stronger attenuation of the Fenton reaction was observed compared to that observed with AtFH alone. Using pull-down assays, we found that these three proteins physically interact, and sequence alignment and docking studies showed that several amino acid residues reported as critical for the interaction of their human homologous are conserved. Our results suggest that AtFH, AtNFS1 and AtISD11 form a multiprotein complex that could be involved in different stages of the iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) pathway in plant mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro M. Armas
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario 2000, Argentina;
| | - Manuel Balparda
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.); (A.T.); (M.V.B.); (M.A.P.)
| | - Agustina Terenzi
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.); (A.T.); (M.V.B.); (M.A.P.)
| | - Maria V. Busi
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.); (A.T.); (M.V.B.); (M.A.P.)
| | - Maria A. Pagani
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.); (A.T.); (M.V.B.); (M.A.P.)
| | - Diego F. Gomez-Casati
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (M.B.); (A.T.); (M.V.B.); (M.A.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +54-341-4391955 (ext. 113)
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Belbellaa B, Reutenauer L, Messaddeq N, Monassier L, Puccio H. High Levels of Frataxin Overexpression Lead to Mitochondrial and Cardiac Toxicity in Mouse Models. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 19:120-138. [PMID: 33209958 PMCID: PMC7648087 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FA) is currently an incurable inherited mitochondrial disease caused by reduced levels of frataxin (FXN). Cardiac dysfunction is the main cause of premature death in FA. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy constitutes a promising approach for FA, as demonstrated in cardiac and neurological mouse models. While the minimal therapeutic level of FXN protein to be restored and biodistribution have recently been defined for the heart, it is unclear if FXN overexpression could be harmful. Indeed, depending on the vector delivery route and dose administered, the resulting FXN protein level could reach very high levels in the heart, cerebellum, or off-target organs such as the liver. The present study demonstrates safety of FXN cardiac overexpression up to 9-fold the normal endogenous level but significant toxicity to the mitochondria and heart above 20-fold. We show gradual severity with increasing FXN overexpression, ranging from subclinical cardiotoxicity to left ventricle dysfunction. This appears to be driven by impairment of the mitochondria respiratory chain and ultrastructure, which leads to cardiomyocyte subcellular disorganization, cell death, and fibrosis. Overall, this study underlines the need, during the development of gene therapy approaches, to consider appropriate vector expression level, long-term safety, and biomarkers to monitor such events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahim Belbellaa
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch 67404, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, Illkirch 67404, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch 67404, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch 67404, France
| | - Laurence Reutenauer
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch 67404, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, Illkirch 67404, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch 67404, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch 67404, France
| | - Nadia Messaddeq
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch 67404, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, Illkirch 67404, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch 67404, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch 67404, France
| | - Laurent Monassier
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie NeuroCardiovasculaire EA7296, Faculté de Médecine, Strasbourg 67085, France
| | - Hélène Puccio
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch 67404, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, Illkirch 67404, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch 67404, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch 67404, France
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40
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Li Y, Lou W, Grevel A, Böttinger L, Liang Z, Ji J, Patil VA, Liu J, Ye C, Hüttemann M, Becker T, Greenberg ML. Cardiolipin-deficient cells have decreased levels of the iron-sulfur biogenesis protein frataxin. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:11928-11937. [PMID: 32636300 PMCID: PMC7450130 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiolipin (CL) is the signature phospholipid of mitochondrial membranes, where it is synthesized locally and plays an important role in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Previous studies in the yeast model have indicated that CL is required for optimal iron homeostasis, which is disrupted by a mechanism not yet determined in the yeast CL mutant, crd1Δ. This finding has implications for the severe genetic disorder, Barth syndrome (BTHS), in which CL metabolism is perturbed because of mutations in the CL-remodeling enzyme, tafazzin. Here, we investigate the effects of tafazzin deficiency on iron homeostasis in the mouse myoblast model of BTHS tafazzin knockout (TAZ-KO) cells. Similarly to CL-deficient yeast cells, TAZ-KO cells exhibited elevated sensitivity to iron, as well as to H2O2, which was alleviated by the iron chelator deferoxamine. TAZ-KO cells exhibited increased expression of the iron exporter ferroportin and decreased expression of the iron importer transferrin receptor, likely reflecting a regulatory response to elevated mitochondrial iron. Reduced activities of mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster enzymes suggested that the mechanism underlying perturbation of iron homeostasis was defective iron-sulfur biogenesis. We observed decreased levels of Yfh1/frataxin, an essential component of the iron-sulfur biogenesis machinery, in mitochondria from TAZ-KO mouse cells and in CL-deleted yeast crd1Δ cells, indicating that the role of CL in iron-sulfur biogenesis is highly conserved. Yeast crd1Δ cells exhibited decreased processing of the Yfh1 precursor upon import, which likely contributes to the iron homeostasis defects. Implications for understanding the pathogenesis of BTHS are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Wenjia Lou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Alexander Grevel
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lena Böttinger
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Zhuqing Liang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jiajia Ji
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Vinay A Patil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jenney Liu
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Cunqi Ye
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Maik Hüttemann
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Thomas Becker
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS Centre for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Miriam L Greenberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Sherzai M, Valle A, Perry N, Kalef-Ezra E, Al-Mahdawi S, Pook M, Anjomani Virmouni S. HMTase Inhibitors as a Potential Epigenetic-Based Therapeutic Approach for Friedreich's Ataxia. Front Genet 2020; 11:584. [PMID: 32582297 PMCID: PMC7291394 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a homozygous GAA repeat expansion mutation in intron 1 of the frataxin gene (FXN), which instigates reduced transcription. As a consequence, reduced levels of frataxin protein lead to mitochondrial iron accumulation, oxidative stress, and ultimately cell death; particularly in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons and the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum. In addition to neurological disability, FRDA is associated with cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, and skeletal deformities. Currently there is no effective treatment for FRDA and patients die prematurely. Recent findings suggest that abnormal GAA expansion plays a role in histone modification, subjecting the FXN gene to heterochromatin silencing. Therefore, as an epigenetic-based therapy, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of two histone methyltransferase (HMTase) inhibitor compounds, BIX0194 (G9a-inhibitor) and GSK126 (EZH2-inhibitor), to specifically target and reduce H3K9me2/3 and H3K27me3 levels, respectively, in FRDA fibroblasts. We show that a combination treatment of BIX0194 and GSK126, significantly increased FXN gene expression levels and reduced the repressive histone marks. However, no increase in frataxin protein levels was observed. Nevertheless, our results are still promising and may encourage to investigate HMTase inhibitors with other synergistic epigenetic-based therapies for further preliminary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mursal Sherzai
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Adamo Valle
- Energy Metabolism and Nutrition, Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS) and Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center for Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicholas Perry
- Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ester Kalef-Ezra
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sahar Al-Mahdawi
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Pook
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Anjomani Virmouni
- Ataxia Research Group, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
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42
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Abstract
Mitochondria are essential in most eukaryotes and are involved in numerous biological functions including ATP production, cofactor biosyntheses, apoptosis, lipid synthesis, and steroid metabolism. Work over the past two decades has uncovered the biogenesis of cellular iron-sulfur (Fe/S) proteins as the essential and minimal function of mitochondria. This process is catalyzed by the bacteria-derived iron-sulfur cluster assembly (ISC) machinery and has been dissected into three major steps: de novo synthesis of a [2Fe-2S] cluster on a scaffold protein; Hsp70 chaperone-mediated trafficking of the cluster and insertion into [2Fe-2S] target apoproteins; and catalytic conversion of the [2Fe-2S] into a [4Fe-4S] cluster and subsequent insertion into recipient apoproteins. ISC components of the first two steps are also required for biogenesis of numerous essential cytosolic and nuclear Fe/S proteins, explaining the essentiality of mitochondria. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying the ISC protein-mediated maturation of mitochondrial Fe/S proteins and the importance for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Lill
- Institut für Zytobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany;
- SYNMIKRO Zentrum für synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Sven-A Freibert
- Institut für Zytobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany;
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Fernández-Frías I, Pérez-Luz S, Díaz-Nido J. Analysis of Putative Epigenetic Regulatory Elements in the FXN Genomic Locus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3410. [PMID: 32408537 PMCID: PMC7279236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich´s ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by an abnormally expanded Guanine-Adenine-Adenine (GAA) repeat sequence within the first intron of the frataxin gene (FXN). The molecular mechanisms associated with FRDA are still poorly understood and most studies on FXN gene regulation have been focused on the region around the minimal promoter and the region in which triplet expansion occurs. Nevertheless, since there could be more epigenetic changes involved in the reduced levels of FXN transcripts, the aim of this study was to obtain a more detailed view of the possible regulatory elements by analyzing data from ENCODE and Roadmap consortia databases. This bioinformatic analysis indicated new putative regulatory regions within the FXN genomic locus, including exons, introns, and upstream and downstream regions. Moreover, the region next to the end of intron 4 is of special interest, since the enhancer signals in FRDA-affected tissues are weak or absent in this region, whilst they are strong in the rest of the analyzed tissues. Therefore, these results suggest that there could be a direct relationship between the absence of enhancer sequences in this specific region and their predisposition to be affected in this pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Fernández-Frías
- Departamento Biología Molecular and Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (UAM-CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (I.F.-F.); (J.D.-N.)
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, 28222 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Pérez-Luz
- Departamento Biología Molecular and Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (UAM-CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (I.F.-F.); (J.D.-N.)
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, 28222 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Díaz-Nido
- Departamento Biología Molecular and Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (UAM-CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (I.F.-F.); (J.D.-N.)
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, 28222 Madrid, Spain
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Rocca CJ, Rainaldi JN, Sharma J, Shi Y, Haquang JH, Luebeck J, Mali P, Cherqui S. CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing of Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Patients with Friedreich's Ataxia. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 17:1026-1036. [PMID: 32462051 PMCID: PMC7240056 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of GAA repeats in intron 1 of the frataxin (FXN) gene, leading to significant decreased expression of frataxin, a mitochondrial iron-binding protein. We previously reported that syngeneic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) transplantation prevented neurodegeneration in the FRDA mouse model YG8R. We showed that the mechanism of rescue was mediated by the transfer of the functional frataxin from HSPC-derived microglia/macrophage cells to neurons/myocytes. In this study, we report the first step toward an autologous HSPC transplantation using the CRISPR-Cas9 system for FRDA. We first identified a pair of CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) that efficiently removes the GAA expansions in human FRDA lymphoblasts, restoring the non-pathologic level of frataxin expression and normalizing mitochondrial activity. We also optimized the gene-editing approach in HSPCs isolated from healthy and FRDA patients’ peripheral blood and demonstrated normal hematopoiesis of gene-edited cells in vitro and in vivo. The procedure did not induce cellular toxic effect or major off-target events, but a p53-mediated cell proliferation delay was observed in the gene-edited cells. This study provides the foundation for the clinical translation of autologous transplantation of gene-corrected HSPCs for FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine J Rocca
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joseph N Rainaldi
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jay Sharma
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yanmeng Shi
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joseph H Haquang
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jens Luebeck
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Stephanie Cherqui
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Maio N, Rouault TA. Outlining the Complex Pathway of Mammalian Fe-S Cluster Biogenesis. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:411-26. [PMID: 32311335 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters (ISCs) are ubiquitous cofactors essential to numerous fundamental cellular processes. Assembly of ISCs and their insertion into apoproteins involves the function of complex cellular machineries that operate in parallel in the mitochondrial and cytosolic/nuclear compartments of mammalian cells. The spectrum of diseases caused by inherited defects in genes that encode the Fe-S assembly proteins has recently expanded to include multiple rare human diseases, which manifest distinctive combinations and severities of global and tissue-specific impairments. In this review, we provide an overview of our understanding of ISC biogenesis in mammalian cells, discuss recent work that has shed light on the molecular interactions that govern ISC assembly, and focus on human diseases caused by failures of the biogenesis pathway.
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La Rosa P, Bertini ES, Piemonte F. The NRF2 Signaling Network Defines Clinical Biomarkers and Therapeutic Opportunity in Friedreich's Ataxia. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E916. [PMID: 32019240 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a trinucleotide repeats expansion neurodegenerative disorder, for which no cure or approved therapies are present. In most cases, GAA trinucleotide repetitions in the first intron of the FXN gene are the genetic trigger of FA, determining a strong reduction of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein involved in iron homeostasis. Frataxin depletion impairs iron–sulfur cluster biosynthesis and determines iron accumulation in the mitochondria. Mounting evidence suggests that these defects increase oxidative stress susceptibility and reactive oxygen species production in FA, where the pathologic picture is worsened by a defective regulation of the expression and signaling pathway modulation of the transcription factor NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2), one of the fundamental mediators of the cellular antioxidant response. NRF2 protein downregulation and impairment of its nuclear translocation can compromise the adequate cellular response to the frataxin depletion-dependent redox imbalance. As NRF2 stability, expression, and activation can be modulated by diverse natural and synthetic compounds, efforts have been made in recent years to understand if regulating NRF2 signaling might ameliorate the pathologic defects in FA. Here we provide an analysis of the pharmaceutical interventions aimed at restoring the NRF2 signaling network in FA, elucidating specific biomarkers useful for monitoring therapeutic effectiveness, and developing new therapeutic tools.
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47
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Tatsch E, De Carvalho JAM, Bollick YS, Duarte T, Duarte MMMF, Vaucher RA, Premaor MO, Comim FV, Moresco RN. Low frataxin mRNA expression is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2020; 36:e3208. [PMID: 31343823 DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.3208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mitochondrial protein frataxin is involved in iron metabolism, as well as regulation of oxidative stress. To elucidate the association of frataxin with the pathophysiology of diabetes, we evaluated the mRNA levels of frataxin in leukocytes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition, we investigated the relation between frataxin mRNA levels, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress biomarkers. METHODS A study including 150 subjects (115 patients with T2D and 35 healthy subjects) was performed to evaluate the frataxin mRNA levels in leukocytes. We assessed the relation between frataxin and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), total oxidation status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and serum iron. RESULTS The frataxin mRNA levels in the T2D group were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects. It was also demonstrated that T2D patients with frataxin mRNA levels in the lowest quartile had significantly elevated levels of serum iron, TOS, and inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6, while TAC levels were significantly lower in this quartile when compared with the upper quartile. CONCLUSIONS Our findings showed that T2D patients with low frataxin mRNA levels showed a high degree of inflammation and oxidative stress. It is speculated that frataxin deficiency in T2D patients can contribute to the imbalance in mitochondrial iron homeostasis leading to the acceleration of oxidative stress and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etiane Tatsch
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - José A M De Carvalho
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
- Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, University Hospital, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Yãnaí S Bollick
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Thiago Duarte
- Laboratory of Biogenomic, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Marta M M F Duarte
- Department of Health Sciences, Lutheran University of Brazil, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo A Vaucher
- Center of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Melissa O Premaor
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Fabio V Comim
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael N Moresco
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
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Petrillo S, D'Amico J, La Rosa P, Bertini ES, Piemonte F. Targeting NRF2 for the Treatment of Friedreich's Ataxia: A Comparison among Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5211. [PMID: 31640150 PMCID: PMC6829337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
NRF2 (Nuclear factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2) signaling is impaired in Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA), an autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive nervous system damage and degeneration of nerve fibers in the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The loss of frataxin in patients results in iron sulfur cluster deficiency and iron accumulation in the mitochondria, making FRDA a fatal and debilitating condition. There are no currently approved therapies for the treatment of FRDA and molecules able to activate NRF2 have the potential to induce clinical benefits in patients. In this study, we compared the efficacy of six redox-active drugs, some already adopted in clinical trials, targeting NRF2 activation and frataxin expression in fibroblasts obtained from skin biopsies of FRDA patients. All of these drugs consistently increased NRF2 expression, but differential profiles of NRF2 downstream genes were activated. The Sulforaphane and N-acetylcysteine were particularly effective on genes involved in preventing inflammation and maintaining glutathione homeostasis, the dimethyl fumarate, omaxevolone, and EPI-743 in counteracting toxic products accumulation, the idebenone in mitochondrial protection. This study may contribute to develop synergic therapies, based on a combination of treatment molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Petrillo
- Unit of Muscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Jessica D'Amico
- Unit of Muscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Piergiorgio La Rosa
- Unit of Muscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Enrico Silvio Bertini
- Unit of Muscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Fiorella Piemonte
- Unit of Muscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.
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49
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Shen X, Beasley S, Putman JN, Li Y, Prakash TP, Rigo F, Napierala M, Corey DR. Efficient electroporation of neuronal cells using synthetic oligonucleotides: identifying duplex RNA and antisense oligonucleotide activators of human frataxin expression. RNA 2019; 25:1118-1129. [PMID: 31151992 PMCID: PMC6800520 DOI: 10.1261/rna.071290.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide drugs are experiencing greater success in the clinic, encouraging the initiation of new projects. Resources are insufficient to develop every potentially important project, and persuasive experimental data using cell lines close to disease target tissue is needed to prioritize candidates. Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a devastating and currently incurable disease caused by insufficient expression of the enzyme frataxin (FXN). We have previously shown that synthetic nucleic acids can activate FXN expression in human patient-derived fibroblast cells. We chose to further test these compounds in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal progenitor cells (iPSC-NPCs). Here we describe methods to deliver oligonucleotides and duplex RNAs into iPSC-NPCs using electroporation. Activation of FXN expression is potent, easily reproducible, and potencies parallel those determined using patient-derived fibroblast cells. A duplex RNA and several antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with different combinations of 2'-methoxyethyl (2'-MOE), 2'-fluoro (2'-F), and constrained ethyl (cEt) were active, providing multiple starting points for further development and highlighting improved potency as an important goal for preclinical development. Our data support the conclusion that ASO-mediated activation of FXN is a feasible approach for treating FRDA and that electroporation is a robust method for introducing ASOs to modulate gene expressions in neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiulong Shen
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | | | - Jennifer N Putman
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Yanjie Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB Stem Cell Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
| | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California 92010, USA
| | - Marek Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB Stem Cell Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
| | - David R Corey
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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50
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La Rosa P, Russo M, D'Amico J, Petrillo S, Aquilano K, Lettieri-Barbato D, Turchi R, Bertini ES, Piemonte F. Nrf2 Induction Re-establishes a Proper Neuronal Differentiation Program in Friedreich's Ataxia Neural Stem Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:356. [PMID: 31417369 PMCID: PMC6685360 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [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: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Frataxin deficiency is the pathogenic cause of Friedreich’s Ataxia, an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the increase of oxidative stress and production of free radicals in the cell. Although the onset of the pathology occurs in the second decade of life, cognitive differences and defects in brain structure and functional activation are observed in patients, suggesting developmental defects to take place during fetal neurogenesis. Here, we describe impairments in proliferation, stemness potential and differentiation in neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from the embryonic cortex of the Frataxin Knockin/Knockout mouse, a disease animal model whose slow-evolving phenotype makes it suitable to study pre-symptomatic defects that may manifest before the clinical onset. We demonstrate that enhancing the expression and activity of the antioxidant response master regulator Nrf2 ameliorates the phenotypic defects observed in NSCs, re-establishing a proper differentiation program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piergiorgio La Rosa
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Russo
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Jessica D'Amico
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Petrillo
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Aquilano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Lettieri-Barbato
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Turchi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico S Bertini
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Piemonte
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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