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Inhibition of the deubiquitinase USP8 corrects a Drosophila PINK1 model of mitochondria dysfunction.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

von Stockum, Sophia 
Sanchez-Martinez, Alvaro 
Corrà, Samantha 
Chakraborty, Joy 
Marchesan, Elena 

Abstract

Aberrant mitochondrial dynamics disrupts mitochondrial function and contributes to disease conditions. A targeted RNA interference screen for deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) affecting protein levels of multifunctional mitochondrial fusion protein Mitofusin (MFN) identified USP8 prominently influencing MFN levels. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of USP8 normalized the elevated MFN protein levels observed in PINK1 and Parkin-deficient models. This correlated with improved mitochondrial function, locomotor performance and life span, and prevented dopaminergic neurons loss in Drosophila PINK1 KO flies. We identified a novel target antagonizing pathologically elevated MFN levels, mitochondrial dysfunction, and dopaminergic neuron loss of a Drosophila model of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Cell Line, Dimethyl Sulfoxide, Dopamine, Dopaminergic Neurons, Down-Regulation, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Drosophila melanogaster, Gene Silencing, Longevity, Male, Membrane Proteins, Mitochondria, Parkinson Disease, Phenotype, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases, Signal Transduction, Transfection, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases

Journal Title

Life Science Alliance

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2575-1077
2575-1077

Volume Title

2

Publisher

Life Science Alliance
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00015/6)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00015/7)
his work was supported by grants from the Italian Ministry of Health “Ricerca Finalizzata” (GR-2011-02351151), Rita Levi Montalcini “Brain Gain” program, and Michael J Fox RRIA 2014 (Grant ID 9795) to E Ziviani and by ERC FP7-282280, FP7 CIG PCIG13-GA-2013-618697, and Italian Ministry of Research FIRB RBAP11Z3YA_005 to L Scorrano. AJ Whitworth is funded by MRC Core funding (MC_UU_00015/6).