Intracellular Lipid Accumulation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Accompanies Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Caused by Loss of the Co-chaperone DNAJC3.

Authors
Jennings, Matthew J 
Hathazi, Denisa 
Nguyen, Chi DL 
Münchberg, Ute 

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Abstract

Recessive mutations in DNAJC3, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident BiP co-chaperone, have been identified in patients with multisystemic neurodegeneration and diabetes mellitus. To further unravel these pathomechanisms, we employed a non-biased proteomic approach and identified dysregulation of several key cellular pathways, suggesting a pathophysiological interplay of perturbed lipid metabolism, mitochondrial bioenergetics, ER-Golgi function, and amyloid-beta processing. Further functional investigations in fibroblasts of patients with DNAJC3 mutations detected cellular accumulation of lipids and an increased sensitivity to cholesterol stress, which led to activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), alterations of the ER-Golgi machinery, and a defect of amyloid precursor protein. In line with the results of previous studies, we describe here alterations in mitochondrial morphology and function, as a major contributor to the DNAJC3 pathophysiology. Hence, we propose that the loss of DNAJC3 affects lipid/cholesterol homeostasis, leading to UPR activation, β-amyloid accumulation, and impairment of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

Publication Date
2021
Online Publication Date
2021-10-06
Acceptance Date
2021-09-02
Keywords
DNAJC3, cholesterol-stress, mitochondria, proteomics, unfolded protein response (UPR)
Journal Title
Front Cell Dev Biol
Journal ISSN
2296-634X
2296-634X
Volume Title
9
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/N025431/2)
MRC (MR/V009346/1)
Wellcome Trust (109915_A_15_Z)