Suppression of the novel ER protein Maxer by mutant ataxin-1 in Bergman glia contributes to non-cell-autonomous toxicity

EMBO J. 2010 Jul 21;29(14):2446-60. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2010.116. Epub 2010 Jun 8.

Abstract

Non-cell-autonomous effect of mutant proteins expressed in glia has been implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders, whereas molecules mediating the toxicity are currently not known. We identified a novel molecule named multiple alpha-helix protein located at ER (Maxer) downregulated by mutant ataxin-1 (Atx1) in Bergmann glia. Maxer is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein interacting with CDK5RAP3. Maxer anchors CDK5RAP3 to the ER and inhibits its function of Cyclin D1 transcription repression in the nucleus. The loss of Maxer eventually induces cell accumulation at G1 phase. It was also shown that mutant Atx1 represses Maxer and inhibits proliferation of Bergmann glia in vitro. Consistently, Bergmann glia are reduced in the cerebellum of mutant Atx1 knockin mice before onset. Glutamate-aspartate transporter reduction in Bergmann glia by mutant Atx1 and vulnerability of Purkinje cell to glutamate are both strengthened by Maxer knockdown in Bergmann glia, whereas Maxer overexpression rescues them. Collectively, these results suggest that the reduction of Maxer mediates functional deficiency of Bergmann glia, and might contribute to the non-cell-autonomous pathology of SCA1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Ataxin-1
  • Ataxins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / genetics
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins* / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins* / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology
  • Neuroglia / cytology
  • Neuroglia / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins* / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins* / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Substances

  • ATXN1 protein, human
  • Ataxin-1
  • Ataxins
  • Atxn1 protein, mouse
  • Atxn1 protein, rat
  • CDK5RAP3 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Slc1a3 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • multiple alpha-helix protein located at ER, rat