Synaptotagmin-11 is a critical mediator of parkin-linked neurotoxicity and Parkinson's disease-like pathology

Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 8;9(1):81. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02593-y.

Abstract

Loss-of-function mutations in Parkin are the most common causes of autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD). Many putative substrates of parkin have been reported; their pathogenic roles, however, remain obscure due to poor characterization, particularly in vivo. Here, we show that synaptotagmin-11, encoded by a PD-risk gene SYT11, is a physiological substrate of parkin and plays critical roles in mediating parkin-linked neurotoxicity. Unilateral overexpression of full-length, but not C2B-truncated, synaptotagmin-11 in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) impairs ipsilateral striatal dopamine release, causes late-onset degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, and induces progressive contralateral motor abnormalities. Mechanistically, synaptotagmin-11 impairs vesicle pool replenishment and thus dopamine release by inhibiting endocytosis. Furthermore, parkin deficiency induces synaptotagmin-11 accumulation and PD-like neurotoxicity in mouse models, which is reversed by SYT11 knockdown in the SNpc or knockout of SYT11 restricted to dopaminergic neurons. Thus, PD-like neurotoxicity induced by parkin dysfunction requires synaptotagmin-11 accumulation in SNpc dopaminergic neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / pathology
  • Endocytosis / physiology
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation
  • Nanoparticles
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Synaptotagmins / genetics
  • Synaptotagmins / metabolism
  • Synaptotagmins / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / physiology*

Substances

  • Synaptotagmins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • parkin protein
  • Dopamine