FUS/TLS forms cytoplasmic aggregates, inhibits cell growth and interacts with TDP-43 in a yeast model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Protein Cell. 2011 Mar;2(3):223-36. doi: 10.1007/s13238-011-1525-0. Epub 2011 Mar 30.

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by the premature loss of motor neurons. While the underlying cellular mechanisms of neuron degeneration are unknown, the cytoplasmic aggregation of several proteins is associated with sporadic and familial forms of the disease. Both wild-type and mutant forms of the RNA-binding proteins FUS and TDP-43 accumulate in cytoplasmic inclusions in the neurons of ALS patients. It is not known if these so-called proteinopathies are due to a loss of function or a gain of toxicity resulting from the formation of cytoplasmic aggregates. Here we present a model of FUS toxicity using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which toxicity is associated with greater expression and accumulation of FUS in cytoplasmic aggregates. We find that FUS and TDP-43 have a high propensity for co-aggregation, unlike the aggregation patterns of several other aggregation-prone proteins. Moreover, the biophysical properties of FUS aggregates in yeast are distinctly different from many amyloidogenic proteins, suggesting they are not composed of amyloid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cytoplasm / drug effects
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Detergents / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Prions / chemistry
  • Prions / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Multimerization* / drug effects
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / chemistry
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Detergents
  • Peptides
  • Prions
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • polyglutamine