O-GlcNAc transferase OGT-1 and the ubiquitin ligase EEL-1 modulate seizure susceptibility in C. elegans

PLoS One. 2021 Nov 19;16(11):e0260072. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260072. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy and autism have been linked to an imbalance of excitation and inhibition (E/I) in the central nervous system. The simplicity and tractability of C. elegans allows our electroconvulsive seizure (ES) assay to be used as a behavioral readout of the locomotor circuit and neuronal function. C. elegans possess conserved nervous system features such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA receptors in inhibitory neurotransmission, and acetylcholine (Ach) and acetylcholine receptors in excitatory neurotransmission. Our previously published data has shown that decreasing inhibition in the motor circuit, via GABAergic manipulation, will extend the time of locomotor recovery following electroshock. Similarly, mutations in a HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase called EEL-1 leads to impaired GABAergic transmission, E/I imbalance and altered sensitivity to electroshock. Mutations in the human ortholog of EEL-1, called HUWE1, are associated with both syndromic and non-syndromic intellectual disability. Both EEL-1 and its previously established binding protein, OGT-1, are expressed in GABAergic motor neurons, localize to GABAergic presynaptic terminals, and function in parallel to regulate GABA neuron function. In this study, we tested behavioral responses to electroshock in wildtype, ogt-1, eel-1 and ogt-1; eel-1 double mutants. Both ogt-1 and eel-1 null mutants have decreased inhibitory GABAergic neuron function and increased electroshock sensitivity. Consistent with EEL-1 and OGT-1 functioning in parallel pathways, ogt-1; eel-1 double mutants showed enhanced electroshock susceptibility. Expression of OGT-1 in the C. elegans nervous system rescued enhanced electroshock defects in ogt-1; eel-1 double mutants. Application of a GABA agonist, Baclofen, decreased electroshock susceptibility in all animals. Our C. elegans electroconvulsive seizure assay was the first to model a human X-linked Intellectual Disability (XLID) associated with epilepsy and suggests a potential novel role for the OGT-1/EEL-1 complex in seizure susceptibility.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology
  • Disease Susceptibility / metabolism
  • GABAergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Genes, X-Linked / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / metabolism*
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / physiology
  • Nervous System / metabolism
  • Nervous System Physiological Phenomena
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism
  • Seizures / genetics*
  • Seizures / metabolism
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / physiology
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • EEL-1 protein, C elegans
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases
  • O-GlcNAc transferase
  • ogt-1 protein, C elegans