Yoon Sun Chun

Cholesterol modulates ion channels via down-regulation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 1286–1294.

O-GlcNAcylation promotes non-amyloidogenic processing of amyloid-β protein precursor via inhibition of endocytosis from the plasma membrane.

Amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) is transported to the plasma membrane, where it is sequentially cleaved by α-secretase and γ-secretase. This is called non-amyloidogenic pathway since it precludes the production of amyloid-β (Aβ), the main culprit of Alzheimers disease (AD). Alternatively, once AβPP undergoes clathrin-dependent endocytosis, it can be sequentially cleaved by β-secretase and γ-secretase at endosomes, producing Aβ (amyloidogenic pathway). β-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) can be attached to serine/threonine residues of the target proteins. This novel type of O-linked glycosylation is called O-GlcNAcylation mediated by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). The removal of GlcNAc is mediated by O-GlcNAcase (OGN). Recently, it is shown that O-GlcNAcylation of AβPP increases the non-amyloidogenic pathway. To investigate the regulatory role for O-GlcNAcylation in AβPP processing, we first tested the effects of inhibitor for OGN, PUGNAc, on AβPP metabolism in HeLa cells stably transfected with Swedish mutant form of AβPP. Increasing O-GlcNAcylated AβPP level increased α-secretase product while decreased β-secretase products. We found that PUGNAc increased the trafficking rate of AβPP from the trans-Golgi network to the plasma membrane, and selectively decreased the endocytosis rate of AβPP. These events may contribute to the increased AβPP level in the plasma membrane by PUGNAc. Inhibiting clathrin-dependent endocytosis prevented the effect of PUGNAc on Aβ, suggesting that the effect of PUGNAc was mainly mediated by decreasing AβPP endocytosis. These results strongly indicate that O-GlcNAcylation promotes the plasma membrane localization of AβPP, which enhances the non-amyloidogenic processing of AβPP. Thus, O-GlcNAcylation of AβPP can be a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.

Modulation of transient receptor potential melastatin related 7 channel by presenilins.

Presenilins (PS1 and PS2) are multifunctional proteins involved in a diverse array of molecular and cellular functions, including proteolysis, development, neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, ion channel regulation and phospholipid metabolism. Mutations in presenilin genes are responsible for the majority of Familial Alzheimer disease (FAD). Consequently, FAD‐associated mutations in genes encoding PS1 or PS2 lead to several key cellular phenotypes, including alterations in proteolysis of β‐amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Ca2+ entry. The mechanism underlying presenilin (PS)‐mediated modulation of Ca2+ entry remains to be determined. Our previous studies showed that the PS‐dependent down‐regulation of phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate (PIP2) is attributable to the observed Ca2+ deficits. In this study, we attempted to identify the ion channel that is subject to the PIP2 and PS‐dependent modulation. We found that Ca2+ or Zn2+ entry via the transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channel was attenuated by the presence of FAD‐associated PS1 mutants, such as ΔE9 and L286V. TRPM7 has been implicated in Mg2+ homeostasis and embryonic development. The intracellular delivery of PIP2 restored TRPM7‐mediated Ca2+ influx, indicating that the observed deficits in Ca2+ entry are due to downregulation of PIP2. Conversely, PS1 and PS2 deficiency, previously shown to upregulate PIP2 levels, potentiated TRPM7‐mediated Ca2+ influx. PS‐dependent changes in Ca2+ influx could be neutralized by a TRPM7 channel blocker. Collectively, these results indicate that TRPM7 may underlie the Ca2+ entry deficits observed in FAD‐associated PS mutants and suggest that the normal function of PS involves regulation of TRPM7 through a PIP2‐dependent mechanism.

Regulation of basal autophagy by transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channel.

Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) is a catabolic process for the degradation and recycling of cellular components. Autophagy digests intracellular components, recycling material subsequently used for new protein synthesis. The Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-permeable transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channel underlies the constitutive Ca(2+) influx in some cells. Since autophagy is regulated by cytosolic Ca(2+) level, we set out to determine whether Ca(2+) influx through the TRPM7 channel regulates basal autophagy. When TRPM7 channel expression was induced from HEK293 cells in a nutrient-rich condition, LC3-II level increased indicating the increased level of basal autophagy. The effect of TRPM7 channel on basal autophagy was via Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β, and AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. In contrast, the level of basal autophagy was decreased when the endogenous TRPM7 channel in SH-SY5Y cells was down-regulated using short hairpin RNA. Similarly, an inhibitor for TRPM7 channel decreased the level of basal autophagy. In addition, the inhibitory effect of channel inhibitor on basal autophagy was reversed by increasing extracellular Ca(2+)concentration, suggesting that Ca(2+) influx through TRPM7 channel directly links to basal autophagy. Thus, our studies demonstrate the new role of TRPM7 channel-mediated Ca(2+) entry in the regulation of basal autophagy.

Modulation of lipid kinase PI4KIIα activity and lipid raft association of presenilin 1 underlies γ-secretase inhibition by ginsenoside (20S)-Rg3.

Background: Cerebral elevation and accumulation of amyloid β-peptide is an invariant feature of Alzheimer disease. Results: Natural compound (20S)-Rg3, a PI4KIIα activator, modulates γ-secretase activity in lipid rafts by increasing levels of phosphoinositides. Conclusion: Activation of a key phospholipid synthetic pathway by a natural product regulates γ-secretase activity. Significance: We identify a novel molecular mechanism for the regulation of γ-secretase activity by (20S)-Rg3. Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) pathology is an invariant feature of Alzheimer disease, preceding any detectable clinical symptoms by more than a decade. To this end, we seek to identify agents that can reduce Aβ levels in the brain via novel mechanisms. We found that (20S)-Rg3, a triterpene natural compound known as ginsenoside, reduced Aβ levels in cultured primary neurons and in the brains of a mouse model of Alzheimer disease. The (20S)-Rg3 treatment induced a decrease in the association of presenilin 1 (PS1) fragments with lipid rafts where catalytic components of the γ-secretase complex are enriched. The Aβ-lowering activity of (20S)-Rg3 directly correlated with increased activity of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIα (PI4KIIα), a lipid kinase that mediates the rate-limiting step in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate synthesis. PI4KIIα overexpression recapitulated the effects of (20S)-Rg3, whereas reduced expression of PI4KIIα abolished the Aβ-reducing activity of (20S)-Rg3 in neurons. Our results substantiate an important role for PI4KIIα and phosphoinositide modulation in γ-secretase activity and Aβ biogenesis.

O-GlcNAcylation of amyloid-β precursor protein at threonine 576 residue regulates trafficking and processing

The pathological hallmark of Alzheimers disease (AD) is associated with the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) derived from proteolytic processing of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). APP undergoes post-translational modification including N- and O-glycosylation. O-GlcNAcylation is a novel type of O-glycosylation, mediated by O-GlcNAc transferase attaching O-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to serine/threonine residues of the target proteins. O-GlcNAc is removed by O-GlcNAcase. We have previously reported that increasing O-GlcNAcylated APP using the O-GlcNAcase inhibitor, PUGNAc, increases its trafficking rate to the plasma membrane and decreases its endocytosis rate, resulting in decreased Aβ production. However, O-GlcNAc modification sites in APP are unknown. In this study, we mutated three predicted O-GlcNAc modification threonine residues of APP into alanines (T291A, T292A, and T576A) and expressed them in HeLa cells. These APP mutants showed reduced O-GlcNAcylation levels, indicating that these sites were endogenously O-GlcNAcylated. Thr 576 was the major O-GlcNAcylation site when cell was treated with PUGNAc. We also showed that the effects of PUGNAc on APP trafficking to the plasma membrane and Aβ production were prevented in the T576A mutant. These results implicate Thr 576 as the major O-GlcNAcylation site in APP and indicate that O-GlcNAcylation of this residue regulates its trafficking and processing. Thus, specific O-GlcNAcylation of APP at Thr 576 may be a novel and promising drug target for AD therapeutics.

Threonine 576 residue of amyloid-β precursor protein regulates its trafficking and processing

Deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain is the main culprit of Alzheimers disease (AD). Aβ is derived from sequential proteolytic cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). Newly synthesized APP is transported from endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane via trans-Golgi network (TGN) after post-translational modification including N- and O-glycosylation. APP is internalized through clathrin-dependent endocytosis from the plasma membrane to the early endosomes. In this study, we investigated the regulation of APP trafficking and processing by mutating three threonine residues known as O-glycosylation sites. We separately mutated three threonine residues of APP695 into alanines (T291A, T292A, and T576A) and expressed them in HeLa cells. Among these APP mutants, only T576A mutant showed reduced cell surface levels, indicating this residue regulates its trafficking. We also confirmed that trafficking from TGN to the plasma membrane was decreased in T576A mutant. Consistent with these observations, T576A mutant accumulated in the early endosomes, and the secreted Aβ level was increased. Thus, these results indicate that threonine 576 residue of APP regulates its trafficking and processing.

Cholesterol regulates HERG K+ channel activation by increasing phospholipase C β1 expression.

Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) K+ channel underlies the rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ conductance (IKr) during normal cardiac repolarization. Also, it may regulate excitability in many neuronal cells. Recently, we showed that enrichment of cell membrane with cholesterol inhibits HERG channels by reducing the levels of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] due to the activation of phospholipase C (PLC). In this study, we further explored the effect of cholesterol enrichment on HERG channel kinetics. When membrane cholesterol level was mildly increased in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells expressing HERG channel, the inactivation and deactivation kinetics of HERG current were not affected, but the activation rate was significantly decelerated at all voltages tested. The application of PtdIns(4,5)P2 or inhibitor for PLC prevented the effect of cholesterol enrichment, while the presence of antibody against PtdIns(4,5)P2 in pipette solution mimicked the effect of cholesterol enrichment. These results indicate that the effect of cholesterol enrichment on HERG channel is due to the depletion of PtdIns(4,5)P2. We also found that cholesterol enrichment significantly increases the expression of β1 and β3 isoforms of PLC (PLCβ1, PLCβ3) in the membrane. Since the effects of cholesterol enrichment on HERG channel were prevented by inhibiting transcription or by inhibiting PLCβ1 expression, we conclude that increased PLCβ1 expression leads to the deceleration of HERG channel activation rate via downregulation of PtdIns(4,5)P2. These results confirm a crosstalk between two plasma membrane-enriched lipids, cholesterol and PtdIns(4,5)P2, in the regulation of HERG channels.

Effect of Lycoris chejuensis and Its Active Components on Experimental Models of Alzheimer’s Disease

We found that an extract of Lycoris chejuensis and its three isolated active components, narciclasine, 7-deoxynarciclasine, and 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, each significantly reduced the formation of amyloid-β peptides in HeLa cells transfected with an amyloid precursor protein carrying the Swedish mutation up to 45 ± 3.6%. The extract down-regulated amyloid precursor protein, especially the mature form by up to 88%, and reduced the ability of secretases to generate toxic amyloid-β. Double-transgenic mice treated with the extract for 4 months also showed significantly reduced levels of amyloid-β and plaques while exhibiting improved memory functions in the Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests. In conclusion, the extract and isolated active components of L. chejuensis decreased the production of amyloid-β by attenuating amyloid precursor protein levels. Furthermore, the extract improved the disrupted memory functions in animals while inhibiting amyloid plaque formation. Thus, this extract, as well as its active components, could prove beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimers disease.

7-Deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine Reduces β-Amyloid and Ameliorates Memory Impairment in a Transgenic Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

The critical pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ), the main constituent of amyloid plaques. β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) undergoes amyloidogenic cleavage by β- and γ-secretase generating Aβ at endosomes or non-amyloidogenic processing by α-secretase precluding the production of Aβ at the plasma membrane. Recently, several natural products have been widely researched on the prevention of Aβ accumulation for AD treatment. We previously reported that Lycoris chejuensis K. Tae et S. Ko (CJ), which originated from Jeju Island in Korea, improved the disrupted memory functions and reduced Aβ production in vivo. Here, we further explored the effect of its active component, 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine (coded as E144), on Aβ generation and the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that E144 reduced the level of APP, especially its mature form, in HeLa cells overexpressing human APP with the Swedish mutation. Concomitantly, E144 decreased the levels of Aβ, sAPPβ, sAPPα, and C-terminal fragment. In addition, administration of E144 normalized the behavioral deficits in Tg2576 mice, an APP transgenic mouse model of AD. E144 also decreased the Aβ and APP levels in the cerebral cortex of Tg2576 mice. Thus, we propose that E144 could be a potential drug candidate for an anti-amyloid disease-modifying AD therapy.