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Translational regulation in the brain by TDP-43 phase separation

The in vivo physiological function of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) that governs non–membrane-bound structures remains elusive. Among LLPS-prone proteins, TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kD (TDP-43) is under intense investigation because of its close association with neurological disorders. He...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Gao, Ju, Wang, Luwen, Ren, Xiaojia, Dunn, Justin R., Peters, Ariele, Miyagi, Masaru, Fujioka, Hisashi, Zhao, Fangli, Askwith, Candice, Liang, Jingjing, Wang, Xinglong
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Rockefeller University Press 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8404466/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34427634
http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202101019
Descripción
Sumario:The in vivo physiological function of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) that governs non–membrane-bound structures remains elusive. Among LLPS-prone proteins, TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kD (TDP-43) is under intense investigation because of its close association with neurological disorders. Here, we generated mice expressing endogenous LLPS-deficient murine TDP-43. LLPS-deficient TDP-43 mice demonstrate impaired neuronal function and behavioral abnormalities specifically related to brain function. Brain neurons of these mice, however, did not show TDP-43 proteinopathy or neurodegeneration. Instead, the global rate of protein synthesis was found to be greatly enhanced by TDP-43 LLPS loss. Mechanistically, TDP-43 LLPS ablation increased its association with PABPC4, RPS6, RPL7, and other translational factors. The physical interactions between TDP-43 and translational factors relies on a motif, the deletion of which abolished the impact of LLPS-deficient TDP-43 on translation. Our findings show a specific physiological role for TDP-43 LLPS in the regulation of brain function and uncover an intriguing novel molecular mechanism of translational control by LLPS.