Role of protein disulfide isomerase A3 in learning and memory

• Grant number: 21/06287-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2022
• End date: June 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Bilches Medinas
• Grantee: Danilo Bilches Medinas
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/10600-2 - Use of proximity biotinylation to identify protein disulfide isomerase A3 interactors during neuronal differentiation, BP.IC; 24/00316-2 - Histopathological and Biochemical Characterization of a Knockin Mouse Line Expressing Mutant Pdia3 Associated to Intellectual Disability, BP.MS; 24/00317-9 - Effects of Conditional Knockout of Pdia3 during Development of the Mouse Hippocampus: Assessment of Behavioral, Histological and Molecular Alterations, BP.DD

Abstract

The redox folding through disulfide bond formation constitutes an essential step for protein homeostasis (or proteostasis) of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The oxidizing environment of the ER lumen thermodynamically favors disulfide bond formation, but the numerous combinations between cysteine residues in a polypeptide chain can generate non-native disulfide bonds. These non-native bonds lead to abnormal protein conformations that may result in loss of biological function associated to increased protein degradation or cellular toxicity due to accumulation of protein aggregates in the ER. Protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) comprise a family of oxidoreductases that catalyze disulfide bond formation, isomerization and reduction in the ER lumen. In this manner, these enzymes circumvent the kinetic barrier for formation of native disulfide bonds and repair abnormal protein conformations containing mispaired cysteine residues. Previously, the dysfunction of PDIs had been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, our research group has discovered a recessive mutation in PDIA3, encoding protein disulfide isomerase A3 (PDIA3), causing severe intellectual disability (ID) in children. The non-synonymous mutation causing ID substitutes a catalytic cysteine residue for tyrosine (p.C57Y), suggesting that loss of PDIA3 enzymatic activity causes cognitive problems. In this manner, we established that alterations of redox folding in the ER can also underlie the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite the clear genetic and biochemical evidence associating PDIA3 to nervous system pathologies, its biological role in neural networks remains unknown. The spatiotemporal study of PDIA3 expression and activity in distinct neuronal populations is needed for determining its contribution to neural processes and how its dysfunction entail neuronal vulnerability in pathological conditions, fostering the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In this proposal, we plan to use a systematic and multidisciplinary strategy to unveil PDIA3 function in ER proteostasis of hippocampal neurons and its importance to learning and memory. We will employ genetic manipulation of Pdia3 in mice to study behavior, followed by detailed histopathological and biochemical analysis to determine relevant cellular and molecular alterations underlying possible cognitive phenotypes. In addition, we will use cell culture for the identification of PDIA3 interactors and substrates, whose relevance for learning and memory will be verified through proteomic analysis of the genetic mouse models. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SEPULVEDA, MARTIN; TRAUB, FRANCISCA MARTINEZ; OJEDA, PATRICIA; PEREZ, VIVIANA; OJEDA, JORGE; MELLA, JESSICA; DIAZ, RODRIGO; ROZAS, PABLO; MANSILLA-JARAMILLO, MATIAS; ZULETA, AMPARO; et al. Expression of protein disulfide isomerase A3Q481K variant associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis triggers disease features in mice. Neurobiology of Disease, v. 212, p. 11-pg., 2025-08-01. (21/06287-6)

MEDINAS, DANILO B.; ARSHAD, NAJLA; PARAKH, SONAM; MIYAMOTO, SAYURI; ZAMBELLI, VANESSA OLZON. Editorial: Restoring endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis to treat neurological disorders. FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY, v. 14, p. 3-pg., 2023-03-09. (21/06287-6, 21/14831-8, 13/07937-8)

BORGONOVO, JANINA; ALLENDE-CASTRO, CAMILO; MEDINAS, DANILO B.; CARDENAS, DEYANIRA; CUEVAS, MARIA PAZ; HETZ, CLAUDIO; CONCHA, MIGUEL L.. Immunohistochemical characterisation of the adult Nothobranchius furzeri intestine. Cell and Tissue Research, v. 395, n. 1, p. 18-pg., 2023-11-28. (21/06287-6)

MEDINAS, DANILO; ROZAS, PABLO; BAKER, HARRISON; FERREIRA, JULIO CESAR; TERAMAYI, FADZAI; OJEDA-PROVOSTE, PATRICIA; ESPINOSA, GISELLE; QUIROZ, GABRIEL; PESTANA, RICARDO; MELLEU, FERNANDO; et al. Generation of Genetically Modified Mouse Models to Study Protein Disulfide Isomerase A3 Involvement in Neurological Disorders. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, v. 208, p. 1-pg., 2023-11-01. (13/07937-8, 21/06287-6)

MEDINAS, DANILO B.; PEREIRA, NAYROB; PEREIRA, RODOLFO; DA SILVA, GIOVANNA R.; SANTOS, VICTOR H. S.. Disturbances of endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis in neurodevelopmental disorders. BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS, v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2025-07-28. (21/06287-6, 24/00316-2, 24/00317-9)

CABRAL-MIRANDA, FELIPE; ARAUJO, ANA PAULA BERGAMO; MEDINAS, DANILO BILCHES; GOMES, FLAVIA CARVALHO ALCANTARA. Astrocytic Hevin/SPARCL-1 Regulates Cognitive Decline in Pathological and Normal Brain Aging. AGING CELL, v. N/A, p. 16-pg., 2025-02-12. (21/06287-6)