Prion protein interaction with stress-inducible protein 1 enhances neuronal protein synthesis via mTOR

Author(s):Show less -

Roffe, Martin ^[1] ; Beraldo, Flavio Henrique ^{[2, 3]} ; Bester, Romina ^[4] ; Nunziante, Max ^[4] ; Bach, Christian ^[4] ; Mancini, Gabriel ^{[5, 6]} ; Gilch, Sabine ^[4] ; Vorberg, Ina ^[7] ; Castilho, Beatriz A. ^[1] ; Martins, Vilma Regina ^{[5, 6]} ; Maroso Hajj, Glaucia Noeli ^{[5, 6]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Western Ontario, Dept Physiol & Pharmacol, London, ON N6A 5K8 - Canada

^[3] Univ Western Ontario, J Allyn Taylor Ctr Cell Biol, Mol Brain Res Grp, Robarts Res Inst, London, ON N6A 5K8 - Canada

^[4] Tech Univ Munich, Inst Virol, D-80333 Munich - Germany

^[5] Ludwig Inst Canc Res, Sao Paulo Branch, BR-01323903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Ctr Tratamento & Pesquisa AC Camargo, BR-01509010 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Deutsch Zentrum Neurodegenerat Erkrankungen, D-53175 Bonn - Germany

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; v. 107, n. 29, p. 13147-13152, JUL 20 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 60

Abstract

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the conversion of prion protein (PrPC) into an infectious isoform (PrPSc). How this event leads to pathology is not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that protein synthesis in neurons is enhanced via PrPC interaction with stress-inducible protein 1 (STI1). We also show that neuroprotection and neuritogenesis mediated by PrP(C)-STI1 engagement are dependent upon the increased protein synthesis mediated by PI3K-mTOR signaling. Strikingly, the translational stimulation mediated by PrP(C)-STI1 binding is corrupted in neuronal cell lines persistently infected with PrP(Sc), as well as in primary cultured hippocampal neurons acutely exposed to PrP(Sc). Consistent with this, high levels of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2 alpha) phosphorylation were found in PrP(Sc)-infected cells and in neurons acutely exposed to PrP(Sc). These data indicate that modulation of protein synthesis is critical for PrP(C)-STI1 neurotrophic functions, and point to the impairment of this process during PrP(Sc) infection as a possible contributor to neurodegeneration. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 02/12597-7 - Protein synthesis in eukaryotes
• Grantee: Beatriz Amaral de Castilho
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants