Expression of A53T Mutant But Not Wild-Type α-Synuclein in PC12 Cells Induces Alterations of the Ubiquitin-Dependent Degradation System, Loss of Dopamine Release, and Autophagic Cell Death

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.21-24-09549.2001
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T22:25:47Z
• Authors: Leonidas Stefanis; Kristin E. Larsen; Hardy J. Rideout; David Sulzer; Lloyd A. Greene
• Keywords: Cytoplasm; 0303 health sciences; Cell Death; Macromolecular Substances; Dopamine; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Parkinson Disease; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cathepsin D; PC12 Cells; Clone Cells; Cysteine Endopeptidases; 03 medical and health sciences; Amino Acid Substitution; Multienzyme Complexes; Autophagy; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Animals; Humans; Lysosomes; Cells, Cultured; Fluorescent Dyes

α-Synuclein mutations have been identified in certain families with Parkinson's disease (PD), and α-synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies. Other genetic data indicate that the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system is involved in PD pathogenesis. We have generated stable PC12 cell lines expressing wild-type or A53T mutant human α-synuclein. Lines expressing mutant but not wild-type α-synuclein show: (1) disruption of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system, manifested by small cytoplasmic ubiquitinated aggregates and by an increase in polyubiquitinated proteins; (2) enhanced baseline nonapoptotic death; (3) marked accumulation of autophagic–vesicular structures; (4) impairment of lysosomal hydrolysis and proteasomal function; and (5) loss of catecholamine-secreting dense core granules and an absence of depolarization-induced dopamine release. Such findings raise the possibility that the primary abnormality in these cells may involve one or more deficits in the lysosomal and/or proteasomal degradation pathways, which in turn lead to loss of dopaminergic capacity and, ultimately, to death. These cells may serve as a model to study the effects of aberrant α-synuclein on dopaminergic cell function and survival.