Endogenous LRRK2 and PINK1 function in a convergent neuroprotective ciliogenesis pathway in the brain

TY - UNPB

T1 - Endogenous LRRK2 and PINK1 function in a convergent neuroprotective ciliogenesis pathway in the brain

AU - Bagnoli, Enrico

AU - Lin, Yu En

AU - Burel, Sophie

AU - Jaimon, Ebsy

AU - Antico, Odetta

AU - Themistokleous, Christos

AU - Nikolof, Jonas M.

AU - Morella, Ilaria

AU - Watzlawik, Jens O.

AU - Fiesel, Fabienne C.

AU - Springer, Wolfdieter

AU - Tonelli, Francesca

AU - Brooks, Simon P.

AU - Dunnett, Stephen B.

AU - Brambilla, Riccardo

AU - Alessi, Dario

AU - Pfeffer, Suzanne R.

AU - Muqit, Miratul

N1 - The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.

PY - 2024/6/11

Y1 - 2024/6/11

N2 - Mutations in LRRK2 and PINK1 are associated with familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). LRRK2 phosphorylates Rab GTPases within the Switch II domain whilst PINK1 directly phosphorylates Parkin and ubiquitin and indirectly induces phosphorylation of a subset of Rab GTPases. Herein we have crossed LRRK2 [R1441C] mutant knock-in mice with PINK1 knock-out (KO) mice and report that loss of PINK1 does not impact endogenous LRRK2-mediated Rab phosphorylation nor do we see significant effect of mutant LRRK2 on PINK1-mediated Rab and ubiquitin phosphorylation. In addition, we observe that a pool of the Rab-specific, PPM1H phosphatase, is transcriptionally up-regulated and recruited to damaged mitochondria, independent of PINK1 or LRRK2 activity. Parallel signalling of LRRK2 and PINK1 pathways is supported by assessment of motor behavioural studies that show no evidence of genetic interaction in crossed mouse lines. Previously we showed loss of cilia in LRRK2 R1441C mice and herein we show that PINK1 KO mice exhibit a ciliogenesis defect in striatal cholinergic interneurons and astrocytes that interferes with Hedgehog induction of glial derived-neurotrophic factor (GDNF) transcription. This is not exacerbated in double mutant LRRK2 and PINK1 mice. Overall, our analysis indicates that LRRK2 activation and/or loss of PINK1 function along parallel pathways to impair ciliogenesis, suggesting a convergent mechanism towards PD. Our data suggests that reversal of defects downstream of ciliogenesis offers a common therapeutic strategy for LRRK2 or PINK1 PD patients whereas LRRK2 inhibitors that are currently in clinical trials are unlikely to benefit PINK1 PD patients.

AB - Mutations in LRRK2 and PINK1 are associated with familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). LRRK2 phosphorylates Rab GTPases within the Switch II domain whilst PINK1 directly phosphorylates Parkin and ubiquitin and indirectly induces phosphorylation of a subset of Rab GTPases. Herein we have crossed LRRK2 [R1441C] mutant knock-in mice with PINK1 knock-out (KO) mice and report that loss of PINK1 does not impact endogenous LRRK2-mediated Rab phosphorylation nor do we see significant effect of mutant LRRK2 on PINK1-mediated Rab and ubiquitin phosphorylation. In addition, we observe that a pool of the Rab-specific, PPM1H phosphatase, is transcriptionally up-regulated and recruited to damaged mitochondria, independent of PINK1 or LRRK2 activity. Parallel signalling of LRRK2 and PINK1 pathways is supported by assessment of motor behavioural studies that show no evidence of genetic interaction in crossed mouse lines. Previously we showed loss of cilia in LRRK2 R1441C mice and herein we show that PINK1 KO mice exhibit a ciliogenesis defect in striatal cholinergic interneurons and astrocytes that interferes with Hedgehog induction of glial derived-neurotrophic factor (GDNF) transcription. This is not exacerbated in double mutant LRRK2 and PINK1 mice. Overall, our analysis indicates that LRRK2 activation and/or loss of PINK1 function along parallel pathways to impair ciliogenesis, suggesting a convergent mechanism towards PD. Our data suggests that reversal of defects downstream of ciliogenesis offers a common therapeutic strategy for LRRK2 or PINK1 PD patients whereas LRRK2 inhibitors that are currently in clinical trials are unlikely to benefit PINK1 PD patients.

U2 - 10.1101/2024.06.11.598416

DO - 10.1101/2024.06.11.598416

M3 - Preprint

BT - Endogenous LRRK2 and PINK1 function in a convergent neuroprotective ciliogenesis pathway in the brain

PB - BioRxiv

ER -