Interactions between ALS-linked FUS and nucleoporins are associated with defects in the nucleocytoplasmic transport pathway.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2021

Publication Title

Nature neuroscience

Keywords

JGM

JAX Source

Nat Neurosci 2021 Aug; 24(8):1077-1088

Volume

24

Issue

8

First Page

1077

Last Page

1088

ISSN

1546-1726

PMID

34059832

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-021-00859-9

Abstract

Nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) decline occurs with aging and neurodegeneration. Here, we investigated the NCT pathway in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-fused in sarcoma (ALS-FUS). Expression of ALS-FUS led to a reduction in NCT and nucleoporin (Nup) density within the nuclear membrane of human neurons. FUS and Nups were found to interact independently of RNA in cells and to alter the phase-separation properties of each other in vitro. FUS-Nup interactions were not localized to nuclear pores, but were enriched in the nucleus of control neurons versus the cytoplasm of mutant neurons. Our data indicate that the effect of ALS-linked mutations on the cytoplasmic mislocalization of FUS, rather than on the physiochemical properties of the protein itself, underlie our reported NCT defects. An aberrant interaction between mutant FUS and Nups is underscored by studies in Drosophila, whereby reduced Nup expression rescued multiple toxic FUS-induced phenotypes, including abnormal nuclear membrane morphology in neurons.

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