Mutant FUS and ELAVL4 (HuD) Aberrant Crosstalk in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Riccardo De Santis, Vincenzo Alfano, Valeria de Turris, Alessio Colantoni, Laura Santini, Maria Giovanna Garone, Giuseppe Antonacci, Giovanna Peruzzi, Emma Sudria-Lopez, Emanuel Wyler, Jasper J. Anink, Eleonora Aronica, Markus Landthaler, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Irene Bozzoni, Alessandro Rosa*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been genetically linked to mutations in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), including FUS. Here, we report the RNA interactome of wild-type and mutant FUS in human motor neurons (MNs). This analysis identified a number of RNA targets. Whereas the wild-type protein preferentially binds introns, the ALS mutation causes a shift toward 3' UTRs. Neural ELAV-like RBPs are among mutant FUS targets. As a result, ELAVL4 protein levels are increased in mutant MNs. ELAVL4 and mutant FUS interact and co-localize in cytoplasmic speckles with altered biomechanical properties. Upon oxidative stress, ELAVL4 and mutant FUS are engaged in stress granules. In the spinal cord of FUS ALS patients, ELAVL4 represents a neural-specific component of FUS-positive cytoplasmic aggregates, whereas in sporadic patients it co-localizes with phosphorylated TDP-43-positive inclusions. We propose that pathological mutations in FUS trigger an aberrant crosstalk with ELAVL4 with implications for ALS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3818-3831.e5
JournalCell Reports
Volume27
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Jun 2019

Keywords

  • amytrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Brillouin
  • ELAVL4
  • FUS
  • HuD
  • motor neuron
  • PAR-CLIP
  • RNA-binding protein
  • stress granules
  • TDP-43

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mutant FUS and ELAVL4 (HuD) Aberrant Crosstalk in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this