Abstract |
Ubiquitin Specific Protease-13 (USP13) is a de-ubiquinating enzyme that regulates protein ubiquitination and clearance. The role of USP13 is largely unknown in neurodegeneration. In this study we aim to demonstrate whether tau accumulation and/or clearance depends on ubiquitination/de-ubiquitination via USP-13. We used transgenic animal models of human amyloid precursor protein (APP) or P301L tau mutations and genetically knocked-down USP13 expression via shRNA to determine USP13 effects on tau ubiquitination and levels. We found a two-fold increase of USP13 levels in postmortem Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. USP13 knockdown significantly increased the activity of the 20S proteasome and reduced the levels of hyper-phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in primary cortical neurons. USP13 knockdown also reduced the levels of amyloid and increased p-tau ubiquitination and clearance in transgenic animal models that overexpress murine tau as a result of the expression of familial APP mutations (TgAPP) and the human mutant P301L tau (rTg4510), respectively. Clearance of p-tau appears to be mediated by autophagy in these animal models. Taken together, these data suggest that USP13 knockdown reduces p-tau accumulation via regulation of ubiquitination/de-ubiquitination and mediates its clearance via autophagy and/or the proteasome. These results suggest that USP13 inhibition may be a therapeutic strategy to reduce accumulation of plaques and toxic p-tau in AD and human tauopathies.
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Authors | Xiaoguang Liu, Michaeline L Hebron, Sanjana Mulki, Chen Wang, Elizabeth Lekah, Dalila Ferrante, Wangke Shi, Bahjat Kurd-Misto, Charbel Moussa |
Journal | Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
(J Alzheimers Dis)
Vol. 72
Issue 2
Pg. 425-441
( 2019)
ISSN: 1875-8908 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 31594232
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
- RNA, Small Interfering
- tau Proteins
- Endopeptidases
- USP13 protein, human
- Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases
- Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
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Topics |
- Alzheimer Disease
(metabolism, pathology)
- Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
(genetics)
- Animals
- Brain Chemistry
(genetics)
- Cerebral Cortex
(cytology, metabolism)
- Endopeptidases
(genetics, metabolism)
- Gene Knockdown Techniques
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neurons
(metabolism)
- Plaque, Amyloid
(pathology)
- Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
- RNA, Small Interfering
- Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases
- tau Proteins
(metabolism)
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