Synphilin-1A inhibits seven in absentia homolog (SIAH) and modulates alpha-synuclein monoubiquitylation and inclusion formation

J Biol Chem. 2009 Apr 24;284(17):11706-16. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M805990200. Epub 2009 Feb 17.

Abstract

Parkinson disease (PD) is characterized by the presence of ubiquitylated inclusions and the death of dopaminergic neurons. Seven in absentia homolog (SIAH) is a ubiquitin-ligase that ubiquitylates alpha-synuclein and synphilin-1 and is present in Lewy bodies of PD patients. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate the ubiquitylation of PD-related proteins might shed light on the events involved in the formation of Lewy bodies and death of neurons. We show in this study that the recently described synphilin-1 isoform, synphilin-1A, interacts in vitro and in vivo with the ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase SIAH and regulates its activity toward alpha-synuclein and synphilin-1. SIAH promotes limited ubiquitylation of synphilin-1A that does not lead to its degradation by the proteasome. SIAH also increases the formation of synphilin-1A inclusions in the presence of proteasome inhibitors, supporting the participation of ubiquitylated synphilin-1A in the formation of Lewy body-like inclusions. Synphilin-1A/SIAH inclusions recruit PD-related proteins, such as alpha-synuclein, synphilin-1, Parkin, PINK1, and UCH-L1. We found that synphilin-1A robustly increases the steady-state levels of SIAH by decreasing its auto-ubiquitylation and degradation. In addition, synphilin-1A blocks the ubiquitylation and degradation of the SIAH substrates synphilin-1 and deleted in colon cancer protein. Furthermore, synphilin-1A strongly decreases the monoubiquitylation of alpha-synuclein by SIAH and the formation of alpha-synuclein inclusions, supporting a role for monoubiquitylation in alpha-synuclein inclusion formation. Our results suggest a novel function for synphilin-1A as a regulator of SIAH activity and formation of Lewy body-like inclusions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biochemistry / methods
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Lewy Bodies / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Seven in Absentia Proteins
  • Transfection
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SNCAIP protein, human
  • Ubiquitin
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Seven in Absentia Proteins
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex