Specific glycosaminoglycan chain length and sulfation patterns are required for cell uptake of tau versus α-synuclein and β-amyloid aggregates

Barbara E Stopschinski,Brandon B Holmes,Gregory M Miller,Victor A Manon,Jaime Vaquer-Alicea,William L Prueitt,Linda C Hsieh-Wilson,Marc I Diamond

doi:10.1074/jbc.ra117.000378

Abstract

Transcellular propagation of protein aggregate "seeds" has been proposed to mediate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases in tauopathies and α-synucleinopathies. We previously reported that tau and α-synuclein aggregates bind heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the cell surface, promoting cellular uptake and intracellular seeding. However, the specificity and binding mode of these protein aggregates to HSPGs remain unknown. Here, we measured direct interaction with modified heparins to determine the size and sulfation requirements for tau, α-synuclein, and β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregate binding to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Varying the GAG length and sulfation patterns, we next conducted competition studies with heparin derivatives in cell-based assays. Tau aggregates required a precise GAG architecture with defined sulfate moieties in the N- and 6-O-positions, whereas the binding of α-synuclein and Aβ aggregates was less stringent. To determine the genes required for aggregate uptake, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to individually knock out the major genes of the HSPG synthesis pathway in HEK293T cells. Knockouts of the extension enzymes exostosin 1 (EXT1), exostosin 2 (EXT2), and exostosin-like 3 (EXTL3), as well as N-sulfotransferase (NDST1) or 6-O-sulfotransferase (HS6ST2) significantly reduced tau uptake, consistent with our biochemical findings, and knockouts of EXT1, EXT2, EXTL3, or NDST1, but not HS6ST2 reduced α-synuclein uptake. In summary, tau aggregates display specific interactions with HSPGs that depend on GAG length and sulfate moiety position, whereas α-synuclein and Aβ aggregates exhibit more flexible interactions with HSPGs. These principles may inform the development of mechanism-based therapies to block transcellular propagation of amyloid protein-based pathologies.

Highlights

Transcellular propagation of protein aggregate “seeds” has been proposed to mediate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases in tauopathies and ␣-synucleinopathies
We previously reported that tau and ␣-synuclein aggregates bind heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the cell surface, promoting cellular uptake and intracellular seeding
To determine the genes required for aggregate uptake, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to individually knock out the major genes of the HSPG synthesis pathway in HEK293T cells

Summary

Introduction

Transcellular propagation of protein aggregate “seeds” has been proposed to mediate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases in tauopathies and ␣-synucleinopathies. We measured direct interaction with modified heparins to determine the size and sulfation requirements for tau, ␣-synuclein, and ␤-amyloid (A␤) aggregate binding to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). 2 To whom correspondence should be addressed: Center for Alzheimer’s and that depend on GAG length and sulfate moiety position, whereas ␣-synuclein and A␤ aggregates exhibit more flexible interactions with HSPGs. S1–S5 and Table S1. 2 To whom correspondence should be addressed: Center for Alzheimer’s and that depend on GAG length and sulfate moiety position, whereas ␣-synuclein and A␤ aggregates exhibit more flexible interactions with HSPGs These principles may inform the development of mechanism-based therapies to block transcellular propagation of amyloid protein– based pathologies. Tau and ␣-synuclein aggregates bind heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the cell surface, which mediate uptake and intracellular seeding [1]. We do not know whether the interactions of tau and ␣-synuclein with HSPGs are specific to sulfation positioning or are purely based on charge density

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