Atlastin-1 Mutations Research Articles

In vivo Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 Induced Atlastin Pathological Mutations in Drosophila.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a highly dynamic network whose shape is thought to be actively regulated by membrane resident proteins. Mutation of several such morphology regulators cause the neurological disorder Hereditary Sp astic Paraplegia (HSP), suggesting a critical role of ER shape maintenance in neuronal activity and function. Human Atlastin-1 mutations are responsible for SPG3A, the earliest onset and one of the more severe forms of dominant HSP. Atlastin has been initially identified in Drosophila as the GTPase responsible for the homotypic fusion of ER membrane. The majority of SPG3A-linked Atlastin-1 mutations map to the GTPase domain, potentially interfering with atlastin GTPase activity, and to the three-helix-bundle (3HB) domain, a region critical for homo-oligomerization. Here we have examined the in vivo effects of four pathogenetic missense mutations (two mapping to the GTPase domain and two to the 3HB domain) using two complementary approaches: CRISPR/Cas9 editing to introduce such variants in the endogenous atlastin gene and transgenesis to generate lines overexpressing atlastin carrying the same pathogenic variants. We found that all pathological mutations examined reduce atlastin activity in vivo although to different degrees of severity. Moreover, overexpression of the pathogenic variants in a wild type atlastin background does not give rise to the loss of function phenotypes expected for dominant negative mutations. These results indicate that the four pathological mutations investigated act through a loss of function mechanism.

Atlastin-1 regulates dendritic morphogenesis in mouse cerebral cortex

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are human genetic disorders characterized by lower extremity spasticity and weakness. Mutations in atlastin-1 (ATL1) have been identified in patients with HSP SPG3A. However, the function of ATL1 in the mammalian brain remains unclear. Here, we found that expression of ATL1 mRNA was restricted in the deep layer of mouse cerebral cortex during the early development. We examined ATL1 functions by delivering its plasmids to the upper layer cortical neurons using in utero electroporation. The effects of ectopic expression in the pyramidal neurons were determined both in culture and in situ at postnatal stages of neocortical development. In cultured cortical neurons, overexpressing ATL1 increased dendrite growth and arborization, whereas HSP-associated mutant R217Q, which is devoid of GTPase activity, had no such effects. Consistent with this, in vivo expression of wild type ATL1, but not of the mutant R217Q, increased dendritic growth of the cortical neurons. This suggests that the role of ATL1 on dendritic morphogenesis depends on its GTPase activity. The expression of ATL1 and R217Q did not affect the migration of cortical neurons. These results indicate that ATL1 regulates dendritic morphogenesis, which may provide new insights into the neuropathogenic mechanism of hereditary spastic paraplegia SPG3A.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia-causing mutations in atlastin-1 interfere with BMPRII trafficking

Disruption of the bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-linked signaling pathway has been suggested as an important factor in the development of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). HSP-causing proteins spastin, spartin and NIPA1 were reported to inhibit the BMP pathway. We have previously shown a strong interaction of NIPA1 and atlastin-1 proteins. Hence, we investigated the role of another HSP-associated protein atlastin-1 in this signaling cascade. Endogenous and expressed atlastin-1 showed a strong interaction with BMP receptors II (BMPRII) and analyzed missense, HSP-causing mutations R239C and R495W disrupted BMPRII trafficking to the cell surface. BMPRII does not require the presence of atlastin-1 because knockdown expression of atlastin-1 did not alter endogenous BMPRII cellular distribution. Expression of mutant forms of atlastin-1 also interfered with the signaling response to BMP4 stimulation and reduced phosphorylation of Smad 1/5 proteins. Our results suggest that HSP-causing atlastin-1 mutations exhibit a dominant-negative effect on trafficking of BMPRII, which disrupts the BMP pathway in neurons. This, together with previously demonstrated inhibition of atlastin-1 of BMP pathway, further supports the role of this signaling cascade in axonal maintenance and axonal degeneration, which is seen in various types of HSP.

The N355K atlastin 1 mutation is associated with hereditary sensory neuropathy and pyramidal tract features

Mutations in atlastin-1 (ATL-1), a gene known to cause pure, early-onset autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia SPG3A, have been recently reported to cause hereditary sensory neuropathy I (HSN I). We describe the detailed clinical and electrophysiologic findings in the first family with ulcero-mutilating sensory neuropathy carrying the c. C1065A, p.N355K mutation in ATL-1. Detailed clinical and electrophysiologic studies were performed in affected and at-risk family members. Motor and sensory nerve conductions studies (NCS) were carried out in upper and lower limbs. ATL-1 was screened for mutations by direct sequencing. Ten patients were found to carry the N355K mutation. With the exception of the two youngest patients, all had trophic skin changes in the feet consisting mainly of painless ulcers. Frequently, amputation of toes, feet, or even more proximal parts of the lower legs became necessary. A variable degree of increased muscle tone was observed in younger patients, whilst some older affected individuals only presented with hyperreflexia of patellar tendon reflexes. NCS revealed signs of an axonal motor and sensory neuropathies. Our family carrying the N355K ATL1 mutation, which was initially diagnosed as HSN I, enlarges the SPG3A phenotype. We therefore suggest that patients with HSN I excluded for more common causes of HSN I, and in particular, affected individuals who exhibit additional pyramidal tract features should also be screened for mutations in ATL1.

Targeted High-Throughput Sequencing Identifies Mutations in atlastin-1 as a Cause of Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy Type I

Hereditary sensory neuropathy type I (HSN I) is an axonal form of autosomal-dominant hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy distinguished by prominent sensory loss that leads to painless injuries. Unrecognized, these can result in delayed wound healing and osteomyelitis, necessitating distal amputations. To elucidate the genetic basis of an HSN I subtype in a family in which mutations in the few known HSN I genes had been excluded, we employed massive parallel exon sequencing of the 14.3 Mb disease interval on chromosome 14q. We detected a missense mutation (c.1065C>A, p.Asn355Lys) in atlastin-1 (ATL1), a gene that is known to be mutated in early-onset hereditary spastic paraplegia SPG3A and that encodes the large dynamin-related GTPase atlastin-1. The mutant protein exhibited reduced GTPase activity and prominently disrupted ER network morphology when expressed in COS7 cells, strongly supporting pathogenicity. An expanded screen in 115 additional HSN I patients identified two further dominant ATL1 mutations (c.196G>C [p.Glu66Gln] and c.976 delG [p.Val326TrpfsX8]). This study highlights an unexpected major role for atlastin-1 in the function of sensory neurons and identifies HSN I and SPG3A as allelic disorders.

The effect of HSP-causing mutations in SPG3A and NIPA1 on the assembly, trafficking, and interaction between atlastin-1 and NIPA1

Despite its genetic heterogeneity, hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is characterized by similar clinical phenotypes, suggesting that a common biochemical pathway underlies its pathogenesis. In support of this hypothesis, we used a combination of immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry to demonstrate that two HSP-associated proteins, atlastin-1 and NIPA1, are direct binding partners, and interestingly, that the endogenous expression and trafficking of these proteins is highly dependant upon their coexpression. In addition, we demonstrated that the cellular distribution of atlastin-1:NIPA1 complexes was dramatically altered by HSP-causing mutations, as missense mutations in atlastin-1 (R239C and R495W) and NIPA1 (T45R and G106R) caused protein sequestration in the Golgi complex (GC) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated that HSP-causing mutations in both atlastin-1 and NIPA1 reduced axonal and dendritic sprouting in cultured rat cortical neurons. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that NIPA1 and atlastin-1 are members of a common biochemical pathway that supports axonal maintenance, which may explain in part the characteristic degeneration of long spinal pathways observed in patients with HSP.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia proteins REEP1, spastin, and atlastin-1 coordinate microtubule interactions with the tubular ER network

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs; SPG1-45) are inherited neurological disorders characterized by lower extremity spastic weakness. More than half of HSP cases result from autosomal dominant mutations in atlastin-1 (also known as SPG3A), receptor expression enhancing protein 1 (REEP1; SPG31), or spastin (SPG4). The atlastin-1 GTPase interacts with spastin, a microtubule-severing ATPase, as well as with the DP1/Yop1p and reticulon families of ER-shaping proteins, and SPG3A caused by atlastin-1 mutations has been linked pathogenically to abnormal ER morphology. Here we investigated SPG31 by analyzing the distribution, interactions, and functions of REEP1. We determined that REEP1 is structurally related to the DP1/Yop1p family of ER-shaping proteins and localizes to the ER in cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons, where it colocalizes with spastin and atlastin-1. Upon overexpression in COS7 cells, REEP1 formed protein complexes with atlastin-1 and spastin within the tubular ER, and these interactions required hydrophobic hairpin domains in each of these proteins. REEP proteins were required for ER network formation in vitro, and REEP1 also bound microtubules and promoted ER alignment along the microtubule cytoskeleton in COS7 cells. A SPG31 mutant REEP1 lacking the C-terminal cytoplasmic region did not interact with microtubules and disrupted the ER network. These data indicate that the HSP proteins atlastin-1, spastin, and REEP1 interact within the tubularER membrane in corticospinal neurons to coordinate ER shaping and microtubule dynamics. Thus, defects in tubular ER shaping and network interactions with the microtubule cytoskeleton seem to be the predominant pathogenic mechanism of HSP.

A Class of Dynamin-like GTPases Involved in the Generation of the Tubular ER Network

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) consists of tubules that are shaped by the reticulons and DP1/Yop1p, but how the tubules form an interconnected network is unknown. Here, we show that mammalian atlastins, which are dynamin-like, integral membrane GTPases, interact with the tubule-shaping proteins. The atlastins localize to the tubular ER and are required for proper network formation in vivo and in vitro. Depletion of the atlastins or overexpression of dominant-negative forms inhibits tubule interconnections. The Sey1p GTPase in S. cerevisiae is likely a functional ortholog of the atlastins; it shares the same signature motifs and membrane topology and interacts genetically and physically with the tubule-shaping proteins. Cells simultaneously lacking Sey1p and a tubule-shaping protein have ER morphology defects. These results indicate that formation of the tubular ER network depends on conserved dynamin-like GTPases. Since atlastin-1 mutations cause a common form of hereditary spastic paraplegia, we suggest ER-shaping defects as a neuropathogenic mechanism.

Atlastin GTPases are required for Golgi apparatus and ER morphogenesis

The hereditary spastic paraplegias (SPG1-33) comprise a cluster of inherited neurological disorders characterized principally by lower extremity spasticity and weakness due to a length-dependent, retrograde axonopathy of corticospinal motor neurons. Mutations in the gene encoding the large oligomeric GTPase atlastin-1 are responsible for SPG3A, a common autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia. Here we describe a family of human GTPases, atlastin-2 and -3 that are closely related to atlastin-1. Interestingly, while atlastin-1 is predominantly localized to vesicular tubular complexes and cis-Golgi cisternae, mostly in brain, atlastin-2 and -3 are localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and are most enriched in other tissues. Knockdown of atlastin-2 and -3 levels in HeLa cells using siRNA (small interfering RNA) causes disruption of Golgi morphology, and these Golgi structures remain sensitive to brefeldin A treatment. Interestingly, expression of SPG3A mutant or dominant-negative atlastin proteins lacking GTPase activity causes prominent inhibition of ER reticularization, suggesting a role for atlastin GTPases in the formation of three-way junctions in the ER. However, secretory pathway trafficking as assessed using vesicular stomatitis virus G protein fused to green fluorescent protein (VSVG-GFP) as a reporter was essentially normal in both knockdown and dominant-negative overexpression conditions for all atlastins. Thus, the atlastin family of GTPases functions prominently in both ER and Golgi morphogenesis, but they do not appear to be required generally for anterograde ER-to-Golgi trafficking. Abnormal morphogenesis of the ER and Golgi resulting from mutations in atlastin-1 may ultimately underlie SPG3A by interfering with proper membrane distribution or polarity of the long corticospinal motor neurons.

Atlastin1 Mutations Are Frequent in Young-Onset Autosomal Dominant Spastic Paraplegia

Hereditary spastic paraplegias are disorders that are very heterogeneous, both clinically and genetically. The atlastin1 gene has recently been implicated in SPG3A, a form of autosomal dominant pure spastic paraplegia. Atlastin1 mutations have been identified in 8 families so far. To determine the relative frequency, phenotype, and mutation spectrum of SPG3A in patients with pure autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia and onset before age 20 years. We sequenced the atlastin1 gene in a large series of patients (31 families) in which mutations in the spastin gene, corresponding to the frequent SPG4 locus, had previously been excluded. The phenotype was compared with 126 SPG4 patients. We identified 12 families (39%) including 34 patients with 9 different missense atlastin1 mutations, 7 of which are newly described. The main clinical characteristic of these SPG3A patients was pure spasticity with very young onset of symptoms (mean age, 4.6 +/- 3.9 years) and slow progression. However, additional signs such as decreased vibration sense and wasting in lower limbs, sphincter disturbances, and scoliosis were found in a minority of patients. In addition, several gene carriers were clinically affected but still asymptomatic (n = 5) or had no clinical signs (n = 2), indicating incomplete penetrance. Compared with patients from other families meeting the same diagnostic criteria (43 patients) and families with SPG4 (126 patients), the major form of autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia, SPG3A patients had earlier symptom onset, less frequently increased reflexes in the upper limbs, decreased vibration sense in the lower limbs, and fewer sphincter disturbances, but more frequently observed wasting in the lower limbs and scoliosis. These particularities, as well as frequent abnormal motor evoked potentials, could help identify patients to be screened for atlastin1 gene mutations. This study enables us to estimate the frequency of the SPG3A mutations in France at 39% in families with young-onset autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia after exclusion of SPG4 cases. So far, most mutations have been private, although they were all found in exons 7, 8, 12, and 13. These exons should be given priority when performing molecular diagnoses for SPG3A.