Endosomal trafficking is required for glycosylation and normal maturation of the Alzheimer's-associated protein sorLA

The sorting receptor sorLA encoded by the SORL1 gene is implicated in Alzheimers disease (AD) pathogenesis. Genetic studies have identified AD-associated SORL1 mutations and the expression of sorLA in AD brains is reported to be reduced. SorLA is a receptor of the retromer trafficking complex and functions at the endosome, and deficiency in sorLA phenocopies the endosomal pathologies found in AD. SorLA undergoes posttranslational modifications and maturation with ultimate ectodomain shedding, however knowledge of these processes remains limited. Here we demonstrate that sorLA exists at the cell membrane in two forms, an immature and a mature form, characterized by distinct N-glycosylation profiles. The mature sorLA form has acquired complex type N-glycans and is shed from the cell surface by the TACE juxtmembrane cleavage. The immature form of sorLA present at the cell surface is shown to have immature ER-type N-glycans (high-mannose type susceptible to endo H) and does not undergo shedding, however, upon endocytosis and recycling to the cell surface via endosomal trafficking pathways the immature sorLA form acquires complex-type N-glycans. These results suggest an unusual secretion model for sorLA whereby that immature sorLA first traffics to the cell membrane without acquiring Golgi processing of N-glycans, and only upon retrograde trafficking does sorLA acquire normal Golgi maturation of N-glycans and become susceptible to TACE regulated shedding. Supportive evidence for this model include a sorLA mutant with deficient endosomal trafficking and in vivo studies demonstrating requirement of retromer for sorLA trafficking in the brain of retromer VPS26 deficient mice. Collectively, our study establishes the role endosomal trafficking plays in sorLAs normal maturation, and point to impaired maturation as a signature of AD-associated sorLA dysfunction.