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The post-translational modification SUMO affects TDP-43 phase separation, compartmentalization, and aggregation in a zebrafish model

Maurel, C.; Scherer, N. M.; Hogan, A.; Vidal-Itriago, A.; Don, E. K.; Radford, R.; Chapman, T.; Cull, S.; Vourch, P.; Chung, R.; Lee, A.; Morsch, M.

2022-08-16 molecular biology
10.1101/2022.08.14.503569 bioRxiv
Show abstract

TDP-43 is a nuclear RNA-binding protein that can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and forms pathological insoluble aggregates in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Perturbations of TDP-43 function are linked to mislocalization and neurodegeneration. By studying TDP-43 in vivo, we confirmed for the first time that TDP-43 undergoes LLPS and forms biomolecular condensates in spinal motor neurons (MNs). Importantly, we discovered that interfering with the K136 SUMOylation site of TDP-43 altered its phase separation behavior, reducing cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation. Introduction of the ALS-linked mutation G294V did not alter these LLPS characteristics, indicating that posttranslational modifications such as lysine-specific alterations can modulate TDP-43 pathogenesis through regulating phase separation. Altogether, our in vivo characterization of TDP-43 confirms the formation of dynamic nuclear TDP-43 condensates in zebrafish spinal neurons and establishes a critical platform to validate the molecular grammar of phase separation that underpins TDP-43 aggregation in ALS and other proteinopathies.

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