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Ataxin-2 knockdown is neuroprotective via cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms

Gastaldo, D.; Vito, S.; Black, H.; Foreman, O.; Yang, Z.; Pham, V.; Zhu, Y.; Choi, M.; Jovicic, A.

2025-11-27 neuroscience
10.1101/2025.11.24.690282 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Ataxin-2 (Atxn2), a ubiquitously expressed RNA-binding protein, has been implicated in ALS risk, and its silencing represents a promising therapeutic strategy to extend life span and ameliorate symptoms in ALS. Although neuroprotective effects have been shown in several ALS preclinical models, the molecular mechanisms underlying ataxin-2 downregulation neuroprotective effects remain poorly understood. Starting with a global proteomic profiling of the yeast and mouse TDP-43 models, we uncovered that pbp1/ataxin-2 downregulation rewires metabolism to activate alternative cellular pathways for energy production under stress. By combining proteomic profiling insights and functional studies in neural cultures, we further show that ataxin-2 downregulation adjusts metabolism in both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous pathways. In neurons, ataxin-2 downregulation activates glycolysis and reductive glutamine carboxylation, while astrocytes provide enhanced support by increasing cholesterol synthesis. Collectively, our data characterize novel cellular pathways to overcome TDP-43 toxicity and establish ataxin-2 as a regulator of adaptive response in brain cells under the conditions of stress.

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