HPD degradation regulated by the TTC36-STK33-PELI1 signaling axis induces tyrosinemia and neurological damage

Nat Commun. 2019 Sep 19;10(1):4266. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12011-0.

Abstract

Decreased expression of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid dioxygenase (HPD), a key enzyme for tyrosine metabolism, is a cause of human tyrosinemia. However, the regulation of HPD expression remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that molecular chaperone TTC36, which is highly expressed in liver, is associated with HPD and reduces the binding of protein kinase STK33 to HPD, thereby inhibiting STK33-mediated HPD T382 phosphorylation. The reduction of HPD T382 phosphorylation results in impaired recruitment of FHA domain-containing PELI1 and PELI1-mediated HPD polyubiquitylation and degradation. Conversely, deficiency or depletion of TTC36 results in enhanced STK33-mediated HPD T382 phosphorylation and binding of PELI1 to HPD and subsequent PELI1-mediated HPD downregulation. Ttc36-/- mice have reduced HPD expression in the liver and exhibit tyrosinemia, damage to hippocampal neurons, and deficits of learning and memory. These findings reveal a previously unknown regulation of HPD expression and highlight the physiological significance of TTC36-STK33-PELI1-regulated HPD expression in tyrosinemia and tyrosinemia-associated neurological disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Memory / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tyrosinemias / pathology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Hpd protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Ttc36 protein, mouse
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Stk33 protein, mouse
  • Peli1 protein, mouse