The molecular mechanisms of iron trafficking in neurons have not been elucidated. In this study, we characterized the expression and localization of ferrous iron transporters Zip8, Zip14 and DMT1, and ferrireductases Steap2 and SDR2 in primary rat hippocampal neurons. Steap2 and Zip8 partially co-localize, indicating these two proteins may function in Fe3+ reduction prior to Fe2+ permeation. Zip8, DMT1 and Steap2 co-localize with the transferrin receptor (TfR)/transferrin (Tf) complex, suggesting they may be involved in TfR/Tf-mediated iron assimilation. In brain interstitial fluid, transferring-bound iron (TBI) and non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) exist as potential iron sources. Primary hippocampal neurons exhibit significant iron uptake from TBI (Transferrin-59Fe3+) and NTBI, whether presented as 59Fe2+-citrate or 59Fe3+-citrate; reductase-independent 59Fe2+ uptake was the most efficient uptake pathway of the three. Kinetic analysis of Zn2+ inhibition of Fe2+ uptake indicated that DMT1 plays only a minor role in the uptake of NTBI. In contrast, localization and knockdown data indicate that Zip8 makes a major contribution. Data suggest also that cell accumulation of 59Fe from TBI relies at least in part on an endocytosis-independent pathway. These data suggest that Zip8 and Steap2 play a major role in iron accumulation from NTBI and TBI by hippocampal neurons.
A major cellular catabolic pathway in neurons is macroautophagy/autophagy, through which misfolded or aggregation-prone proteins are sequestered into autophagosomes that fuse with lysosomes, and are degraded. MAPT (microtubule-associated protein tau) is one of the protein clients of autophagy. Given that accumulation of hyperphosphorylated MAPT contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease and other tauopathies, decreasing endogenous MAPT levels has been shown to be beneficial to neuronal health in models of these diseases. A previous study demonstrated that the HSPA/HSP70 cochaperone BAG3 (BCL2-associated athanogene 3) facilitates endogenous MAPT clearance through autophagy. These findings prompted us to further investigate the mechanisms underlying BAG3mediated autophagy in the degradation of endogenous MAPT. Here we demonstrate for the first time that BAG3 plays an important role in autophagic flux in the neurites of mature neurons (20-24 days in vitro [DIV]) through interaction with the post-synaptic cytoskeleton protein SYNPO (synaptopodin). Loss of either BAG3 or SYNPO impeded the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes predominantly in the post-synaptic compartment. A block of autophagy leads to accumulation of the autophagic receptor protein SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) as well as MAPT phosphorylated at Ser262 (p-Ser262). Furthermore, p-Ser262 appears to accumulate in autophagosomes at post-synaptic densities. Overall these data provide evidence of a novel role for the co-chaperone BAG3 in synapses. In cooperation with SYNPO, it functions as part of a surveillance complex that facilitates the autophagic clearance of MAPT p-Ser262, and possibly other MAPT species at the post-synapse. This appears to be crucial for the maintenance of a healthy, functional synapse.
The bestrophin family of calcium (Ca 2+ )-activated chloride (Cl − ) channels, which mediate the influx and efflux of monovalent anions in response to the levels of intracellular Ca 2+ , comprises four members in mammals (Best1-4). Here we report cryo-EM structures of bovine Best2 (bBest2) bound and unbound by Ca 2+ at 2.4 Å and 2.2 Å, respectively. The bBest2 structure highlights four previously underappreciated pore-lining residues specifically conserved in Best2, but not in Best1, illustrating the differences between these paralogs. Structure-inspired electrophysiological analysis reveals that, although the channel is sensitive to Ca 2+ , it has substantial Ca 2+ -independent activity for Cl − , reflecting the opening at the cytoplasmic restriction of the ion conducting pathway even when Ca 2+ is absent. Moreover, the ion selectivity of bBest2 is controlled by multiple residues including those involved in gating.
During aging, decreased efficiency of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activation and autophagic processes in the brain may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3, a cochaperone that mediates autophagy, and the autophagy adaptors NBR1, NDP52, and sequestosome 1/p62 in the brains of 4-, 8-, and 12-month-old wild-type and Nrf2 knockout (-/-) mice. We also analyzed the levels of total tau and phospho-tau species. There were minimal differences in the expression of autophagy-related genes or tau species in 4-month-old animals; however, by 12 months, all of these autophagy-associated genes were expressed at significantly lower levels in the Nrf2 (-/-) mice. The decreases in the autophagy-associated genes were accompanied by significantly elevated levels of phospho-tau species in the 12-month-old Nrf2 (-/-) brains. These findings indicate that Nrf2 regulation of autophagy-related genes likely plays a greater role in mediating the clearance of tau as an organism ages.
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