Neurotransmission unavoidably increases mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. However, the intrinsic antioxidant defense of neurons is weak and hence the mechanism whereby these cells are physiologically protected against oxidative damage is unknown. Here we found that the antioxidant defense of neurons is repressed owing to the continuous protein destabilization of the master antioxidant transcriptional activator, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). By contrast, Nrf2 is highly stable in neighbor astrocytes explaining their robust antioxidant defense and resistance against oxidative stress. We also show that subtle and persistent stimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) in astrocytes, through a mechanism not requiring extracellular Ca 2+ influx, upregulates a signal transduction pathway involving phospholipase C-mediated endoplasmic reticulum release of Ca 2+ and protein kinase Cδ activation. Active protein kinase Cδ promotes, by phosphorylation, the stabilization of p35, a cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5) cofactor. Active p35/Cdk5 complex in the cytosol phosphorylates Nrf2 at Thr 395 , Ser 433 and Thr 439 that is sufficient to promote Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus and induce the expression of antioxidant genes. Furthermore, this Cdk5-Nrf2 transduction pathway boosts glutathione metabolism in astrocytes efficiently protecting closely spaced neurons against oxidative damage. Thus, intercellular communication through NMDAR couples neurotransmission with neuronal survival.

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Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are ubiquitous in eukaryotes, and they are often associated with diseases in humans. The protein NUPR1 is a multifunctional IDP involved in chromatin remodeling and in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer; however, the details of such functions are unknown. Polycomb proteins are involved in specific transcriptional cascades and gene silencing. One of the proteins of the Polycomb complex is the Ring finger protein 1 (RING1). RING1 is related to aggressive tumor features in multiple cancer types. In this work we characterized the interaction between NUPR1 and the paralogue RING1B in vitro, in silico, and in cellulo. The interaction occurred through the C-terminal region of RING1B (C-RING1B), with an affinity in the low micromolar range (∼10 μM). The binding region of NUPR1, mapped by NMR, was a hydrophobic polypeptide patch at the 30s region of its sequence, as pinpointed by computational results and site-directed mutagenesis at Ala33. The association between C-RING1B and wild-type NUPR1 also occurred in cellulo as tested by protein ligation assays; this interaction is inhibited by trifluoperazine, a drug known to hamper binding of wild-type NUPR1 with other proteins. Furthermore, the Thr68Gln and Ala33Gln/Thr68Gln mutants had a reduction in the binding toward C-RING1B as shown by in vitro, in silico, and in cellulo studies. This is an example of a well-folded partner of NUPR1, because its other interacting proteins are also unfolded. We hypothesize that NUPR1 plays an active role in chromatin remodeling and carcinogenesis, together with Polycomb proteins.G ene expression control occurs through the combined activities of transcription factors and chromatin regulators, considered as effectors of epigenetic mechanisms. Posttranslational modifications of nucleosomal histones, DNA methylation, local compaction, and long-range interactions determine a variety of chromatin structures that can affect the transcriptional output.A group of chromatin regulators are the Polycomb Repressive complexes (PRCs) (1, 2). These Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are encoded by genes initially discovered over 60 years ago as repressors of the Hox genes in Drosophila (3). The PcG proteins form two main silencing heteromeric complexes called PRC1 and PRC2; both are highly conserved in eukaryotes and either in isolation or synergistically can silence genes (4, 5). The catalytic functions of both complexes include ubiquitin-ligase (H3K119ub1) and methyltransferase activity (H3K27Me3), respectively. In mammals, the PRC2 core is formed by, at least, four heteromeric units, one of which is EZH2 (or its paralog, EZH1), the methyltransferase that catalyzes the trimethylation of histone H3 at Lys27 (5). This modification can act as an anchoring site of PRC1 complexes containing chromobox (CBX) proteins. These CBX proteins recruit PRC1 complex onto PRC2-enriched chromatin, facilitating the monoubiquitylation. The PRC1-dependent monoubiquitylation at Lys119 of histone H2A correlates with transc...