Proteasomes, the primary mediators of ubiquitin-protein conjugate degradation, are regulated through complex and poorly understood mechanisms. Here we show that Usp14, a proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme, can inhibit the degradation of ubiquitin-protein conjugates, in vivo and in vitro. A catalytically inactive variant of Usp14 has reduced inhibitory activity, suggesting that inhibition is mediated by trimming of the ubiquitin chain on the substrate. A high-throughput screen identified a selective small-molecule inhibitor of the deubiquitinating activity of human Usp14. Treatment of cultured cells with this compound enhanced degradation of several proteasome substrates that have been implicated in neurodegenerative disease. Usp14 inhibition accelerated the degradation of oxidized proteins and enhanced resistance to oxidative stress. Enhancement of proteasome activity through inhibition of Usp14 may offer a strategy to reduce the levels of aberrant proteins in cells under proteotoxic stress.

Deposition of insoluble protein aggregates is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. The universal presence of β-amyloid and tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has facilitated advancement of the amyloid cascade and tau hypotheses that have dominated AD pathogenesis research and therapeutic development. However, the underlying etiology of the disease remains to be fully elucidated. Here we report a comprehensive study of the human brain-insoluble proteome in AD by mass spectrometry. We identify 4,216 proteins, among which 36 proteins accumulate in the disease, including U1-70K and other U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) spliceosome components. Similar accumulations in mild cognitive impairment cases indicate that spliceosome changes occur in early stages of AD. Multiple U1 snRNP subunits form cytoplasmic tangle-like structures in AD but not in other examined neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Comparison of RNA from AD and control brains reveals dysregulated RNA processing with accumulation of unspliced RNA species in AD, including myc boxdependent-interacting protein 1, clusterin, and presenilin-1. U1-70K knockdown or antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of U1 snRNP increases the protein level of amyloid precursor protein.Thus, our results demonstrate unique U1 snRNP pathology and implicate abnormal RNA splicing in AD pathogenesis.proteomics | liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry | U1A | RNA-seq | premature cleavage and polyadenylation

Highlights d Deep profiling of proteome and phosphoproteome in AD progression d Validation of protein alterations in two independent AD cohorts d Identification of Ab-induced protein changes in AD and the 5xFAD mouse model d Prioritization of proteins and pathways in AD by multi-omics

Dysfunction of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurological diseases, includingAlzheimer's, spinocerebellar ataxia, and several motor neuron diseases. Recent research indicates that changes in synaptic transmission may play a critical role in the progression of neurological disease; however, the mechanisms by which the UPS regulates synaptic structure and function have not been well characterized. In this report, we show that Usp14 is indispensable for synaptic development and function at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Usp14-deficient ax J mice display a resting tremor, a reduction in muscle mass, and notable hindlimb rigidity without any detectable loss of motor neurons. Instead, loss of Usp14 causes developmental defects at motor neuron endplates. Presynaptic defects include phosphorylated neurofilament accumulations, nerve terminal sprouting, and poor arborization of the motor nerve terminals, whereas postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors display immature plaque-like morphology. These structural changes in the NMJ correlated with ubiquitin loss in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve. Further studies demonstrated that the greatest loss of ubiquitin was found in synaptosomal fractions, suggesting that the endplate swellings may be caused by decreased protein turnover at the synapse. Transgenic restoration of Usp14 in the nervous system corrected the levels of monomeric ubiquitin in the motor neuron circuit and the defects that were observed in the motor endplates and muscles of the ax J mice. These data define a critical role for Usp14 at mammalian synapses and suggest a requirement for local ubiquitin recycling by the proteasome to control the development and function of NMJs.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) controls protein abundance and is essential for many aspects of neuronal function. In ataxia (ax J ) mice, profound neurological and synaptic defects result from a loss-of-function mutation in the proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme Usp14, which is required for recycling ubiquitin from proteasomal substrates. Here, we show that transgenic complementation of ax J mice with neuronally expressed ubiquitin prevents early postnatal lethality, restores muscle mass, and corrects developmental and functional deficits resultingfromthelossofUsp14,demonstratingthatubiquitindeficiencyisamajorcauseoftheneurologicaldefectsobservedinthe ax J mice.We also show that proteasome components are normally induced during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development, which coincides with dramatic alterations in polyubiquitin chain formation. These data demonstrate a critical role for ubiquitin homeostasis in synaptic development and function, and show that ubiquitin deficiency may contribute to diseases characterized by synaptic dysfunction.

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BackgroundUbiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) is one of three proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzymes that remove ubiquitin from proteasomal substrates prior to their degradation. In vitro evidence suggests that inhibiting USP14’s catalytic activity alters the turnover of ubiquitinated proteins by the proteasome, although whether protein degradation is accelerated or delayed seems to be cell-type and substrate specific. For example, combined inhibition of USP14 and the proteasomal deubiquitinating enzyme UCH37 halts protein degradation and promotes apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells, whereas USP14 inhibition alone accelerates the degradation of aggregate-prone proteins in immortalized cell lines. These findings have prompted interest in USP14 as a therapeutic target both inside and outside of the nervous system. However, loss of USP14 in the spontaneously occurring ataxia mouse mutant leads to a dramatic neuromuscular phenotype and early perinatal lethality, suggesting that USP14 inhibition may have adverse consequences in the nervous system. We therefore expressed a catalytically inactive USP14 mutant in the mouse nervous system to determine whether USP14’s catalytic activity is required for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) structure and function.ResultsMice expressing catalytically inactive USP14 in the nervous system exhibited motor deficits, altered NMJ structure, and synaptic transmission deficits that were similar to what is observed in the USP14-deficient ataxia mice. Acute pharmacological inhibition of USP14 in wild type mice also reduced NMJ synaptic transmission. However, there was no evidence of altered proteasome activity when USP14 was inhibited either genetically or pharmacologically. Instead, these manipulations increased the levels of non-proteasome targeting ubiquitin conjugates. Specifically, we observed enhanced proteasome-independent ubiquitination of mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3). Consistent with the direct activation of MLK3 by ubiquitination, we also observed increased activation of its downstrea targets MAP kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In vivo inhibition of JNK improved motor function and synapse structure in the USP14 catalytic mutant mice.ConclusionsUSP14’s catalytic activity is required for nervous system structure and function and has an ongoing role in NMJ synaptic transmission. By regulating the ubiquitination status of protein kinases, USP14 can coordinate the activity of intracellular signaling pathways that control the development and activity of the NMJ.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1750-1326-10-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a motor neuron disease caused by toxic gain-of-function of the androgen receptor (AR). In a prior study we showed that coregulator binding through the activation function-2 (AF2) domain of AR is essential to pathogenesis, suggesting that AF2 may be a druggable target for selective modulation of toxic AR activity. Here we screened previously identified AF2 modulators for their ability to rescue toxicity in a Drosophila model of SBMA. We identified two compounds, tolfenamic acid (TA) and 1-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl]-2-[(2-phenoxyethyl)sulfanyl]-1H-benzimidazole (MEPB), as top candidates for rescuing lethality, locomotor function, and neuromuscular junction defects in SBMA flies. Pharmacokinetic analyses in mice showed a more favorable bioavailability and tissue retention of MEPB compared with TA in muscle, brain, and spinal cord. In a preclinical trial in a novel mouse model of SBMA, MEPB treatment yielded a dose-dependent rescue from loss of body weight, rotarod activity, and grip strength. In addition, MEPB ameliorated neuronal loss, neurogenic atrophy, and testicular atrophy, validating AF2 modulation as a potent androgen-sparing strategy for SBMA therapy.