TECPR1 promotes aggrephagy by direct recruitment of LC3C autophagosomes to lysosomes

Nat Commun. 2020 Jun 12;11(1):2993. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16689-5.

Abstract

The accumulation of protein aggregates is involved in the onset of many neurodegenerative diseases. Aggrephagy is a selective type of autophagy that counteracts neurodegeneration by degrading such aggregates. In this study, we found that LC3C cooperates with lysosomal TECPR1 to promote the degradation of disease-related protein aggregates in neural stem cells. The N-terminal WD-repeat domain of TECPR1 selectively binds LC3C which decorates matured autophagosomes. The interaction of LC3C and TECPR1 promotes the recruitment of autophagosomes to lysosomes for degradation. Augmented expression of TECPR1 in neural stem cells reduces the number of protein aggregates by promoting their autophagic clearance, whereas knockdown of LC3C inhibits aggrephagy. The PH domain of TECPR1 selectively interacts with PtdIns(4)P to target TECPR1 to PtdIns(4)P containing lysosomes. Exchanging the PH against a tandem-FYVE domain targets TECPR1 ectopically to endosomes. This leads to an accumulation of LC3C autophagosomes at endosomes and prevents their delivery to lysosomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagosomes / metabolism*
  • Autophagosomes / ultrastructure
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Lysosomes / ultrastructure
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / chemistry
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • Proteolysis
  • RNA Interference

Substances

  • MAP1LC3C protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Protein Aggregates
  • TECPR1 protein, human