Epilepsy-associated gene Nedd4-2 mediates neuronal activity and seizure susceptibility through AMPA receptors

PLoS Genet. 2017 Feb 17;13(2):e1006634. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006634. eCollection 2017 Feb.

Abstract

The neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated gene 4-2, Nedd4-2, is an epilepsy-associated gene with at least three missense mutations identified in epileptic patients. Nedd4-2 encodes a ubiquitin E3 ligase that has high affinity toward binding and ubiquitinating membrane proteins. It is currently unknown how Nedd4-2 mediates neuronal circuit activity and how its dysfunction leads to seizures or epilepsies. In this study, we provide evidence to show that Nedd4-2 mediates neuronal activity and seizure susceptibility through ubiquitination of GluA1 subunit of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor, (AMPAR). Using a mouse model, termed Nedd4-2andi, in which one of the major forms of Nedd4-2 in the brain is selectively deficient, we found that the spontaneous neuronal activity in Nedd4-2andi cortical neuron cultures, measured by a multiunit extracellular electrophysiology system, was basally elevated, less responsive to AMPAR activation, and much more sensitive to AMPAR blockade when compared with wild-type cultures. When performing kainic acid-induced seizures in vivo, we showed that elevated seizure susceptibility in Nedd4-2andi mice was normalized when GluA1 is genetically reduced. Furthermore, when studying epilepsy-associated missense mutations of Nedd4-2, we found that all three mutations disrupt the ubiquitination of GluA1 and fail to reduce surface GluA1 and spontaneous neuronal activity when compared with wild-type Nedd4-2. Collectively, our data suggest that impaired GluA1 ubiquitination contributes to Nedd4-2-dependent neuronal hyperactivity and seizures. Our findings provide critical information to the future development of therapeutic strategies for patients who carry mutations of Nedd4-2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 14-3-3 Proteins / genetics
  • 14-3-3 Proteins / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / genetics*
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / metabolism
  • Epilepsy / genetics*
  • Epilepsy / metabolism
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysine / genetics
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Quinoxalines / pharmacology
  • Receptors, AMPA / genetics*
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism
  • Seizures / genetics*
  • Seizures / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Quinoxalines
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • 2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline
  • alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Nedd4 protein, human
  • Nedd4L protein, human
  • Nedd4l protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Lysine