The Drosophila Nesprin-1 homolog MSP300 is required for muscle autophagy and proteostasis

Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Abstract

Nesprin proteins, which are components of the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, are located within the nuclear envelope and play prominent roles in nuclear architecture. For example, LINC complex proteins interact with both chromatin and the cytoskeleton. Here, we report that the Drosophila Nesprin MSP300 has an additional function in autophagy within larval body wall muscles. RNAi-mediated MSP300 knockdown in larval body wall muscles resulted in defects in the contractile apparatus, muscle degeneration and defective autophagy. In particular, MSP300 knockdown caused accumulation of cytoplasmic aggregates that contained poly-ubiquitylated cargo, as well as the autophagy receptor ref(2)P (the fly homolog of p62 or SQSTM) and Atg8a. Furthermore, MSP300 knockdown larvae expressing an mCherry–GFP-tagged Atg8a transgene exhibited aberrant persistence of the GFP signal within these aggregates, indicating failure of autophagosome maturation. These autophagy deficits were similar to those exhibited by loss of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) fusion protein Atlastin (Atl), raising the possibility that Atl and MSP300 might function in the same pathway. In support of this possibility, we found that a GFP-tagged MSP300 protein trap exhibited extensive localization to the ER. Alteration of ER-directed MSP300 might abrogate important cytoskeletal contacts necessary for autophagosome completion.

Description
Advisor
Degree
Type
Journal article
Keywords
Citation

van der Graaf, K., Srivastav, S., Nishad, R., Stern, M., & McNew, J. A. (2024). The Drosophila Nesprin-1 homolog MSP300 is required for muscle autophagy and proteostasis. Journal of Cell Science, 137(11), jcs262096. https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.262096

Has part(s)
Forms part of
Rights
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the terms of the license or beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
Citable link to this page