Journal: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: CMLS
Article Title: Enhanced secretion of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS-associated misfolded TDP-43 mediated by the ER-ubiquitin specific peptidase USP19
doi: 10.1007/s00018-025-05589-w
Figure Lengend Snippet: The ER-anchored USP19 promotes the secretion of misfolded TDP-43 in the HEK293T cellular model. a Schematic representation of Flag-USP19 constructs used in this study. The C506 residue represents an essential amino acid residue necessary for the ubiquitin peptidase catalytic activity. CS 1&2 CHORD-containing proteins and STG1, UBL ubiquitin-like, USP ubiquitin-specific peptidase, TM transmembrane domain, ZnF zinc finger, ΔTM deleted for the transmembrane domain. The pink star represents the amino terminal Flag tag. b Schematic representation of the full-length TDP-43 (upper panel). The K263E variant is highlighted in blue. LCD Low Complexity Domain, NLS nuclear localization sequences, NTD N-terminal domain, RRM1&2 RNA recognition motif 1&2. HEK293T cells were transfected with TDP-43-WT or TDP-43-K263E encoding constructs and were visualized by immunofluorescence using anti-TDP-43 antibody. Blue signal corresponds to DAPI for nuclei and green signal to TDP-43. Scale bar is 10 µm. c Immunoblotting of sarkosyl soluble supernatant (Sark-sol) and sarkosyl insoluble pellet (Sark-ins) fractions isolated from control HEK293T cells (lanes 1 and 4), or cells expressing TDP-43-WT (lanes 2 and 5) or TDP-43-K263E (lanes 3 and 6) using antibodies directed against TDP-43 and GAPDH as loading control. d Evaluation of misfolded TDP-43 secretion by filter trap assay (FTA). Presence of misfolded TDP-43 in conditioned media from HEK293T cells overexpressing TDP-43-WT and TDP-43-K263E and the different Flag-USP19 or the empty vector (negative control) was monitored by FTA. Upper panel (secretion/conditioned media): nitrocellulose membranes were probed with an antibody directed against TDP-43. Lower panel (cell expression): Western blotting of cell lysates from co-expressing cells using anti-Flag (for USP19), -TDP-43 and -GAPDH antibodies for loading control. e Quantification of secreted TDP-43 upon USP19 expression. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 5 experiments. Significance was assessed by a Mann–Whitney U test ( **p < 0.001 ). f USP19-WT or USP19-ΔTM and TDP-43-K263E overexpression does not affect plasma membrane permeability and cell viability. HEK293T cells transfected with the indicated plasmids were stained with trypan blue and counted. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3 experiments
Article Snippet: The mammalian expression constructs pRK-Flag-USP19 wild-type (USP19 WT , Addgene #78597), USP19 1-1290 (USP19 ΔTM , Addgene #78579), USP19 1-493 (USP19 Nter , Addgene #78581), USP19 494-1318 (USP19 Cter , Addgene #78587) and USP19 C506S (Addgene #78584) were purchased from Addgene and were previously described [ ].
Techniques: Construct, Residue, Ubiquitin Proteomics, Activity Assay, FLAG-tag, Variant Assay, Transfection, Immunofluorescence, Western Blot, Isolation, Control, Expressing, TRAP Assay, Plasmid Preparation, Negative Control, MANN-WHITNEY, Over Expression, Clinical Proteomics, Membrane, Permeability, Staining