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The deubiquitinase ataxin-3 requires Rad23 and DnaJ-1 for its neuroprotective role in Drosophila melanogaster
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The deubiquitinase ataxin-3 requires Rad23 and DnaJ-1 for its neuroprotective role in Drosophila melanogaster

Wei-Ling Tsou, Michelle Ouyang, Ryan R. Hosking, Joanna R. Sutton, Jessica R. Blount, Aaron A. Burr and Sokol V. Todi
Neurobiology of disease, Vol.82, pp.12-21
10/01/2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.05.010
PMCID: PMC4710962
PMID: 26007638
url
https://doaj.org/article/f04b9134a46347b3a6fc91a36e74868bView
Open Access

Abstract

Ataxin-3 is a deubiquitinase and polyglutamine (polyQ) disease protein with a protective role in Drosophila melanogaster models of neurodegeneration. In the fruit fly, wild-type ataxin-3 suppresses toxicity from several polyQ disease proteins, including a pathogenic version of itself that causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and pathogenic huntingtin, which causes Huntington's disease. The molecular partners of ataxin-3 in this protective function are unclear. Here, we report that ataxin-3 requires its direct interaction with the ubiquitin-binding and proteasome-associated protein, Rad23 (known as hHR23A/B in mammals) in order to suppress toxicity from polyQ species in Drosophila. According to additional studies, ataxin-3 does not rely on autophagy or the proteasome to suppress polyQ-dependent toxicity in fly eyes. Instead this deubiquitinase, through its interaction with Rad23, leads to increased protein levels of the co-chaperone DnaJ-1 and depends on it to protect against degeneration. Through DnaJ-1, our data connect ataxin-3 and Rad23 to protective processes involved with protein folding rather than increased turnover of toxic polyQ species. •Ataxin-3 is a deubiquitinase that suppresses neurodegeneration in Drosophila.•Ataxin-3 requires Rad23 and DnaJ-1 to protect against toxic species in flies.•Ataxin-3, through its interaction with Rad23, leads to increased levels of DnaJ-1.•DnaJ-1 requires stress-inducible heat shock proteins to suppress degeneration.
Ataxin-3 Chaperone Deubiquitinase Drosophila Machado–Joseph disease Polyglutamine Ubiquitin

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