Nuclear bodies formed by polyQ-ataxin-1 protein are liquid RNA/protein droplets with tunable dynamics

Sunyuan Zhang, Elizabeth Hinde, Molly Parkyn Schneider, David A. Jans, Marie A. Bogoyevitch

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14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A mutant form of the ataxin-1 protein with an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract is the underlying cause of the inherited neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1). In probing the biophysical features of the nuclear bodies (NBs) formed by polyQ-ataxin-1, we defined ataxin-1 NBs as spherical liquid protein/RNA droplets capable of rapid fusion. We observed dynamic exchange of the ataxin-1 protein into these NBs; notably, cell exposure to a pro-oxidant stress could trigger a transition to slower ataxin-1 exchange, typical of a hydrogel state, which no longer showed the same dependence on RNA or sensitivity to 1,6-hexanediol. Furthermore, we could alter ataxin-1 exchange dynamics either through modulating intracellular ATP levels, RNA helicase inhibition, or siRNA-mediated depletion of select RNA helicases. Collectively, these findings reveal the tunable dynamics of the liquid RNA/protein droplets formed by polyQ-ataxin-1.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1557
Number of pages18
JournalScientific Reports
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • imaging
  • nuclear organization

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