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Protective LRRK2 R1398H Variant Enhances GTPase and Wnt Signaling Activity

Nixon-Abell, J; Berwick, DC; Grannó, S; Spain, VA; Blackstone, C; Harvey, K; (2016) Protective LRRK2 R1398H Variant Enhances GTPase and Wnt Signaling Activity. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience , 9 (18) pp. 1-13. 10.3389/fnmol.2016.00018. Green open access

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Abstract

Mutations in LRRK2 are a common cause of familial and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Recently, the LRRK2 GTPase domain R1398H variant was suggested in genetic studies to confer protection against PD but mechanistic data supporting this is lacking. Here, we present evidence that R1398H affects GTPase function, axon outgrowth, and Wnt signaling in a manner opposite to pathogenic LRRK2 mutations. LRRK2 R1398H GTPase domain dimerization and GTP hydrolysis were increased whereas GTP binding was reduced, leading to a decrease in active GTP-bound LRRK2. This protective variant also increased axon length of primary cortical neurones in comparison to wild-type LRRK2, whereas the R1441G LRRK2 pathogenic mutant decreased axon outgrowth. Importantly, R1398H enhanced the stimulatory effect of LRRK2 on canonical Wnt signaling whereas the G2385R risk variant, in accordance with all previously tested pathogenic LRRK2 mutants, had the opposite effect. Molecular modeling placed R1398H in close proximity to PD-causing mutations suggesting that this protective LRRK2 variant, like familial mutations, affects intramolecular RocCOR domain interactions. Thus, our data suggest that R1398H LRRK2 is a bona fide protective variant. The opposite effects of protective versus PD associated LRRK2 variants on GTPase function and canonical Wnt signaling activity also suggests that regulation of these two basic signaling mechanisms is important for neuronal function. We conclude that LRRK2 mediated Wnt signaling and GTPase function are fundamental in conferring disease susceptibility and have clear implications for therapeutic target identification.

Type: Article
Title: Protective LRRK2 R1398H Variant Enhances GTPase and Wnt Signaling Activity
Location: Switzerland
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2016.00018
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2016.00018
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2016 Nixon-Abell, Berwick, Grannó, Spain, Blackstone and Harvey. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, http://www.creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0
Keywords: GTPase activity, LRRK2, Parkinson’s disease, Wnt signaling, protective genetic variant
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy > Pharmacology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1476879
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