p97/UBXD1 Generate Ubiquitylated Proteins That Are Sequestered into Nuclear Envelope Herniations in Torsin-Deficient Cells

DYT1 dystonia is a debilitating neurological movement disorder that arises upon Torsin ATPase deficiency. Nuclear envelope (NE) blebs that contain FG-nucleoporins (FG-Nups) and K48-linked ubiquitin are the hallmark phenotype of Torsin manipulation across disease models of DYT1 dystonia. While the aberrant deposition of FG-Nups is caused by defective nuclear pore complex assembly, the source of K48-ubiquitylated proteins inside NE blebs is not known. Here, we demonstrate that the characteristic K48-ubiquitin accumulation inside blebs requires p97 activity. This activity is highly dependent on the p97 adaptor UBXD1. We show that p97 does not significantly depend on the Ufd1/Npl4 heterodimer to generate the K48-ubiquitylated proteins inside blebs, nor does inhibiting translation affect the ubiquitin sequestration in blebs. However, stimulating global ubiquitylation by heat shock greatly increases the amount of K48-ubiquitin sequestered inside blebs. These results suggest that blebs have an extraordinarily high capacity for sequestering ubiquitylated protein generated in a p97-dependent manner. The p97/UBXD1 axis is thus a major factor contributing to cellular DYT1 dystonia pathology and its modulation represents an unexplored potential for therapeutic development.

Automated summary

DYT1 dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by the accumulation of ubiquitylated proteins inside nuclear envelope blebs. This study demonstrates that the accumulation of K48-ubiquitin in blebs is dependent on p97 activity and its adaptor UBXD1. Furthermore, blebs have a high capacity for sequestering ubiquitylated proteins.