Proteostasis of Huntingtin in Health and Disease

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 18; no. 7; p. 1568
• Main Authors: Koyuncu, Seda, Fatima, Azra, Gutierrez-Garcia, Ricardo, Vilchez, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 19.07.2017; MDPI AG
• Subjects: aging; Aging - metabolism; autophagy; chaperones; Histone Chaperones; Humans; Huntingtin Protein - chemistry; Huntingtin Protein - genetics; Huntingtin Protein - metabolism; Huntington Disease - genetics; Huntington’s disease; Molecular Chaperones - metabolism; Mutation; neurodegeneration; proteasome; Protein Folding; Proteolysis; Proteostasis; Review; proteasome; autophagy; neurodegeneration; Huntington’s disease; aging; proteostasis; chaperones
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071568

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive deficits and psychosis. HD is caused by mutations in the ( ) gene, resulting in the expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats in the HTT protein. Mutant HTT is prone to aggregation, and the accumulation of polyQ-expanded fibrils as well as intermediate oligomers formed during the aggregation process contribute to neurodegeneration. Distinct protein homeostasis (proteostasis) nodes such as chaperone-mediated folding and proteolytic systems regulate the aggregation and degradation of HTT. Moreover, polyQ-expanded HTT fibrils and oligomers can lead to a global collapse in neuronal proteostasis, a process that contributes to neurodegeneration. The ability to maintain proteostasis of HTT declines during the aging process. Conversely, mechanisms that preserve proteostasis delay the onset of HD. Here we will review the link between proteostasis, aging and HD-related changes.