ASL expression in ALDH1A1+ neurons in the substantia nigra metabolically contributes to neurodegenerative phenotype

• Published in: Human genetics Vol. 140; no. 10; pp. 1471 - 1485
• Main Authors: Lerner, Shaul, Eilam, Raya, Adler, Lital, Baruteau, Julien, Kreiser, Topaz, Tsoory, Michael, Brandis, Alexander, Mehlman, Tevie, Ryten, Mina, Botia, Juan A., Ruiz, Sonia Garcia, Garcia, Alejandro Cisterna, Dionisi-Vici, Carlo, Ranucci, Giusy, Spada, Marco, Mazkereth, Ram, McCarter, Robert, Izem, Rima, Balmat, Thomas J., Richesson, Rachel, Gazit, Ehud, Nagamani, Sandesh C. S., Erez, Ayelet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family - genetics; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family - metabolism; Animals; Argininosuccinate lyase; Argininosuccinate Lyase - genetics; Argininosuccinate Lyase - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Catecholamines; Cognitive ability; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine receptors; Dopaminergic Neurons - metabolism; Gene Function; Human Genetics; Humans; Hydroxylase; Metabolic Diseases; Mice; Molecular Medicine; Movement disorders; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Original Investigation; Parkinson Disease - genetics; Parkinson Disease - metabolism; Parkinson's disease; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Protein seeding; Retinal Dehydrogenase - genetics; Retinal Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Substantia nigra; Supplements; Synuclein; Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase
• ISSN: 0340-6717; 1432-1203
• DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02345-5

Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) is essential for the NO-dependent regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and thus for catecholamine production. Using a conditional mouse model with loss of ASL in catecholamine neurons, we demonstrate that ASL is expressed in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, including the ALDH1A1  +  subpopulation that is pivotal for the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD). Neuronal loss of ASL results in catecholamine deficiency, in accumulation and formation of tyrosine aggregates, in elevation of α-synuclein, and phenotypically in motor and cognitive deficits. NO supplementation rescues the formation of aggregates as well as the motor deficiencies. Our data point to a potential metabolic link between accumulations of tyrosine and seeding of pathological aggregates in neurons as initiators for the pathological processes involved in neurodegeneration. Hence, interventions in tyrosine metabolism via regulation of NO levels may be therapeutic beneficial for the treatment of catecholamine-related neurodegenerative disorders.