Protein found to be key component in irregularly excited brain cells

Study: Protein found to be key component in irregularly excited brain cells
Research scientist Kwan Young Lee, left, molecular and integrative physiology professor Nien-Pei Tsai and their colleagues discovered that an overabundance of the tumor suppressor protein p53 in neurons can lead to impaired regulation of neuronal excitability in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. Credit: Steph Adams

In a new study in mice, researchers have identified a key protein involved in the irregular brain cell activity seen in autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy. The protein, p53, is well-known in cancer biology as a tumor suppressor.

The findings, reported in the journal Human Molecular Genetics, will open new avenues for understanding the factors that contribute to these developmental disabilities, said Nien-Pei Tsai, a University of Illinois professor of molecular and integrative physiology who led the new research.

"Under physiologically normal circumstances, neurons are able to readjust their excitability: the strength at which neurons are firing," Tsai said. "But in , such as Fragile X syndrome, and in epilepsy, you see higher levels of excitability. Our brains need a baseline for neurons to return to after higher or lower neuron excitability. If the neurons can't return to a normal range, then the baseline is reset outside of a normal range."

This affects both behavioral characteristics and cognitive functioning, he said.

Using a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited autism disorder, the researchers discovered a molecular mechanism involved in the inability to regulate excitability. The is present in higher-than-normal levels in irregularly excitable neurons.

In an earlier study, Tsai found that p53 in neurons breaks down when normal neurons are at a higher excitable state. Previously, the protein was best known for its role in cancer suppression.

"Many patients with cancer have lower levels of p53 or mutated p53, and we know that this protein is important for cell division," Tsai said. "But the protein also is present in neurons, which do not divide, so we were interested in understanding the role the protein plays when it is not involved in cell division."

In the new study, researchers found that p53, which doesn't break down normally in Fragile X neurons, triggered a cascade of reactions that interfered with the normal signal to return to a calmer state, Tsai said.

"We don't yet know all the parts of this cascade, but we did find that p53 interferes with another important protein, Nedd4-2, that is associated with epilepsy," he said.

The researchers tested the cellular effect of reducing the protein by knocking down the in their mouse model. They also inhibited the protein in neurons grown in cell culture with a drug used in cancer research to see the effect in communications between groups of neurons and one-to-one synaptic connections.

"We found that in both cases—removal of the and inhibition of the —the connections between synapses and groups of were able to return to a normal, stable state," Tsai said. "These findings show a previously unknown, and very strong, role that p53 is playing in irregular brain cell function."

More information: Kwan Young Lee et al, Loss of fragile X protein FMRP impairs homeostatic synaptic downscaling through tumor suppressor p53 and ubiquitin E3 ligase Nedd4-2, Human Molecular Genetics (2018). DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy189

Journal information: Human Molecular Genetics
Citation: Protein found to be key component in irregularly excited brain cells (2018, July 17) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-07-protein-key-component-irregularly-brain.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Delayed development of fast-spiking neurons linked to Fragile X

112 shares

Feedback to editors