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Loss of MAGEL2 in Prader-Willi syndrome leads to decreased secretory granule and neuropeptide production
Helen Chen, A. Kaitlyn Victor, Jonathon Klein, Klementina Fon Tacer, Derek J.C. Tai, Celine de Esch, Alexander Nuttle, Jamshid Temirov, Lisa C. Burnett, Michael Rosenbaum, Yiying Zhang, Li Ding, James J. Moresco, Jolene K. Diedrich, John R. Yates III, Heather S. Tillman, Rudolph L. Leibel, Michael E. Talkowski, Daniel D. Billadeau, Lawrence T. Reiter, Patrick Ryan Potts
Helen Chen, A. Kaitlyn Victor, Jonathon Klein, Klementina Fon Tacer, Derek J.C. Tai, Celine de Esch, Alexander Nuttle, Jamshid Temirov, Lisa C. Burnett, Michael Rosenbaum, Yiying Zhang, Li Ding, James J. Moresco, Jolene K. Diedrich, John R. Yates III, Heather S. Tillman, Rudolph L. Leibel, Michael E. Talkowski, Daniel D. Billadeau, Lawrence T. Reiter, Patrick Ryan Potts
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Research Article Cell biology Neuroscience

Loss of MAGEL2 in Prader-Willi syndrome leads to decreased secretory granule and neuropeptide production

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Abstract

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a developmental disorder caused by loss of maternally imprinted genes on 15q11-q13, including melanoma antigen gene family member L2 (MAGEL2). The clinical phenotypes of PWS suggest impaired hypothalamic neuroendocrine function; however, the exact cellular defects are unknown. Here, we report deficits in secretory granule (SG) abundance and bioactive neuropeptide production upon loss of MAGEL2 in humans and mice. Unbiased proteomic analysis of Magel2pΔ/m+ mice revealed a reduction in components of SG in the hypothalamus that was confirmed in 2 PWS patient–derived neuronal cell models. Mechanistically, we show that proper endosomal trafficking by the MAGEL2-regulated WASH complex is required to prevent aberrant lysosomal degradation of SG proteins and reduction of mature SG abundance. Importantly, loss of MAGEL2 in mice, NGN2-induced neurons, and human patients led to reduced neuropeptide production. Thus, MAGEL2 plays an important role in hypothalamic neuroendocrine function, and cellular defects in this pathway may contribute to PWS disease etiology. Moreover, these findings suggest unanticipated approaches for therapeutic intervention.

Authors

Helen Chen, A. Kaitlyn Victor, Jonathon Klein, Klementina Fon Tacer, Derek J.C. Tai, Celine de Esch, Alexander Nuttle, Jamshid Temirov, Lisa C. Burnett, Michael Rosenbaum, Yiying Zhang, Li Ding, James J. Moresco, Jolene K. Diedrich, John R. Yates III, Heather S. Tillman, Rudolph L. Leibel, Michael E. Talkowski, Daniel D. Billadeau, Lawrence T. Reiter, Patrick Ryan Potts

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Figure 2

Quantitative proteomics reveals loss of SG proteins in hypothalamus of Magel2pΔ/m+ mice.

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Quantitative proteomics reveals loss of SG proteins in hypothalamus of M...
(A) Volcano plots showing proteins that are significantly changed in 8-week-old Magel2pΔ/m+ mouse hypothalamuses as detected by TMT. The horizontal lines denote P value thresholds (P ≤ 0.05; analyzed by unpaired, 2-tailed t test), and vertical lines denote log2 fold change thresholds (>0.5 and <–0.5), n = 5 per genotype. (B) Gene ontology categories that are enriched based on proteins with significantly decreased abundance in Magel2pΔ/m+ mouse hypothalamuses. (C) Peptide abundances of various SG proteins are significantly reduced in 8-week-old Magel2pΔ/m+ mouse hypothalamuses. The Magel2pΔ/m+ animal is normalized to averaged Magel2+/+ mice; n = 5 per genotype. Each data point represents 1 animal, plotted as mean ± SD and indicated P values as analyzed by unpaired, 2-tailed t test with Bonferroni’s correction. (D) Western blot analysis confirmed reduced expression of Pcsk1, Pcsk2, and Chgb in 8-week-old Magel2p-/m+ mouse hypothalamuses. Asterisks mark a nonspecific band. Gapdh served as loading control. (E) Quantification of Western blot analysis showed reduced expression of Pcsk1, Pcsk2, and Chgb in Magel2pΔ/m+ mouse hypothalamuses at 2, 4, 8, and 20 weeks; n > 4 per genotype. Each target protein is first normalized to Gapdh, and then the Magel2p-/m+ animal is normalized to averaged Magel2+/+ mice. Each data point represents 1 animal, plotted as mean ± SD and analyzed by 2-tailed t test with Bonferroni’s correction. (F–H) Volcano plots showing proteins that are significantly changed in Magel2p–/m+ mouse (F) pituitary (8 weeks old), (G) liver (5.4 months old), and (H) white adipose tissue (5.4 months old), as detected by TMT. The horizontal lines denote P value thresholds (P ≤ 0.05; analyzed by unpaired, 2-tailed t test), and vertical lines denote log2 fold change thresholds (>0.5 and <–0.5). n = 5 per genotype. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01.

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