Aberrant protein aggregation is essential for a mutant desmin to impair the proteolytic function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in cardiomyocytes

Jinbao Liu, Mingxin Tang, Ruben Mestril, Xuejun Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aberrant protein aggregates in cardiomyocytes are frequently observed in many forms of cardiomyopathies and are often associated with impairment of proteolytic function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). However, a causal relationship between mutant desmin (MT-des) induced aberrant protein aggregation and UPS impairment has not been established. The present study has tested the causal relationship. In cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, modest overexpression of a human (cardio)myopathy-linked MT-des protein led to formation of desmin-positive aggregates and inhibited UPS proteolytic function in cardiomyocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Prevention or reduction of aberrant protein aggregation by co-expression of a heat shock protein (Hsp), αB-crystallin or inducible Hsp70, or by treatment of Congo red prevented and/or significantly attenuated the induction of UPS malfunction by MT-des. These findings prove for the first time that aberrant protein aggregation is not only sufficient but also required for MT-des to impair UPS proteolytic function in cardiomyocytes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)451-454
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
Volume40
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Heat shock protein
  • Protein folding
  • Proteolysis
  • αB-crystallin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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