Cell
Volume 118, Issue 1, 9 July 2004, Pages 127-138
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Article
Huntingtin Controls Neurotrophic Support and Survival of Neurons by Enhancing BDNF Vesicular Transport along Microtubules

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Abstract

Polyglutamine expansion (polyQ) in the protein huntingtin is pathogenic and responsible for the neuronal toxicity associated with Huntington's disease (HD). Although wild-type huntingtin possesses antiapoptotic properties, the relationship between the neuroprotective functions of huntingtin and pathogenesis of HD remains unclear. Here, we show that huntingtin specifically enhances vesicular transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) along microtubules. Huntingtin-mediated transport involves huntingtin-associated protein-1 (HAP1) and the p150Glued subunit of dynactin, an essential component of molecular motors. BDNF transport is attenuated both in the disease context and by reducing the levels of wild-type huntingtin. The alteration of the huntingtin/HAP1/p150Glued complex correlates with reduced association of motor proteins with microtubules. Finally, we find that the polyQ-huntingtin-induced transport deficit results in the loss of neurotrophic support and neuronal toxicity. Our findings indicate that a key role of huntingtin is to promote BDNF transport and suggest that loss of this function might contribute to pathogenesis.

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4

These authors contributed equally to this work.

5

Present address: Laboratoire de Radiopathologie, CEA-DSV/DRR, IPSC, 92265 Fontenay-aux-roses, France.

6

Present address: Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7100 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 67400 Illkirch, France.