Mutant huntingtin aggregates impair mitochondrial movement and trafficking in cortical neurons

DTW Chang, GL Rintoul, S Pandipati… - Neurobiology of disease, 2006 - Elsevier
DTW Chang, GL Rintoul, S Pandipati, IJ Reynolds
Neurobiology of disease, 2006Elsevier
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine
repeat in the huntingtin gene (Htt). Mitochondrial defects and protein aggregates are
characteristic of affected neurons. Recent studies suggest that these aggregates impair
cellular transport mechanisms by interacting with cytoskeletal components and molecular
motors. Here, we investigated whether mutant Htt alters mitochondrial trafficking and
morphology in primary cortical neurons. We demonstrate that full-length mutant Htt was …
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine repeat in the huntingtin gene (Htt). Mitochondrial defects and protein aggregates are characteristic of affected neurons. Recent studies suggest that these aggregates impair cellular transport mechanisms by interacting with cytoskeletal components and molecular motors. Here, we investigated whether mutant Htt alters mitochondrial trafficking and morphology in primary cortical neurons. We demonstrate that full-length mutant Htt was more effective than N-terminal mutant Htt in blocking mitochondrial movement, an effect that correlated with its heightened expression in the cytosolic compartment. Aggregates impaired the passage of mitochondria along neuronal processes, causing mitochondria to accumulate adjacent to aggregates and become immobilized. Furthermore, mitochondrial trafficking was reduced specifically at sites of aggregates while remaining unaltered in regions lacking aggregates. We conclude that in cortical neurons, an early event in HD pathophysiology is the aberrant mobility and trafficking of mitochondria caused by cytosolic Htt aggregates.
Elsevier