1Hum. Mol. Genet. 2003 Jul 12: 1591-608
PMID12812986
TitleDISC1 (Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1) is a centrosome-associated protein that interacts with MAP1A, MIPT3, ATF4/5 and NUDEL: regulation and loss of interaction with mutation.
AbstractDisrupted-In-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a novel gene associated with schizophrenia by multiple genetic studies. In order to determine how mutations in DISC1 might cause susceptibility to schizophrenia, we undertook a comprehensive study of the cellular biology of DISC1 in its full-length and disease-associated mutant forms. DISC1 interacts by yeast two-hybrid, mammalian two-hybrid, and co-immunoprecipitation assays with multiple proteins of the centrosome and cytoskeletal system, including MIPT3, MAP1A and NUDEL; proteins which localize receptors to membranes, including alpha-actinin2 and beta4-spectrin; and proteins which transduce signals from membrane receptors, including ATF4 and ATF5. Truncated mutant DISC1 fails to interact with ATF4, ATF5 or NUDEL. Deletion mapping demonstrated that DISC1 has distinct interaction domains: MAP1A interacts via its LC2 domain with the N-terminus of DISC1, whereas MIPT3 and NUDEL bind via their C-terminal domains to the central coiled-coil domain of DISC1, and ATF4/5 bind via their C-terminal domains to the C-terminus of DISC1. In its full-length form, DISC1 protein localizes to predominantly perinuclear punctate structures which extend into neurites in some cells; mutant truncated DISC1, by contrast, is seen in a diffuse pattern throughout the cytoplasm and abundantly in neurites. Both forms co-localize with the centrosomal complex, although truncated less abundantly than full-length DISC1. Although both full-length and mutant DISC1 are found in microtubule fractions, neither form of DISC1 appears to bind directly to microtubules, but rather do so in a MIPT3-dependent fashion that is stabilized by taxol. Based on these data, we propose that DISC1 is a multifunctional protein whose truncation contributes to schizophrenia susceptibility by disrupting intracellular transport, neurite architecture and/or neuronal migration, all of which have been hypothesized to be pathogenic in the schizophrenic brain.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
2Hum. Mol. Genet. 2003 Jul 12: 1591-608
PMID12812986
TitleDISC1 (Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1) is a centrosome-associated protein that interacts with MAP1A, MIPT3, ATF4/5 and NUDEL: regulation and loss of interaction with mutation.
AbstractDisrupted-In-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a novel gene associated with schizophrenia by multiple genetic studies. In order to determine how mutations in DISC1 might cause susceptibility to schizophrenia, we undertook a comprehensive study of the cellular biology of DISC1 in its full-length and disease-associated mutant forms. DISC1 interacts by yeast two-hybrid, mammalian two-hybrid, and co-immunoprecipitation assays with multiple proteins of the centrosome and cytoskeletal system, including MIPT3, MAP1A and NUDEL; proteins which localize receptors to membranes, including alpha-actinin2 and beta4-spectrin; and proteins which transduce signals from membrane receptors, including ATF4 and ATF5. Truncated mutant DISC1 fails to interact with ATF4, ATF5 or NUDEL. Deletion mapping demonstrated that DISC1 has distinct interaction domains: MAP1A interacts via its LC2 domain with the N-terminus of DISC1, whereas MIPT3 and NUDEL bind via their C-terminal domains to the central coiled-coil domain of DISC1, and ATF4/5 bind via their C-terminal domains to the C-terminus of DISC1. In its full-length form, DISC1 protein localizes to predominantly perinuclear punctate structures which extend into neurites in some cells; mutant truncated DISC1, by contrast, is seen in a diffuse pattern throughout the cytoplasm and abundantly in neurites. Both forms co-localize with the centrosomal complex, although truncated less abundantly than full-length DISC1. Although both full-length and mutant DISC1 are found in microtubule fractions, neither form of DISC1 appears to bind directly to microtubules, but rather do so in a MIPT3-dependent fashion that is stabilized by taxol. Based on these data, we propose that DISC1 is a multifunctional protein whose truncation contributes to schizophrenia susceptibility by disrupting intracellular transport, neurite architecture and/or neuronal migration, all of which have been hypothesized to be pathogenic in the schizophrenic brain.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
3Neurosci. Res. 2007 Jul 58: 234-44
PMID17418909
TitlePC12 cell model of inducible expression of mutant DISC1: new evidence for a dominant-negative mechanism of abnormal neuronal differentiation.
AbstractA balanced chromosomal translocation, segregating with mental illnesses in a large Scottish family, interrupts the disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene, which would result in loss of DISC1 function via haploinsufficiency or dominant-negative effects (or possibly could cause gain-of-function effects) if a truncated protein is present. To evaluate the effects of a predicted protein, mutant DISC1, we generated stable PC12 cell clones with inducible expression of mutant or full-length human DISC1 (hDISC1). Our study presents new observations that the inhibitory effects of mutant hDISC1 on NGF-induced neurite outgrowth are dependent on the level and timing of expression of mutant DISC1 and the concentrations of NGF, and are associated with altered sub-cellular distribution of endogenous DISC1 and ATF4, and decreased protein levels of LIS1. Thus, inducible expression of DISC1 in PC12 cell clones is a valuable in vitro model for further studying the molecular mechanisms likely due to loss of function of DISC1 relevant to the pathogenesis of major mental illnesses.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
4Neurosci. Lett. 2007 May 417: 316-21
PMID17346882
TitleAssociation analysis of ATF4 and ATF5, genes for interacting-proteins of DISC1, in bipolar disorder.
AbstractDisrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) and its molecular cascade are implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. As interacting-proteins with DISC1, Nudel, ATF4, ATF5, LIS1, alpha-tubulin, PDE4B, eIF3, FEZ1, Kendrin, MAP1A and MIPT3 were identified. We previously showed the down-regulation of ATF5 in the lymphoblastoid cells derived from affected co-twin of monozygotic twins discordant for bipolar disorder. We also suggested the contribution of endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway to the illness, and ATF4 is one of major components in the pathway. Truncated mutant DISC1 reportedly cannot interact with ATF4 and ATF5. These findings suggest the role of these genes in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. In this study, we tested genetic association of ATF4 and ATF5 genes with bipolar disorder by a case-control study in Japanese population (438 patients and 532 controls) and transmission disequilibrium test in 237 trio samples from NIMH Genetics Initiative Pedigrees. We also performed gene expression analysis in lymphoblastoid cells. We did not find any significant association in both genetic study and expression analysis. By the exploratory haplotype analysis, nominal association of ATF4 with bipolar II patients was observed, but it was not significant after correction of multiple testing. Contribution of common variations of ATF4 and ATF5 to the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder may be minimal if any.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
5Mol. Psychiatry 2008 Dec 13: 1138-48, 1069
PMID18762802
TitleNuclear DISC1 regulates CRE-mediated gene transcription and sleep homeostasis in the fruit fly.
AbstractDisrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is one of major susceptibility factors for a wide range of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and autism spectrum conditions. DISC1 is located in several subcellular domains, such as the centrosome and the nucleus, and interacts with various proteins, including NudE-like (NUDEL/NDEL1) and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)/CREB2. Nevertheless, a role for DISC1 in vivo remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we have generated a Drosophila model for examining normal functions of DISC1 in living organisms. DISC1 transgenic flies with preferential accumulation of exogenous human DISC1 in the nucleus display disturbance in sleep homeostasis, which has been reportedly associated with CREB signaling/CRE-mediated gene transcription. Thus, in mammalian cells, we characterized nuclear DISC1, and identified a subset of nuclear DISC1 that colocalizes with the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies, a nuclear compartment for gene transcription. Furthermore, we identified three functional cis-elements that regulate the nuclear localization of DISC1. We also report that DISC1 interacts with ATF4/CREB2 and a corepressor N-CoR, modulating CRE-mediated gene transcription.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
6Eur. J. Hum. Genet. 2008 Jun 16: 750-8
PMID18322454
TitleHomozygosity mapping in a family presenting with schizophrenia, epilepsy and hearing impairment.
AbstractHomozygosity mapping within consanguineous families is a powerful method of localising genes for autosomal recessive disease. We investigated a family from Punjab, Pakistan, a region where consanguineous marriages are frequent. The parents have no detectable clinical disorders. However, five out of six children present with schizophrenia, epilepsy or hearing impairment either alone or in combination. This unusual phenotype in several offspring of first cousins is strongly suggestive of a rare, Mendelian recessive disorder. Two genome-wide scans initially using low-density microsatellites, and subsequently high-density SNP markers were used to map homozygous-by-descent regions in affected individuals. Candidate genes within these loci were subsequently screened for mutations. Homozygosity analysis and inbreeding coefficients were investigated to give an estimate of consanguinity. Two putative disease loci were mapped to 22q12.3-q13.3 and 2p24.3. The candidate locus on chromosome 2p24 overlaps with a deafness locus, DFNB47, linked to autosomal recessive hearing impairment, while positive findings reported for affective psychosis and schizophrenia cluster in a region of 4-5 cM on 22q13.1 within our second candidate locus. Sequence analysis of three candidate genes (KCNF1 (2p); ATF4, CACNG2 (22q)) did not reveal any exonic mutations. Inbreeding coefficients calculated for each family member support a very high degree of ancestral and recent inbreeding. The screening of other candidate genes located within these newly identified disease intervals on Chr2p24.3 and 22q12.3-q13.3 may lead to the discovery of causative variants, and consequent disrupted molecular pathways associated with this rare phenotype.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
7Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr. Genet. 2008 Sep 147B: 732-6
PMID18163433
TitleAssociations of ATF4 gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia in male patients.
AbstractActivating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is considered as a positional candidate gene for schizophrenia due to its location at chromosome 22q13, a region linked to schizophrenia. Furthermore, as protein interaction partner of ATF4, disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) and its signal pathway implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia have been widely supported by a number of genetic and neurobiological studies. Our aim was to investigate whether ATF4 is associated with schizophrenia in case-control samples of Han Chinese subjects consisting of 352 schizophrenia patients and 357 healthy controls. We detected 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ATF4 locus, two of which were analyzed, including one insertion at the putative core promoter region (rs17001266, -/C) and one nonsynonymous variant in exon 1 (rs4894, C/A, Pro22Gln). Allele distributions of two SNPs showed significant associations with schizophrenia in male subjects (respectively, rs17001266: P = 0.021, OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.07-2.33; rs4894: P = 0.004, OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.19-2.67), but not in female subjects as well as the entire population. Two haplotypes CC and -A constructed of rs17001266-rs4894 also revealed significant associations with schizophrenia in male group (global P = 0.0097). These findings support that ATF4 gene may be involved in susceptibility to schizophrenia with sex-dependent effect in the Chinese Han population and suggest that further functional assays are needed to verify their relevance to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
8Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2011 Nov 415: 519-25
PMID22079628
TitleSigma-1Rs are upregulated via PERK/eIF2?/ATF4 pathway and execute protective function in ER stress.
AbstractSigma-1 receptors (Sig-1Rs) are the ER resident proteins. Sig-1Rs in the brain have been reported to be significantly reduced in patients with schizophrenia. The impediment of regulating Sig-1Rs expression levels increases the risk for schizophrenia. Thus elucidating the mechanism regulating Sig-1Rs expression might provide the strategy to prevent mental disorders. In this study, we have demonstrated that Sig-1Rs were transcriptionally upregulated by ATF4 in ER stress. Moreover, ATF4 directly bounds to the 5' flanking region of Sig-1R gene. The reporter activities using this region were enhanced in ER stress, or by ATF4 alone. The reporter activities with the pathogenic polymorphisms (GC-241-240TT, T-485A) were reduced. In addition, the processing of Caspase-4 was inhibited by Sig-1Rs. These results indicate that Sig-1Rs are transcriptionally upregulated via the PERK/eIF2?/ATF4 pathway and ameliolate cell death signaling. This study is the first report identifying the transcription factor regulating Sig-1Rs expression.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
9Cell Rep 2012 Jun 1: 676-88
PMID22813743
TitleBrain-specific disruption of the eIF2? kinase PERK decreases ATF4 expression and impairs behavioral flexibility.
AbstractTranslational control depends on phosphorylation of eIF2? by PKR-like ER kinase (PERK). To examine the role of PERK in cognitive function, we selectively disrupted PERK expression in the adult mouse forebrain. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of PERK-deficient mice, eIF2? phosphorylation and ATF4 expression were diminished and were associated with enhanced behavioral perseveration, decreased prepulse inhibition, reduced fear extinction, and impaired behavioral flexibility. Treatment with the glycine transporter inhibitor SSR504734 normalized eIF2? phosphorylation, ATF4 expression, and behavioral flexibility in PERK-deficient mice. Moreover, the expression levels of PERK and ATF4 were reduced in the frontal cortex of human patients with schizophrenia. Together, our findings reveal that PERK plays a critical role in information processing and cognitive function and that modulation of eIF2? phosphorylation and ATF4 expression may represent an effective strategy for treating behavioral inflexibility associated with several neurological disorders such as schizophrenia.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
10Hum. Mol. Genet. 2012 Jun 21: 2779-92
PMID22422769
TitleDISC1 variants 37W and 607F disrupt its nuclear targeting and regulatory role in ATF4-mediated transcription.
AbstractDisrupted-In-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a strong genetic candidate for psychiatric illness, encodes a multicompartmentalized molecular scaffold that regulates interacting proteins with key roles in neurodevelopment and plasticity. Missense DISC1 variants are associated with the risk of mental illness and with brain abnormalities in healthy carriers, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We examined the effect of rare and common DISC1 amino acid substitutions on subcellular targeting. We report that both the rare putatively causal variant 37W and the common variant 607F independently disrupt DISC1 nuclear targeting in a dominant-negative fashion, predicting that DISC1 nuclear expression is impaired in 37W and 607F carriers. In the nucleus, DISC1 interacts with the transcription factor Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4), which is involved in the regulation of cellular stress responses, emotional behaviour and memory consolidation. At basal cAMP levels, wild-type DISC1 inhibits the transcriptional activity of ATF4, an effect that is weakened by both 37W and 607F independently, most likely as a consequence of their defective nuclear targeting. The common variant 607F additionally reduces DISC1/ATF4 interaction, which likely contributes to its weakened inhibitory effect. We also demonstrate that DISC1 modulates transcriptional responses to endoplasmic reticulum stress, and that this modulatory effect is ablated by 37W and 607F. By showing that DISC1 amino acid substitutions associated with psychiatric illness affect its regulatory function in ATF4-mediated transcription, our study highlights a potential mechanism by which these variants may impact on transcriptional events mediating cognition, emotional reactivity and stress responses, all processes of direct relevance to psychiatric illness.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
11Mol. Psychiatry 2013 Aug 18: 898-908
PMID23587879
TitleDISC1-ATF4 transcriptional repression complex: dual regulation of the cAMP-PDE4 cascade by DISC1.
AbstractDisrupted-In-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a risk factor for major mental illnesses, has been studied extensively in the context of neurodevelopment. However, the role of DISC1 in neuronal signaling, particularly in conjunction with intracellular cascades that occur in response to dopamine, a neurotransmitter implicated in numerous psychiatric disorders, remains elusive. Previous data suggest that DISC1 interacts with numerous proteins that impact neuronal function, including activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). In this study, we identify a novel DISC1 and ATF4 binding region in the genomic locus of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D), a gene implicated in psychiatric disorders. We found that the loss of function of either DISC1 or ATF4 increases PDE4D9 transcription, and that the association of DISC1 with the PDE4D9 locus requires ATF4. We also show that PDE4D9 is increased by D1-type dopamine receptor dopaminergic stimulation. We demonstrate that the mechanism for this increase is due to DISC1 dissociation from the PDE4D locus in mouse brain. We further characterize the interaction of DISC1 with ATF4 to show that it is regulated via protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of DISC1 serine-58. Our results suggest that the release of DISC1-mediated transcriptional repression of PDE4D9 acts as feedback inhibition to regulate dopaminergic signaling. Furthermore, as DISC1 loss-of-function leads to a specific increase in PDE4D9, PDE4D9 itself may represent an attractive target for therapeutic approaches in psychiatric disorders.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
12Cell. Signal. 2014 Sep 26: 1958-74
PMID24815749
TitleMitotic activation of the DISC1-inducible cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase-4D9 (PDE4D9), through multi-site phosphorylation, influences cell cycle progression.
AbstractIn Rat-1 cells, the dramatic decrease in the levels of both intracellular cyclic 3'5' adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP; cAMP) and in the activity of cAMP-activated protein kinase A (PKA) observed in mitosis was paralleled by a profound increase in cAMP hydrolyzing phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) activity. The decrease in PKA activity, which occurs during mitosis, was attributable to PDE4 activation as the PDE4 selective inhibitor, rolipram, but not the phosphodiesterase-3 (PDE3) inhibitor, cilostamide, specifically ablated this cell cycle-dependent effect. PDE4 inhibition caused Rat-1 cells to move from S phase into G2/M more rapidly, to transit through G2/M more quickly and to remain in G1 for a longer period. Inhibition of PDE3 elicited no observable effects on cell cycle dynamics. Selective immunopurification of each of the four PDE4 sub-families identified PDE4D as being selectively activated in mitosis. Subsequent analysis uncovered PDE4D9, an isoform whose expression can be regulated by Disrupted-In-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1)/activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) complex, as the sole PDE4 species activated during mitosis in Rat-1 cells. PDE4D9 becomes activated in mitosis through dual phosphorylation at Ser585 and Ser245, involving the combined action of ERK and an unidentified 'switch' kinase that has previously been shown to be activated by H2O2. Additionally, in mitosis, PDE4D9 also becomes phosphorylated at Ser67 and Ser81, through the action of MK2 (MAPKAPK2) and AMP kinase (AMPK), respectively. The multisite phosphorylation of PDE4D9 by all four of these protein kinases leads to decreased mobility (band-shift) of PDE4D9 on SDS-PAGE. PDE4D9 is predominantly concentrated in the perinuclear region of Rat-1 cells but with a fraction distributed asymmetrically at the cell margins. Our investigations demonstrate that the diminished levels of cAMP and PKA activity that characterise mitosis are due to enhanced cAMP degradation by PDE4D9. PDE4D9, was found to locate primarily not only in the perinuclear region of Rat-1 cells but also at the cell margins. We propose that the sequestration of PDE4D9 in a specific complex together with AMPK, ERK, MK2 and the H2O2-activatable 'switch' kinase allows for its selective multi-site phosphorylation, activation and regulation in mitosis.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic