The peroxisomal fatty acid transporter ABCD1/PMP-4 is required in the C. elegans hypodermis for axonal maintenance: A worm model for adrenoleukodystrophy

Adrenoleukodystrophy is a neurometabolic disorder caused by a defective peroxisomal ABCD1 transporter of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). Its pathogenesis is incompletely understood. Here we characterize a nematode model of X-ALD with loss of the pmp-4 gene, the worm orthologue of ABCD1. These...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Coppa, Andrea, Guha, Sanjib K., Fourcade, Stéphane, Parameswaran, Janani, Ruiz, Montserrat, Moser, Ann B., Schlüter, Agatha, Murphy, Michael P., Lizcano, J. M., Miranda-Vizuete, Antonio, Dalfó, Esther, Pujol, Aurora
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2020
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/236051
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/236051
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy
Axonal degeneration
Hypodermis
Mitochondria redox imbalance
Lipid droplets
Peroxisomes
Description
Summary:Adrenoleukodystrophy is a neurometabolic disorder caused by a defective peroxisomal ABCD1 transporter of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). Its pathogenesis is incompletely understood. Here we characterize a nematode model of X-ALD with loss of the pmp-4 gene, the worm orthologue of ABCD1. These mutants recapitulate the hallmarks of X-ALD: i) VLCFAs accumulation and impaired mitochondrial redox homeostasis and ii) axonal damage coupled to locomotor dysfunction. Furthermore, we identify a novel role for PMP-4 in modulating lipid droplet dynamics. Importantly, we show that the mitochondria targeted antioxidant MitoQ normalizes lipid droplets size, and prevents axonal degeneration and locomotor disability, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Moreover, PMP-4 acting solely in the hypodermis rescues axonal and locomotion abnormalities, suggesting a myelin-like role for the hypodermis in providing essential peroxisomal functions for the nematode nervous system.