Smurf2 regulates stability and the autophagic–lysosomal turnover of lamin A and its disease-associated form progerin

Aurora Paola Borroni, Andrea Emanuelli, Pooja Anil Shah, Nataša Ilić, Liat Apel-Sarid, Biagio Paolini, Dhanoop Manikoth Ayyathan, Praveen Koganti, Gal Levy-Cohen, Michael Blank

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A-lamins, encoded by the LMNA gene, are major structural components of the nuclear lamina coordinating essential cellular processes. Mutations in the LMNA gene and/or alterations in its expression levels have been linked to a distinct subset of human disorders, collectively known as laminopathies, and to cancer. Mechanisms regulating A-lamins are mostly obscure. Here, we identified E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf2 as a physiological regulator of lamin A and its disease-associated mutant form progerin (LAΔ50), whose expression underlies the development of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a devastating premature aging syndrome. We show that Smurf2 directly binds, ubiquitinates, and negatively regulates the expression of lamin A and progerin in Smurf2 dose- and E3 ligase-dependent manners. Overexpression of catalytically active Smurf2 promotes the autophagic–lysosomal breakdown of lamin A and progerin, whereas Smurf2 depletion increases lamin A levels. Remarkably, acute overexpression of Smurf2 in progeria fibroblasts was able to significantly reduce the nuclear deformability. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the reciprocal relationship between Smurf2 and A-lamins is preserved in different types of mouse and human normal and cancer tissues. These findings establish Smurf2 as an essential regulator of lamin A and progerin and lay a foundation for evaluating the efficiency of progerin clearance by Smurf2 in HGPS, and targeting of the Smurf2–lamin A axis in age-related diseases such as cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere12732
JournalAging Cell
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2018

Keywords

  • Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
  • Smurf2
  • autophagy
  • lamin A
  • progerin
  • ubiquitination

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ageing
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Smurf2 regulates stability and the autophagic–lysosomal turnover of lamin A and its disease-associated form progerin'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this