Yin Yang 1 and guanine quadruplexes protect dopaminergic neurons from cellular stress via transmissive dormancy

Kielen R. Zuurbier, Rene Solano Fonseca, Sonja L. B. Arneaud, Jordan M. Wall, Juhee Kim, Lexus Tatge, Gupse Otuzoglu, Sofia Bali, Patrick Metang and Peter M. Douglas ()
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Kielen R. Zuurbier: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Rene Solano Fonseca: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Sonja L. B. Arneaud: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Jordan M. Wall: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Juhee Kim: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Lexus Tatge: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Gupse Otuzoglu: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Sofia Bali: UT Southwestern Medical Center
Patrick Metang: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Peter M. Douglas: Department of Molecular Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Neurons deploy diverse adaptive strategies to ensure survival and neurotransmission amid cellular stress. When these adaptive pathways are overwhelmed, functional impairment or neurodegeneration follows. Here we show that stressed neurons actively induce a state of transmissive dormancy as a protective measure. Extending observations of neurotrauma in C. elegans and mice, human dopaminergic neurons capable of surviving severe cellular challenges both decrease spontaneous activity and modulate dopamine homeostasis through the transcriptional regulator Yin Yang 1 (YY1). To bolster stress resilience and mitigate dopamine toxicity, YY1 increases expression of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2, vMAT2, while coordinately inhibiting dopamine synthesis through stabilization of a guanine quadruplex in intron 10 of tyrosine hydroxylase, TH. This dopaminergic stress response has the potential to cause circuit inactivation, yet safeguards neurons by minimizing the toxic accumulation of cytosolic dopamine and inducing a state of neuronal dormancy. In essence, neurons appear to actively prioritize viability over functionality.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54958-9

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