Neddylation is critical to cortical development by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Lei Zhang, Hongyang Jing, Haiwen Li, Wenbing Chen, Bin Luo, Hongsheng Zhang, Zhaoqi Dong, Lei Li, Huabo Su, Wen Cheng Xiong, Lin Mei

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Wnt signaling plays a critical role in production and differentiation of neurons and undergoes a progressive reduction during cortical development. However, how Wnt signaling is regulated is not well understood. Here we provide evidence for an indispensable role of neddylation, a ubiquitylation-like protein modification, in inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling. We show that β-catenin is neddylated; and inhibiting β-catenin neddylation increases its nuclear accumulation and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. To test this hypothesis in vivo, we mutated Nae1, an obligative subunit of the E1 for neddylation in cortical progenitors. The mutation leads to eventual reduction in radial glia progenitors (RGPs). Consequently, the production of intermediate progenitors (IPs) and neurons is reduced, and neuron migration is impaired, resulting in disorganization of the cerebral cortex. These phenotypes are similar to those of β-catenin gain-of-function mice. Finally, suppressing β-catenin expression is able to rescue deficits of Nae1 mutant mice. Together, these observations identified a mechanism to regulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cortical development.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)26448-26459
    Number of pages12
    JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    Volume117
    Issue number42
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Oct 20 2020

    Keywords

    • Cerebral cortex
    • Nae1
    • Neddylation
    • Progenitor
    • Wnt/β-catenin signaling

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General

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