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Mechanobiology

Retrograde Degenerative Signaling Mediated by the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Requires p150 Deacetylation by Axonal HDAC1

AUTHORS

Pathak AAmrita , Stanley EMEmily M , Hickman FEF Edward , Wallace NNatalie , Brewer BBryson , Li DDeyu , Gluska SShani , Perlson EEran , Fuhrmann SSabine , Akassoglou KKaterina , Bronfman FFrancisca , Casaccia PPatrizia , Burnette DTDylan T , Carter BDBruce D . Developmental cell. 2018 8 6; 46(3). 376-387.e7

ABSTRACT

During development, neurons undergo apoptosis if they do not receive adequate trophic support from tissues they innervate or when detrimental factors activate the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) at their axon ends. Trophic factor deprivation (TFD) or activation of p75NTR in distal axons results in a retrograde degenerative signal. However, the nature of this signal and the regulation of its transport are poorly understood. Here, we identify p75NTR intracellular domain (ICD) and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) as part of a retrograde pro-apoptotic signal generated in response to TFD or ligand binding to p75NTR in sympathetic neurons. We report an unconventional function of HDAC1 in retrograde transport of a degenerative signal and its constitutive presence in sympathetic axons. HDAC1 deacetylates dynactin subunit p150, which enhances its interaction with dynein. These findings define p75NTR ICD as a retrograde degenerative signal and reveal p150 deacetylation as a unique mechanism regulating axonal transport.