Neurodegeneration-associated FUS is a novel regulator of circadian gene expression.

BACKGROUND

Circadian rhythms are oscillating physiological and behavioral changes governed by an internal molecular clock, and dysfunctions in circadian rhythms have been associated with ageing and various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the evidence directly connecting the neurodegeneration-associated proteins to circadian control at the molecular level remains sparse.

METHODS

Using meta-analysis, synchronized animals and cell lines, cells and tissues from FUS R521C knock-in rats, we examined the role of FUS in circadian gene expression regulation.

RESULTS

We found that FUS, an oscillating expressed nuclear protein implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), exerted a novel feedback route to regulate circadian gene expression. encoded core circadian protein REV-ERBα bound the promoter and regulated the expression of . Meanwhile, FUS was in the same complex as PER/CRY, and repressed the expression of E box-containing core circadian genes, such as , by mediating the promoter occupancy of PSF-HDAC1. Remarkably, a common pathogenic mutant FUS (R521C) showed increased binding to PSF, and caused decreased expression of .

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, we have demonstrated FUS as a modulator of circadian gene expression, and provided novel mechanistic insights into the mutual influence between circadian control and neurodegeneration-associated proteins.