Cited by 71Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsUbiquitin and proteasome pathwaysNuclear Receptors and Signaling

Degradation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease and Dopa-Responsive Dystonia

Open access
Kawahata, Ichiro, Fukunaga, Kohji·2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Abstract

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic systems govern physiological functions related to locomotion, and their dysfunction leads to movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and dopa-responsive dystonia (Segawa disease). Previous studies revealed that expression of the gene encoding nigrostriatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme of dopamine biosynthesis, is reduced in Parkinson’s disease and dopa-responsive dystonia; however, the mechanism of TH depletion in these disorders remains unclear. In this article, we review the molecular mechanism underlying the neurodegeneration process in dopamine-containing neurons and focus on the novel degradation pathway of TH through the ubiquitin-proteasome system to advance our understanding of the etiology of Parkinson’s disease and dopa-responsive dystonia. We also introduce the relation of α-synuclein propagation with the loss of TH protein in Parkinson’s disease as well as anticipate therapeutic targets and early diagnosis of these diseases.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review proposes that phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), especially pSer40-TH, is ubiquitinated and degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, contributing to loss of nigrostriatal TH protein in Parkinson’s disease and dopa-responsive dystonia. It also links α-synuclein aggregation/propagation and FABP3-mediated uptake to increased TH phosphorylation and reduced TH protein, suggesting therapeutic and early diagnostic targets.

Key findings

  • Nigrostriatal TH protein is markedly reduced in PD and DRD; DRD patients show severely reduced (<3%) TH protein in the putamen, and in PD the striatal decrease in total TH protein is greater than the decrease in total enzyme activity, suggesting phosphorylation-linked loss.
  • Proteasome inhibition causes accumulation of ubiquitin-positive pSer40-TH and insoluble inclusions in NGF-differentiated PC12D cells; dopamine or biopterin deficiency potentiates Ser40 phosphorylation and ubiquitination, and pSer40-TH degradation is sensitive to MG-132.
  • α-Synuclein aggregation increases pSer40-TH and decreases total TH protein in cultured dopaminergic neurons; soluble α-synuclein may maintain phosphorylated TH via PP2A, whereas aggregated/filamentous α-synuclein promotes TH phosphorylation and degradation.
  • FABP3 is reported critical for α-synuclein uptake into dopaminergic neurons and spreading; serum FABP3 is increased in PD, and FABP3 ligands inhibit α-synuclein oligomerization in PD mouse models, suggesting therapeutic targets.

Methods

  • Narrative review; no primary experimental data or systematic search strategy described.
  • Synthesizes published in vitro, animal, and human postmortem evidence on TH phosphorylation, ubiquitination/proteasomal degradation, α-synuclein, and FABP3.
  • Main analysis is conceptual integration, proposing a “negative spiral” of TH phosphorylation-induced degradation in PD and DRD.

Limitations

  • The paper states the molecular mechanism of onset and TH loss is not completely elucidated and that further study is needed.
  • Evident: as a narrative review, it does not report a systematic literature search, quality assessment, or meta-analysis, and conclusions rely on cited studies rather than new primary data.
  • Evident: many mechanistic claims are based on cell and animal models; the text notes uncertainty about why dopaminergic neurons selectively degenerate and about factors beyond α-synuclein itself.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/ijms21113779

Cites

170 of 170 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 65 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation

    26S proteasomal inhibition leads to formation of insoluble inclusions of pSer40-TH in NGF-differentiated PC12D cells.

    “We further revealed that 26S proteasomal inhibition leads to accumulation of TH phosphorylated at Ser40 (pSer40-TH), which are ubiquitin-positive, as well as formation of its insoluble inclusions in NGF-differentiated PC12D cells [70].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [70] Kawahata, 2009, Accumulation of phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase into insoluble protein aggregates by inhibition of an ubiquitin-proteasome system in PC12D cells, J. Neural Transm. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    Proteasomal inhibition leads to accumulation of pSer40-TH, which is ubiquitin-immunopositive, in NGF-differentiated PC12D cells.

    “we previously found that proteasomal inhibition leads to accumulation of pSer40-TH, which is ubiquitin-immunopositive, in nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12D cells [70].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [70] Kawahata, 2009, Accumulation of phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase into insoluble protein aggregates by inhibition of an ubiquitin-proteasome system in PC12D cells, J. Neural Transm. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingown data

    Formation of intracellular aggregations of filamentous α-synuclein led to a decrease in total TH protein levels with increased pSer40-TH in cultured dopaminergic neurons.

    “Indeed, we revealed that the formation of intracellular aggregations of filamentous α-synuclein led to a decrease in the total TH protein levels with increased pSer40-TH in cultured dopaminergic neurons (Figure 4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation

    FABP3 is essential in MPP+-induced morphological abnormality, mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity.

    “FABP3 is also essential in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced morphological abnormality, mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity [144].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [144] Kawahata, I., Bousset, L., Melki, R., and Fukunaga, K. (2019). Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 3 is Critical for alpha-Synuclein Uptake and MPP(+)-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cultured Dopaminergic Neurons. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 20. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingcitation

    FABP3 ligand inhibits α-synuclein oligomerization in PD mouse models.

    “Intriguingly, FABP3 ligand, which we have recently synthesized, inhibits α-synuclein oligomerization in PD mouse models [150,151].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [150] Matsuo, 2019, Inhibition of MPTP-induced alpha-synuclein oligomerization by fatty acid-binding protein 3 ligand in MPTP-treated mice, Neuropharmacology source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [151] Cheng, 2019, Development of FABP3 ligands that inhibit arachidonic acid-induced alpha-synuclein oligomerization, Brain Res. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims. 16
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 2
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    FABP3 is critical for α-synuclein uptake into dopaminergic neurons and enhances α-synuclein spreading.

    “Very recently, we showed that fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3) is critical for α-synuclein uptake into dopaminergic neurons [144] and enhancement of α-synuclein spreading [145].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [144] Kawahata, I., Bousset, L., Melki, R., and Fukunaga, K. (2019). Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 3 is Critical for alpha-Synuclein Uptake and MPP(+)-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cultured Dopaminergic Neurons. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 20. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [145] Yabuki, Y., Matsuo, K., Kawahata, I., Fukui, N., Mizobata, T., Kawata, Y., Owada, Y., Shioda, N., and Fukunaga, K. (2020). Fatty Acid Binding Protein 3 Enhances the Spreading and Toxicity of alpha-Synuclein in Mouse Brain. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 21. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Proteasomal inhibition results in TH aggregation, whereas choline acetyltransferase does not show such aggregations.

    “Interestingly, proteasomal inhibition results in TH aggregation, whereas choline acetyltransferase does not show such aggregations [70].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [70] Kawahata, 2009, Accumulation of phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase into insoluble protein aggregates by inhibition of an ubiquitin-proteasome system in PC12D cells, J. Neural Transm. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Lack of dopamine accelerates proteasomal degradation of TH and its phosphorylation through PKA activation, resulting in loss of TH protein and a negative spiral of TH depletion.

    “Moreover, the lack of dopamine accelerates the proteasomal degradation of TH and its phosphorylation through PKA activation, resulting in the loss of TH protein and the negative spiral of TH depletion (Figure 3).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Dopamine-modified α-synuclein blocks chaperone-mediated autophagy, which induces abnormal intracellular accumulation of α-synuclein in PD.

    “dopamine-modified α-synuclein blocks chaperone-mediated autophagy [109,110], which induces abnormal intracellular accumulation α-synuclein in PD [120].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [109] Cuervo, 2004, Impaired degradation of mutant alpha-synuclein by chaperone-mediated autophagy, Science source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [110] Vogiatzi, 2008, Wild type alpha-synuclein is degraded by chaperone-mediated autophagy and macroautophagy in neuronal cells, J. Biol. Chem. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [120] Talloczy, 2008, Dopamine-modified alpha-synuclein blocks chaperone-mediated autophagy, J. Clin. Investig.

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    α-Synuclein is degraded by proteasomes, and phosphorylated α-synuclein is ubiquitinated in α-synucleinopathy lesions, indicating that the ubiquitin-proteasome system degrades phosphorylated synuclein.

    “α-Synuclein is degraded by proteasomes [106,107], and phosphorylated α-synuclein is ubiquitinated in α-synucleinopathy lesions [108], indicating that the ubiquitin-proteasome system degrades phosphorylated synuclein.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [106] Bennett, 1999, Degradation of alpha-synuclein by proteasome, J. Biol. Chem. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [107] Giasson, 2003, Are ubiquitination pathways central to Parkinson’s disease?, Cell source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [108] Hasegawa, 2002, Phosphorylated alpha-synuclein is ubiquitinated in alpha-synucleinopathy lesions, J. Biol. Chem. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Human recombinant TH protein is ubiquitinated and degraded in the reticulocyte lysate system.

    “Døskeland and Flatmark reported that human recombinant TH protein is ubiquitinated and degraded in the reticulocyte lysate system [98].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [98] Flatmark, 2002, Ubiquitination of soluble and membrane-bound tyrosine hydroxylase and degradation of the soluble form, Eur. J. Biochem. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Knockout of dopamine transporter decreases dopamine content in terminals of dopaminergic neurons, accompanied by elevation of pSer40-TH and reduction of total TH protein.

    “Salvatore et al. further revealed that knockout of dopamine transporter decreased dopamine content in the terminals of dopaminergic neurons, and this phenomenon was accompanied by the elevation of pSer40-TH and reduction of total TH protein [103].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [103] Salvatore, 2016, Regulation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Expression and Phosphorylation in Dopamine Transporter-Deficient Mice, ACS Chem. Neurosci. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Parkinsonian brains have very low levels of TH mRNAs in the substantia nigra compared with control brains, but no significant differences are found between schizophrenic and normal brains.

    “Ichinose et al. previously showed that Parkinsonian brains had very low levels of TH mRNAs in the substantia nigra compared with control brains, but no significant differences were found between schizophrenic and normal brains [68].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [68] Ichinose, 1994, Quantification of mRNA of tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia, J. Neural Transm. Park. Dis. Dement. Sect. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    α-Synuclein monomer prevents excessive phosphorylation of TH by activating PP2A.

    “which suggests the possibility that α-synuclein monomer prevents excessive phosphorylation of TH by activating PP2A.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    pSer40-TH degradation is sensitive to MG-132, a 26S proteasome inhibitor, indicating ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated degradation.

    “This pSer40-TH degradation was sensitive to MG-132, a 26S proteasome inhibitor [74], indicating a ubiquitin-proteasome system-mediated degradation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [74] Kawahata, 2015, Dopamine or biopterin deficiency potentiates phosphorylation at (40)Ser and ubiquitination of tyrosine hydroxylase to be degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome system, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The dopamine- or biopterin-deficient state, corresponding to PD or DRD, facilitates TH phosphorylation and leads to reduction of total TH level in cultured cells.

    “the dopamine- or biopterin-deficient state, which corresponds to PD or DRD, respectively, facilitates TH phosphorylation and leads to reduction of the total TH level in cultured cells [73,74].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [73] Kawahata, 2009, Long-term up-regulation of the level of phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase by depletion of dopamine or biopterin, Neurosci. Res. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [74] Kawahata, 2015, Dopamine or biopterin deficiency potentiates phosphorylation at (40)Ser and ubiquitination of tyrosine hydroxylase to be degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome system, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    TH protein levels in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons are markedly decreased in both PD and DRD, but not in schizophrenia.

    “These results suggest that TH protein levels in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons are markedly decreased in both PD and DRD, but not in schizophrenia.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Overexpression of wild-type or mutant human α-synuclein caused by the TH promoter did not result in formation of pathological inclusions nor alter behavior and sensitivity to MPTP in C57BL/6 mice.

    “Because the overexpression of wild-type or mutant human α-synuclein caused by the TH promoter did not result in the formation of pathological inclusions nor alter the behavior and sensitivity to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in C57BL/6 mice [117,118,119]”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [117] Matsuoka, 2001, Lack of nigral pathology in transgenic mice expressing human alpha-synuclein driven by the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter, Neurobiol. Dis. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [118] Kahle, 2001, Sensitivity to MPTP is not increased in Parkinson’s disease-associated mutant alpha-synuclein transgenic mice, J. Neurochem. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [119] Richfield, 2002, Behavioral and neurochemical effects of wild-type and mutated human alpha-synuclein in transgenic mice, Exp. Neurol. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Failure of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the substantia nigra in PD impairs degradation of α-synuclein, which facilitates formation of filamentous inclusions.

    “the failure of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the substantia nigra in PD [94] presumably impairs the degradation of α-synuclein, which facilitates the formation of filamentous inclusions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [94] McNaught, 2001, Proteasomal function is impaired in substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease, Neurosci. Lett. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: Reduced proteasomal activity in PD is sufficient to impair degradation of α-synuclein and TH in vivo.
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Aggregation of α-synuclein potentiates TH phosphorylation and reduces total TH protein.

    “Such aggregation of α-synuclein presumably potentiates TH phosphorylation and reduces total TH protein [116,122,123].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [116] Perez, 2002, A role for alpha-synuclein in the regulation of dopamine biosynthesis, J. Neurosci. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [122] Perez, 2004, Could a loss of alpha-synuclein function put dopaminergic neurons at risk?, J. Neurochem. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [123] Alerte, 2008, Alpha-synuclein aggregation alters tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation and immunoreactivity: Lessons from viral transduction of knockout mice, Neurosci. Lett. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: α-Synuclein aggregation is a cause, rather than a consequence, of increased TH phosphorylation and reduced total TH in PD.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Plasma α-synuclein level in PD is higher than in healthy controls, indicating possible reduction of protein degradation rate.

    “Plasma α-synuclein level in PD is higher than that in healthy controls [121], indicating possible reduction of protein degradation rate.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [121] Ng, 2019, Plasma alpha-synuclein detected by single molecule array is increased in PD, Ann. Clin. Transl. Neurol. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Aggregation of propagated α-synuclein alters TH phosphorylation, accompanied by proteasomal degradation of pSer40-TH to decrease total TH protein.

    “the aggregation of propagated α-synuclein alters TH phosphorylation, which is accompanied by the proteasomal degradation of pSer40-TH to decrease total TH protein (Figure 4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Findings from cultured cells and animal models about TH degradation and α-synuclein aggregation reflect the pathogenic process in human PD and DRD.
17 of 17
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from cultured cells and animal models about TH degradation and α-synuclein aggregation reflect the pathogenic process in human PD and DRD.

    “We suggest that the negative spiral mechanism of TH phosphorylation-induced degradation is involved in the loss of nigrostriatal TH protein in PD and DRD (Figure 5).”
    “The mechanism of ubiquitin-proteasome-linked dopaminergic pathogenesis might help explain the dopaminergic neuron-selective loss of TH protein in PD and DRD.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Reduced proteasomal activity in PD is sufficient to impair degradation of α-synuclein and TH in vivo.

    “Insight into the reduction of proteasomal activity in PD [94,95,96] further supports the evidence of the accumulation of pSer40-TH to form inclusion bodies in PD patients [71].”
    “the failure of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the substantia nigra in PD [94] presumably impairs the degradation of α-synuclein, which facilitates the formation of filamentous inclusions.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    α-Synuclein aggregation is a cause, rather than a consequence, of increased TH phosphorylation and reduced total TH in PD.

    “Such aggregation of α-synuclein presumably potentiates TH phosphorylation and reduces total TH protein [116,122,123].”
    “The α-synuclein-induced abnormal upregulation of TH phosphorylation, combined with the reduction of gene transcription by aging and aging-related disorders [126,127,128,129], results in the acceleration of pSer40-TH degradation to reduce total TH protein (Figure 3).”
3 of 3

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Kawahata, 2009, Immunohistochemical analyses of the postmortem human brains from patients with Parkinson’s disease with anti-tyrosine hydroxylase antibodies, Biog. Amines, 23, 1

Cited by

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Authors
Kawahata, I., & Fukunaga, K.
Affiliations
  • Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
  • Tohoku University (JP)
Corresponding author
Fukunaga, Kohji
Venue
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-05-27
Volume
21
Issue
11
Pages
3779
ISSN
1422-0067 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3028609772
Cited by
71
References
170
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2019: 1
FWCI
1.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (JP19dm0107071, JP18dm0107071)
  • Fujita Health University
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (19K07097)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
Keywords
tyrosine hydroxylase, ubiquitin-proteasome system, Parkinson's disease, dopa-responsive dystonia, Segawa disease, nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, protein degradation, dopamine synthesis, alpha-synuclein propagation, neurodegeneration, therapeutic target, early diagnosis
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Parkinson Disease, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, Dystonic Disorders, Ubiquitin, Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex, Proteolysis

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