Proteome Landscapes Decode Organelle Vulnerabilities in cortical and dopaminergic-like induced neurons Across Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Output Details

Lysosomes maintain cellular homeostasis by degrading proteins delivered via endocytosis and autophagy and recycling building blocks for organelle biogenesis. Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) comprise a broad group of diseases affecting lysosomal degradation, ion flux, and lipid catabolism. Within this group, sphingolipidoses genes involved in glycosphingolipid breakdown are known (GBA1) or candidate (SMPD1, ASAH1) risk factors for Parkinsons Disease, though disease mechanisms remain unclear. Using our previously reported LSD mutant proteomic landscape in HeLa cells, we observed pronounced variability in endolysosomal proteome signatures among sphingolipid pathway mutants, with ASAH1 knockout cells showing altered lysosomal lipid composition, impaired endocytic trafficking, and disrupted ultrastructure by cryo-electron tomography. To extend these findings in a more physiologic context, we generated a human embryonic stem (ES) cell library comprising 23 LSD gene knockouts and profiled proteomic changes during differentiation into cortical and midbrain dopaminergic neurons over a 7 to 10 week period. LSD mutants exhibited lineage-specific alterations in organellar proteomes, revealing diverse vulnerabilities. Notably, GBA1 knockout and ASAH1knockout dopaminergic neurons showed disruptions in synaptic and mitochondrial compartments, correlating with impaired dopaminergic neuronal firing and disrupted presynaptic protein localization. This LSD mutant toolkit and associated proteomic landscape provides a resource for defining molecular signatures of LSD gene loss and highlights convergence of lysosomal dysfunction, synaptic integrity, and mitochondrial health as potential links between sphingolipidoses and PD risk.

Meet the Authors

  • Felix Kraus, PhD

    Project Manager: Team Harper

    Harvard University

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    Yuchen He

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    Yizhi Jiang, PhD

    Key Personnel: Team Harper

    Harvard Bioscience (United States)

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    Delong Li, MSc

    Key Personnel: Team Harper

    Max Planck Institute of Biophysics

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    Yohannes A. Ambaw

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    Federico Gasparoli

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    Joao A. Paulo

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    Tobias C. Walther

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    Robert V. Farese Jr.

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    Steven P. Gygi

  • Florian Wilfling, PhD

    Collaborating PI: Team Harper Team Hurley

    Max Planck Institute of Biophysics

  • J. Wade Harper

    Lead PI (Core Leadership): Team Harper

    Harvard University

Aligning Science Across Parkinson's
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