Cellular modifiers of TDP-43 phase transition and cytoplasmic aggregation

Abstract

RNA-binding protein TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) can form liquid-like, nuclear assemblies whose phase behavior is thought to influence its aggregation propensity and neurotoxic activity. The mechanism(s) that governs the liquid-to-solid phase transition of TDP-43 is poorly defined. Here we combined chemical and genome-wide genetic screenings to identify cellular factors that modulate the phase behavior of an RNA-binding defective TDP-43 mutant. Our screens uncovered multiple cellular processes including RNA splicing, protein translation, proteostasis imbalance and nuclear export as TDP-43 phase regulators. We also developed a semi-permeabilized cell system that partially recapitulates the TDP-43 phase transition in vitro, and showed that nuclear export inhibition reshapes the nuclear environment to favor RNA-dependent liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of TDP-43, which mitigates its aggregation. Nuclear export inhibition in a brain organoid model bearing an ALS-associated mutation reduces pathogenic phospho-TDP-43 accumulation. These findings identify multiple modulators of TDP-43 phase transitions in a sensitized model system and establish a framework for further dissecting the link between nuclear transport and TDP-43 phase dynamics.