Loss of lysosomal ion channel transient receptor potential channel mucolipin-1 (TRPML1) leads to cathepsin B-dependent apoptosis.

Mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the gene MCOLN1, which codes for the transient receptor potential family ion channel TRPML1. MLIV has an early onset and is characterized by developmental delays, motor and cognitive deficiencies, gastric abnormalities, retinal degeneration, and corneal cloudiness. The degenerative aspects of MLIV have been attributed to cell death, whose mechanisms remain to be delineated in MLIV and in most other storage diseases. Here we report that an acute siRNA-mediated loss of TRPML1 specifically causes a leak of lysosomal protease cathepsin B (CatB) into the cytoplasm. CatB leak is associated with apoptosis, which can be prevented by CatB inhibition. Inhibition of the proapoptotic protein Bax prevents TRPML1 KD-mediated apoptosis but does not prevent cytosolic release of CatB. This is the first evidence of a mechanistic link between acute TRPML1 loss and cell death.

TRPML: transporters of metals in lysosomes essential for cell survival?

Key aspects of lysosomal function are affected by the ionic content of the lysosomal lumen and, therefore, by the ion permeability in the lysosomal membrane. Such functions include regulation of lysosomal acidification, a critical process in delivery and activation of the lysosomal enzymes, release of metals from lysosomes into the cytoplasm and the Ca(2+)-dependent component of membrane fusion events in the endocytic pathway. While the basic mechanisms of lysosomal acidification have been largely defined, the lysosomal metal transport system is not well understood. TRPML1 is a lysosomal ion channel whose malfunction is implicated in the lysosomal storage disease Mucolipidosis Type IV. Recent evidence suggests that TRPML1 is involved in Fe(2+), Ca(2+) and Zn(2+) transport across the lysosomal membrane, ascribing novel physiological roles to this ion channel, and perhaps to its relatives TRPML2 and TRPML3 and illuminating poorly understood aspects of lysosomal function. Further, alterations in metal transport by the TRPMLs due to mutations or environmental factors may contribute to their role in the disease phenotype and cell death.

TRPML1.

TRPML1 (or mucolipin 1) is the first member of the TRP family of ion channels that was found to function in the lower portions of the endocytic pathway. Mutations in the gene coding for TRPML1 (MCOLN1) cause the lysosomal storage disease mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV). TRPML1 localization in the lysosomes and the similarity of mucolipidosis type IV phenotype to lysosomal storage diseases whose origin has been directly linked to lysosomal dysfunction, suggest that TRPML1 activity drives some vitally important processes within the endocytic machinery. The specific aspect(s) of TRPML1 activity that make it indispensable for the proper function of the endocytic pathway as well as the specific aspect(s) of the endocytic activity that depend on TRPML1 are currently being discussed. Among the candidates are: membrane fusion within the lower portion of the endocytic pathway possibly mediated by Ca(2+) release through TRPML1, or regulation of lysosomal ion homeostasis (pH or Fe content) by TRPML1. In addition to delineating the mechanisms of MLIV pathogenesis, identifying the role of TRPML1 in the endocytic pathway will lead to important developments in our understanding of the endocytic pathway and, due to the neurodegenerative nature of MLIV, of the integrative function of the cell. Moreover, molecular modulators of TRPML1 function may lead to novel approaches to modulating biological processes that depend on the endocytic pathway such as growth factor signaling. The present review will focus on the recent developments in identifying the TRPML1 function.

Membrane traffic and turnover in TRP-ML1-deficient cells: a revised model for mucolipidosis type IV pathogenesis.

The lysosomal storage disorder mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV) is caused by mutations in the transient receptor potential-mucolipin-1 (TRP-ML1) ion channel. The "biogenesis" model for MLIV pathogenesis suggests that TRP-ML1 modulates postendocytic delivery to lysosomes by regulating interactions between late endosomes and lysosomes. This model is based on observed lipid trafficking delays in MLIV patient fibroblasts. Because membrane traffic aberrations may be secondary to lipid buildup in chronically TRP-ML1-deficient cells, we depleted TRP-ML1 in HeLa cells using small interfering RNA and examined the effects on cell morphology and postendocytic traffic. TRP-ML1 knockdown induced gradual accumulation of membranous inclusions and, thus, represents a good model in which to examine the direct effects of acute TRP-ML1 deficiency on membrane traffic. Ratiometric imaging revealed decreased lysosomal pH in TRP-ML1-deficient cells, suggesting a disruption in lysosomal function. Nevertheless, we found no effect of TRP-ML1 knockdown on the kinetics of protein or lipid delivery to lysosomes. In contrast, by comparing degradation kinetics of low density lipoprotein constituents, we confirmed a selective defect in cholesterol but not apolipoprotein B hydrolysis in MLIV fibroblasts. We hypothesize that the effects of TRP-ML1 loss on hydrolytic activity have a cumulative effect on lysosome function, resulting in a lag between TRP-ML1 loss and full manifestation of MLIV.