Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis

ATP7A genetic mutations lead to Menkes disease (MD), a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder develops significant metabolic abnormalities including copper deficiency and hypomyelination, and even death before 3 years old. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, a...

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Main Authors: You Wu, Jiahuan Li, Wenya Zhai, Wenye Liu, Hao Wu, Hong Liu, Junxia Min, Fudi Wang, Jing-Xia Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Neurobiology of Disease
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996125002438
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author You Wu
Jiahuan Li
Wenya Zhai
Wenye Liu
Hao Wu
Hong Liu
Junxia Min
Fudi Wang
Jing-Xia Liu
author_facet You Wu
Jiahuan Li
Wenya Zhai
Wenye Liu
Hao Wu
Hong Liu
Junxia Min
Fudi Wang
Jing-Xia Liu
author_sort You Wu
collection DOAJ
description ATP7A genetic mutations lead to Menkes disease (MD), a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder develops significant metabolic abnormalities including copper deficiency and hypomyelination, and even death before 3 years old. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, a dysfunction in axons as evidenced by the shortened axons, reduced branching in each axon, thinner spinal myelin sheaths, and a significant decrease in neuronal membrane potential, was manifested in the central nervous system (CNS) of atp7a−/− larvae. Atp7a is indispensable for the axonal survival in a cell-autonomous manner by fine-tuning copper homeostasis. The transcriptomics analysis identified a significant enrichment of ferroptosis among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Iron overload, GPX4 degradation, and lipid peroxidation, the fundamental characteristics of ferroptosis, were evident during atp7a ablation. More importantly, administration of ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 or iron chelator DFO, substantially suppressed ferroptosis and largely ameliorated axonal and myelin defects in atp7a−/− larvae. Whereas, larvae exposed to ferroptosis inducer RSL3, and engineered larvae developing ferroptosis, phenocopied the myelin and axonal extension defects observed in atp7a−/− mutants. Taken together, this study highlights the critical importance of atp7a in supporting axonal and myelin development during zebrafish embryogenesis by tightly restraining ferroptosis. This study will shed some light on the theoretical basis and therapeutic targets underlying ATP7A dysfunction induced neurodegenerative diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-0c40cd1fd1e14bcdb6307be2a8cef8662025-08-20T03:13:42ZengElsevierNeurobiology of Disease1095-953X2025-09-0121310702710.1016/j.nbd.2025.107027Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosisYou Wu0Jiahuan Li1Wenya Zhai2Wenye Liu3Hao Wu4Hong Liu5Junxia Min6Fudi Wang7Jing-Xia Liu8College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Animal Science & Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, ChinaCollege of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaCollege of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Animal Science & Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, ChinaCollege of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaThe First Affiliated Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310013, China; Corresponding authors.The First Affiliated Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310013, China; Corresponding authors.College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Corresponding authors.ATP7A genetic mutations lead to Menkes disease (MD), a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder develops significant metabolic abnormalities including copper deficiency and hypomyelination, and even death before 3 years old. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, a dysfunction in axons as evidenced by the shortened axons, reduced branching in each axon, thinner spinal myelin sheaths, and a significant decrease in neuronal membrane potential, was manifested in the central nervous system (CNS) of atp7a−/− larvae. Atp7a is indispensable for the axonal survival in a cell-autonomous manner by fine-tuning copper homeostasis. The transcriptomics analysis identified a significant enrichment of ferroptosis among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Iron overload, GPX4 degradation, and lipid peroxidation, the fundamental characteristics of ferroptosis, were evident during atp7a ablation. More importantly, administration of ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 or iron chelator DFO, substantially suppressed ferroptosis and largely ameliorated axonal and myelin defects in atp7a−/− larvae. Whereas, larvae exposed to ferroptosis inducer RSL3, and engineered larvae developing ferroptosis, phenocopied the myelin and axonal extension defects observed in atp7a−/− mutants. Taken together, this study highlights the critical importance of atp7a in supporting axonal and myelin development during zebrafish embryogenesis by tightly restraining ferroptosis. This study will shed some light on the theoretical basis and therapeutic targets underlying ATP7A dysfunction induced neurodegenerative diseases.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996125002438ATP7AAxonMyelinFerroptosisGPX4
spellingShingle You Wu
Jiahuan Li
Wenya Zhai
Wenye Liu
Hao Wu
Hong Liu
Junxia Min
Fudi Wang
Jing-Xia Liu
Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis
Neurobiology of Disease
ATP7A
Axon
Myelin
Ferroptosis
GPX4
title Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis
title_full Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis
title_fullStr Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis
title_full_unstemmed Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis
title_short Atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis
title_sort atp7a deficiency induces axonal and myelin developmental defects in zebrafish via ferroptosis
topic ATP7A
Axon
Myelin
Ferroptosis
GPX4
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996125002438
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