The role of Cdk5-mediated Drp1 phosphorylation in A1-42 induced mitochondrial fission and neuronal apoptosis

Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, is pathologically characterized by Amyloid beta containing plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid beta (A) induces neuronal apoptosis through the intracellular Ca2+ increase, subsequent hyperactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and mitochondrial abnormality. Recently, Cdk5 was identified as an upstream regulator of mitochondrial fission during neuronal apoptosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, in vitro phosphorylation assays showed that Cdk5 could phosphorylate the recombinant Drp1 at Serine 579. A(1-42) stimulation increased the phosphorylation level of Drp1 at Serine 579 in mouse cortical neurons. Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine and knockdown of Cdk5 by a lentiviral vector expressing shRNA targeting Cdk5 (Lenti-Cdk5-shRNA) efficiently prevented A(1-42) induced Drp1 phosphorylation in neurons. In addition, A(1-42) stimulation induced markedly mitochondrial fission in neurons. Roscovitine, Lenti-Cdk5-shRNA and expression of phospho-defect mutatant GFP-Drp1-S579A in neurons attenuated A(1-42) induced mitochondrial fission, whereas expression of phospho-mimetic mutant GFP-Drp1-S579D alone resulted in mitochondiral fission similar to A(1-42) stimulation. Moreover, Roscovitine and Lenti-Cdk5-shRNA suppressed the cleavage of caspase-3 and protected neurons against A(1-42) induced neuronal apoptosis.Thus, our data indicate that Drp1 is a direct target of Cdk5, and Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of Drp1 at Serine 579 regulates A(1-42) induced mitochondrial fission and neuronal toxicity.