We report that Sir2 activation through increased sir-2.1 dosage or treatment with the sirtuin activator resveratrol specifically rescued early neuronal dysfunction phenotypes induced by mutant polyglutamines in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. These effects are dependent on daf-16 (Forkhead). Additionally, resveratrol rescued mutant polyglutamine-specific cell death in neuronal cells derived from HdhQ111 knock-in mice. We conclude that Sir2 activation may protect against mutant polyglutamines.

Background: Huntington disease is a fatal neuropsychiatric disorder caused by aberrant protein folding and interactions. Results: An interaction network composed of primary and secondary huntingtin-interacting proteins is significantly enriched for pathways implicated in HD, including RhoGTPases. Conclusion: Huntingtin interacts with members of the Rho GTPase signaling pathways and regulates filipodial dynamics. Significance: This protein interaction network provides a resource for HD target discovery.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is caused by polyalanine expansion in nuclear protein PABPN1 [poly(A) binding protein nuclear 1] and characterized by muscle degeneration. Druggable modifiers of proteotoxicity in degenerative diseases, notably the longevity modulators sirtuins, may constitute useful therapeutic targets. However, the modifiers of mutant PABPN1 are unknown. Here, we report that longevity and cell metabolism modifiers modulate mutant PABPN1 toxicity in the muscle cell. Using PABPN1 nematodes that show muscle cell degeneration and abnormal motility, we found that increased dosage of the sirtuin and deacetylase sir-2.1/SIRT1 exacerbated muscle pathology, an effect dependent on the transcription factor daf-16/FoxO and fuel sensor aak-2/AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), while null mutants of sir-2.1, daf-16 and aak-2 were protective. Consistently, the Sir2 inhibitor sirtinol was protective, whereas the Sir2 and AMPK activator resveratrol was detrimental. Furthermore, rescue by sirtinol was dependent on daf-16 and not aak-2, whereas aggravation by resveratrol was dependent on aak-2 and not daf-16. Finally, the survival of mammalian cells expressing mutant PABPN1 was promoted by sirtinol and decreased by resveratrol. Altogether, our data identify Sir2 and AMPK inhibition as therapeutic strategies for muscle protection in OPMD, extending the value of druggable proteins in cell maintenance networks to polyalanine diseases.