Loss of YY1 in Purkinje cells triggers cerebellar ataxia via Wnt10b-mediated impairment of dendrite development
TL;DR
It is demonstrated that postnatal deletion of Yin Yang 1 (Yy1) in PCs disrupts dendrite and spine formation, impairs synaptic plasticity, and alters protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ) expression, leading to cerebellar ataxia and progressive atrophy.
Abstract
Summary The cerebellum relies on Purkinje cells (PCs) to coordinate motor functions and maintain neural circuitry. Impaired PC dendritogenesis is linked to neurological disorders, yet intrinsic molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We demonstrate that postnatal deletion of Yin Yang 1 (Yy1) in PCs disrupts dendrite and spine formation, impairs synaptic plasticity, and alters protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ) expression, leading to cerebellar ataxia and progressive atrophy. Mechanistically, YY1 transcriptionally activates wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 10B (Wnt10b), which signals through Frizzled-4 (Fzd4) in PCs. Wnt10b downregulation mimics the dendritic defects seen in Yy1 mutants, indicating its crucial role in dendrite growth and synaptic environment regulation. These changes result in defective synapse innervation. Our findings reveal that YY1 governs PC dendritogenesis and synaptogenesis via Wnt10b, while also modulating PKCγ and β-catenin signaling. The YY1-Wnt10b axis emerges as a critical pathway underlying YY1-associated cerebellar dysfunction.