Proteome Landscapes Decode Organelle Vulnerabilities in cortical and dopaminergic-like induced neurons Across Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Lysosomes maintain cellular homeostasis by degrading proteins delivered via endocytosis and autophagy and recycling building blocks for organelle biogenesis. Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) comprise a broad group of diseases affecting lysosomal degradation, ion flux, and lipid catabolism. Within this group, sphingolipidoses gene products involved in glycosphingolipid breakdown are known (GBA1) or candidate (SMPD1, ASAH1) risk factors for Parkinson’s Disease, though disease mechanisms remain unclear. Using our previously reported LSD mutant proteomic landscape in HeLa cells, we observed pronounced variability in endolysosomal proteome signatures among sphingolipid pathway mutants, with ASAH1-/- cells showing altered lysosomal lipid composition, impaired endocytic trafficking, and disrupted ultrastructure by cryo-electron tomography. To extend these findings in a more physiologic context, we generated a human embryonic stem (ES) cell library lacking 23 LSD genes and profiled proteomic changes during differentiation into cortical and midbrain dopaminergic neurons. LSD mutants exhibited lineage-specific alterations in organellar proteomes, revealing diverse vulnerabilities. Notably, GBA1-/- and ASAH1-/- dopaminergic neurons showed disruptions in synaptic and mitochondrial compartments, correlating with impaired dopaminergic neuronal firing and mislocalized presynaptic proteins. This LSD mutant toolkit and associated proteomic landscape provides a resource for defining molecular signatures of LSD gene loss and highlights convergence of lysosomal dysfunction, synaptic integrity, and mitochondrial health as potential links between sphingolipidoses and PD risk.