Translation deficits drive C9orf72 associated poly-GR/PR toxicity

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with the C9orf72 mutation show predominantly cytoplasmic aggregates of poly-GR and poly-PR proteins that are acutely toxic in various model systems. To identify the molecular mediators of neurotoxicity of poly-GR/PR, we analyzed their interactomes in primary neurons. GFP-(GR)149 and (PR)175-GFP preferentially interacted with RNA-binding proteins, including stress granule-associated and nucleolar proteins, as well as ribosomes. Overexpression of the poly-GR/PR interactors Staufen 1/2 (STAU1/2) and YBX1 led to cytoplasmic aggregation of poly-GR/PR into large stress granule-like inclusions, while the poly-GR/PR interactor nucleophosmin (NPM1) recruited poly-GR into the nucleolus. In addition, poly-PR expression reduced ribosome levels and translation, which is consistent with the widespread reduction of synaptic proteins detected by proteomics. Surprisingly, only GFP-(GR)53, but not GFP-(GR)149, localized to the nucleolus and reduced ribosome levels and translation in neurons, suggesting impaired ribosome biogenesis is driving the acute toxicity commonly observed in vitro. In C9orf72 patient brains, we detected co-aggregation of poly-GR/PR inclusions with ribosomes, but not stress granules. Partial sequestration of ribosomes may chronically impair protein synthesis and contribute to C9orf72 ALS/FTD pathogenesis.