Molecular properties of TAR DNA binding protein-43 fragments are dependent upon its cleavage site

Aggregation of TAR DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Under pathogenic conditions, abnormal cleavage of TDP-43 produces the phosphorylated C-terminal fragments (CTFs), which are enriched in neuronal inclusions; however, molecular properties of those TDP-43 fragments remain to be characterized. Here we show distinct degrees of solubility and phosphorylation among fragments truncated at different sites of TDP-43. Truncations were tested mainly within a second RNA recognition motif (RRM2) of TDP-43; when the truncation site was more C-terminal in an RRM2 domain, a TDP-43 CTF basically became less soluble and more phosphorylated in differentiated Neuro2a cells. We also found that cleavage at the third β-strand in RRM2 leads to the formation of SDS-resistant soluble oligomers. Molecular properties of TDP-43 fragments thus significantly depend upon its cleavage site, which might reflect distinct molecular pathologies among sub-types of TDP-43 proteinopathies.