CEND1 deficiency induces mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative disease featured with memory loss and cognitive function impairments. Chronic mitochondrial stress is a vital pathogenic factor for AD and finally leads to massive neuronal death. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. By proteomic analysis, we identified a new mitochondrial protein, cell-cycle exit and neuronal differentiation 1 (CEND1), which was decreased significantly in the brain of 5xFAD mice. CEND1 is a neuronal specific protein and locates in the presynaptic mitochondria. Depletion of CEND1 leads to increased mitochondrial fission mediated by upregulation of dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1), resulting in abnormal mitochondrial functions. CEND1 deficiency leads to cognitive impairments in mice. Overexpression of CEND1 in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice rescued cognitive deficits. Moreover, we identified that CDK5/p25 interacted with and phosphorylated CEND1 which promoted its degradation. Our study provides new mechanistic insights in mitochondrial function regulations by CEND1 in Alzheimer's disease.