Dominant-negative isoform of TDP-43 is regulated by ALS-linked RNA-binding proteins

TDP-43, an RNA-binding protein (RBP) encoded by the TARDBP gene, is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Dysregulated TDP-43 causes motor neuron loss, highlighting the need for proper expression levels. Here, we identify a dominant-negative isoform among the multiple TARDBP splicing variants and validate its endogenous expression using a developed antibody against its translated product. Furthermore, we revealed that ALS-associated RBPs regulate its expression: hnRNP K promotes its splicing and expression, while hnRNP A1 and FUS suppress these processes through distinct mechanisms. hnRNP A1 inhibits hnRNP K-mediated splicing, and FUS represses the dominant-negative isoform through both its translational inhibition and hnRNP K suppression. Notably, ALS-mutant FUS weakens this regulatory mechanism, leading to impaired repression of hnRNP K and the dominant-negative isoform. Our findings suggest a regulatory network involving ALS-linked RBPs that govern TDP-43 isoform expression and provide new insights into how disruptions in this network contribute to ALS pathogenesis.